MD Radio: WTRI In Receivership After Failing To Return To Air

A Frederick area radio station that broadcast a variety of programs over the years, in English, Spanish and Korean, fell silent recently and is now in receivership, according to fredericknewspost.com.

The Federal Communications Commission transferred control of WTRI 1520 AM radio on May 2 to Roger Rafson, president of CMS Station Brokerage, which specializes in selling small to mid-size radio stations.

In March, after reviewing complaints that the station was not on the air as required by FCC regulations, the federal agency fined the licensee, WTRI Holding, $5,000 and renewed the station's license through October 2019.

According to FCC documents, the owners said financial hardship made it unfeasible to continue.

The station broadcasting in 1966. A daytime-only station, it went from country music to a political outlet for Lyndon LaRouche from 1986 to 1991.

The station returned to music and in 2005 was renamed "Vegas Radio." That format included Frank Sinatra and similar singers. In 2007, the station switched to Spanish-language programming.

By 2009, the station was Radio Earl, with classic country music. From January 2010 to September 2010, the station leased it signal to WTHU, a Christian-based talk radio AM station in Thurmont.

Spanish was once again the language of the station at the beginning of 2011, but by May 2011, the format was "eclectic pop music." The last broadcast period, from May 2012 to March 2013, was "Radio Asia," via a Korean program based in New Jersey.