KMLB (1440 AM)
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = KMLB
| logo =
| city = Monroe, Louisiana
| area =
| branding =
| frequency = 1440 kHz
| translator =
| airdate = {{start date and age|1930|7|1|p=y}}
| last_airdate = {{end date|2008|2|29}}
| format = Defunct
| language =
| power = 5,000 watts (day)
1,000 (night)
| class = B
| facility_id = 48636
| coordinates =
| callsign_meaning = "Know Monroe, Lousisiana, Better."
| former_callsigns = KMLB (1930-1986)
KWEZ (1986-1989)
KJLO (1989-1991)
| former_frequencies =
| affiliations =
| owner =
| licensee =
| sister_stations =
| webcast =
| website =
}}
KMLB (1440 AM) is a former commercial radio station licensed to Monroe, Louisiana. It debuted in 1930, and was deleted in 2008.
History
File:KMLB advertisement (1949).gif
The station was first licensed in 1930, as KMLB, to J. C. Liner at 512 South Grand Street in Monroe, for 50 watts on 1200 kHz.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3221819&view=1up&seq=179 "New Stations"], Radio Service Bulletin, May 31, 1930, page 5. KMLB first signed on on July 1, 1930.{{cite news |title=Application to operate radio station o. k. 'd |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-star-application-to-operate-rad/171062023/ |access-date=April 25, 2025 |newspaper=The Monroe News Star |date=May 10, 1930 |location=Monroe, Louisiana |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} It was founded by the Liner Family of Monroe. In July 1946, the station signed on an FM sister station, KMLB-FM, eventually broadcasting on 104.1 MHz (now KJLO-FM).
The station call letters were changed to KWEZ on March 3, 1986, to KJLO on February 28, 1989, and back to the original KMLB on January 18, 1991.[https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=48636 Facility details for Facility ID 48636 (1440 AM)] in the FCC Licensing and Management System
=Expanded Band assignment=
On March 17, 1997 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that eighty-eight stations had been given permission to move to newly available "Expanded Band" transmitting frequencies, ranging from 1610 to 1700 kHz, with KMLB authorized to move from 1440 kHz to 1680 kHz.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uva.x004848309&view=1up&seq=276 "FCC Public Notice: Mass Media Bureau Announces Revised AM Expanded Band Allotment Plan and Filing Window for Eligible Stations"] (FCC DA 97-537), March 17, 1997.
A construction permit for the expanded band station was assigned the call letters KBJE (now KRJO) on September 4, 1998.[https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=87167 Facility details for Facility ID 87167 (1680 AM)] in the FCC Licensing and Management System The FCC's initial policy was that both the original station and its expanded band counterpart could operate simultaneously for up to five years, after which owners would have to turn in one of the two licenses, depending on whether they preferred the new assignment or elected to remain on the original frequency. However, this deadline was extended multiple times, and both stations continued to be authorized beyond the initial time limit.
=Later history=
In November 2006, the Noe family reached an agreement to sell KNOE on 540 kHz to Clay Holladay's Holladay Broadcasting. At the time, the FCC noted that "The conditional grant... required Holladay to surrender the license for the station that at the time bore call sign KMLB (AM) ('Old KMLB'), Monroe, Louisiana, prior to Holladay consummating its acquisition" of KNOE.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015088868362&seq=413 "DA-11-99"], FCC record (January 3—January 28, 2011), January 20, 2011, page 397 Thus, the original KMLB on 1440 AM was taken off the air on February 29,{{cite news |title=KMLB now 540 as KNOE-AM sale wraps |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-star-kmlb-now-540-as-knoe-am-sa/171067128/|access-date=April 25, 2025 |newspaper=The News-Star |date=March 5, 2008 |location=Monroe, Louisiana |page=7A |via=Newspapers.com}} with its license surrendered to the FCC on March 4, 2008. Thirteen days later, the call letters on 540 AM were changed from KNOE to KMLB,[https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=35249 Facility details for Facility ID 35249 (540 AM)] in the FCC Licensing and Management System and programming previously on 1440 AM was consolidated to the transferred KMLB.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/publicFacilityDetails.html?facilityId=35249 Facility details for Facility ID 35249 (KMLB)] in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=43274 FCC History Cards for KMLB 1440 AM] (covering 1930-1979)
{{Monroe Radio}}
Category:Radio stations established in 1930
Category:Radio stations disestablished in 2008
Category:Defunct radio stations in the United States
Category:1930 establishments in Louisiana
Category:2008 disestablishments in Louisiana