By: Edson ClydePosted on

In January 1945, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed a major shift for FM broadcasting: relocating all FM stations from their original 42-50 MHz frequency range to a new band at 84-102 MHz. By June, this new FM band had been expanded to 88-108 MHz.

Below is a list of stations assigned to the new band as of September 1945, including adjustments made later that year based on suggestions from CBS and other industry players (shown in parentheses for reference). At the time, stations in the same city were generally assigned frequencies spaced 0.4 MHz apart, a policy maintained throughout 1945 but no longer in effect today.

List of FM Station Assignments in September 1945:

  • Alpine: WFMN at 100.9 (changed to 98.9)
  • Baton Rouge: WBRL at 96.1
  • Binghamton: WNBF-FM at 96.7 (changed to 96.3)
  • Boston: WBZ-FM at 95.7 (changed to 100.7)
  • Chicago: WBBM-FM at 99.3, WDLM at 99.7, WEHS at 100.1, WGNB at 98.9, WWZR at 98.5
  • Columbus: WELD at 94.5
  • Detroit: WENA at 96.9, WLOU at 96.5
  • Evansville: WMLL at 94.7
  • Ft. Wayne: WOWO-FM at 95.9
  • Hartford: WDRC-FM at 94.3, WTIC-FM at 93.5
  • Indianapolis: WABW at 94.9
  • Jersey City: WAAW at 96.1 (changed to 94.1)
  • Kansas City: KMBC-FM at 97.9, KOZY at 99.9
  • Los Angeles: KHJ-FM at 99.7, KTLO at 100.1
  • Milwaukee: WMFM at 92.3
  • Mt. Washington: WMTW at 97.9 (changed to 98.1)
  • Nashville: WSM-FM at 100.1
  • New York: WABC-FM at 97.3 (changed to 96.9), WABF at 98.5, WBAM at 96.9 (changed to 96.5), WEAF-FM at 97.7 (changed to 97.3), WFGG at 99.7, WGYN at 100.1 (changed to 96.1), WHNF at 99.3, WNYC-FM at 98.1 (changed to 94.5), WQXQ at 100.5 (changed to 97.7)
  • Philadelphia: KYW-FM at 93.1 (changed to 100.3), WCAU-FM at 95.5 (changed to 102.7), WFIL-FM at 94.3 (changed to 103.1), WIBG-FM at 95.1 (changed to 97.1), WIP-FM at 93.9 (changed to 97.5), WPEN-FM at 95.9 (changed to 99.5)
  • Pittsburgh: KDKA-FM at 94.1, WTNT at 94.5
  • Rochester: WHFM at 98.9, WHEF at 98.5
  • Salt Lake City: KSL-FM at 100.1
  • Schenectady: WBCA at 95.7 (changed to 101.1), WGFM at 95.3 (changed to 106.7)
  • Springfield: WBZA-FM at 99.1 (changed to 97.1)
  • Superior: WDUL at 92.3
  • Winston-Salem: WMIT at 97.3
  • Worcester: WGTR at 101.7 (changed to 103.1), WTAG-FM at 102.1 (changed to 102.7)

This relocation and reallocation marked a turning point in FM radio’s history, expanding the FM range and setting a new frequency standard for American broadcasting.