WRRA (AM)

WRRA (1290 AM) was a radio station formerly licensed to serve Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands. The station was owned by Reef Broadcasting, Inc. It aired a gospel music format.^[1] It operated from 1977 to 2011.

WRRA

Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands
Broadcast area	St. Croix Frederiksted
Frequency	1290 kHz
Ownership
Owner	Reef Broadcasting, Inc.
Sister stations	WDHP WAXJ
History
First air date	1977 (1977)
Last air date	2011 (2011)
Technical information
Facility ID	55468
Class	D
Power	500 watts (day) 290 watts (night)
Transmitter coordinates	17°43′28″N 64°53′3″W
Links
Website	www.reefbroadcasting.com

Programming

In addition to its regular programming, this station aired the "dLife Diabetes Minute" health advisory program.^[2]

History

In 1969 an application was filed for a new station in Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands, initially for 1090 kHz, which was modified to specify 1290 kHz in 1974. The station began broadcasting, as WRRA, in 1977.^[3]

Expanded Band assignment

On March 17, 1997, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that 88 stations had been given permission to move to newly available "Expanded Band" transmitting frequencies, ranging from 1610 to 1700 kHz, with WRRA authorized to move from 1280 to 1620 kHz.^[4]

An application for a construction permit for the expanded band station, also in Frederiksted, was filed on June 13, 1997, which was assigned the call letters WDHP on March 6, 1998.^[5] 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,^[4] although this deadline was extended multiple times.

It was ultimately decided to end operations at the original station, and on February 8, 2011, the license for WRRA on 1290 kHz was cancelled.^[6]