WFOA

WFOA (1230 kHz) is a commercial radio station broadcasting a Spanish contemporary hit radio format in Baltimore, Maryland. It is owned by Julio Arquinio's BMax Media LLC.^[2][3] The station went on the air in 1941, as WITH. It became WRBS, a Christian talk and teaching sister station to WRBS-FM, in 2006, and WFOA in 2025.

WFOA

Baltimore, Maryland
Broadcast area	Baltimore metropolitan area
Frequency	1230 kHz
Branding	Maxima 94.3FM
Programming
Language	Spanish
Format	Contemporary hit radio – Latin pop – Reggaeton – Regional Mexican – Tropical
Ownership
Owner	Julio Arquinio (BMax Media LLC)
History
First air date	March 1, 1941 (84 years ago) (1941-03-01)
Former call signs	WITH (1941–2006) WRBS (2006–2025)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	25527
Class	C
Power	600 watts
Transmitter coordinates	39°18′6″N 76°34′9″W
Translator(s)	94.3 W232CL (Baltimore)
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Webcast	Listen live
Website	maxima943fm.com

WFOA transmits with 600 watts, using a non-directional antenna. Programming is also heard on 100-watt FM translator W232CL on 94.3 MHz.^[4]

History

WITH

The station signed on the air on March 1, 1941; 84 years ago (March 1, 1941).^[5] Its original call sign was WITH, broadcasting with 250 watts power on 1200 kHz.^[6] It was owned and operated by Thomas Garland Tinsley and his family.^[5]

Opening ceremonies included "a broadcast from the stage of the Maryland Theater, featuring seven songwriters represented by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Musicians, which was fighting with the radio networks over copyrights."^[7] In 1941, it moved to 1230 kilocycles with the adoption of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA).^[8]

WRBS

In 2006, the Peter and John Radio Fellowship, Inc. acquired WITH and changed its call sign to WRBS. The fellowship's existing FM station then became WRBS-FM.

As WRBS, the station aired Christian talk and teaching programs, such as David Jeremiah, John MacArthur and Alistair Begg, along with live call-in shows like The Ramsey Show with Dave Ramsey.

WFOA

Brighter Media Group sold WRBS to Julio Arquinio's BMax Media in October 2024 for $375,000.^[9] The previous WRBS Chrisitan programming continues to air on the second HD Radio channel of WRBS-FM.^[9]

The new owners changed the call sign to WFOA on February 6, 2025.^[10] The station airs a Spanish language contemporary hit radio format, also heard over an FM translator on 94.3 MHz.