IL Radio: WRXQ Launches 'Save Q-Rock' Effort

South suburban WRXQ 100.7 FM Q Rock licensed to Coal City, IL is concerned about the new radio station coming soon to a downtown Chicago translator, which will also be on the 100.7 frequency.

According to CRM, Q-Rock is asking fans to fill out a form on their website, which they will then submit to the FCC to insure that the upcoming low-powered translator broadcast will not interrupt their fans' enjoyment of the full-powered radio station.

Integrity Radio Communications, owned by former Chicago radio programming great Elroy Smith, recently signed a contract to spend a record-setting amount for the Chicago translator W264BF. Calvary Radio Network agreed to sell its 2 watt translator to Smith's company for an incredible $4.6 million.

W264BF 100.7 FM (2-watts) 60dBu Coverage

 While translator W264BF broadcasts at only 2 watts from Willis Tower, it does have an FCC-approved construction permit to increase the wattage to 10 watts via a new antenna. The construction permit expires on November 18th of this year.

W264BF currently simulcasts the Calvary Radio Network's religious programming from WHLP-FM from Hanna, IN on the Chicago airwaves at 100.7 FM. The translator is legally licensed to Englewood, IL, a neighborhood of Chicago, not its own city.

However, its weak, 2 watt signal does not reach very far, and for the most part, does not disturb any other radio station on the 100.7 frequency in the areas surrounding Chicago.

According to the FCC, the proposed 10 watts broadcast via W264BF after its upgrades will not interfere with WRXQ-FM/Q Rock 100.7 in the south suburbs, WBYT-FM/B100 in northwest Indiana, or Milwaukee's WKKV-FM/V100.7.

Digity-owned WRXQ-FM strongly does not agree with that assessment.

WRXQ 100.7 FM (2.45Kw) 60dBu Coverage

WRXQ-FM is a Class A radio station broadcasting at 2,450 watts. The signal originates from south Will County, between Wilmington and Coal City, and reaches all across the southern suburbs of Chicago.

Read More Now