(K)KHJ

[Doug Broda]

While I think you're describing the events by which KKHJ returned to KHJ 
in 2000 correctly, having heard the same thing at the time from multiple 
sources, three other stations have also reclaimed their three letter 
calls, per http://earlyradiohistory.us/3roll.htm - as follows:

WGH Newport News VA changed to WCMS in 12/04, then returned to WGH in 
7/05. (And in fact that's the SECOND time they changed the calls back to 
WGH... having been WNSY from 9/83 to 12/84.)

Also, WIL St. Louis changed to WRTH in 1990, but returned to WIL in 2005 
(thereafter becoming KZQZ earlier this year).

And KSD St. Louis became KUSA in 1984, returning to KSD in 1993 
(thereafter becoming KTRS in 1997).

The only thing I can see as a possible distinguishing factor is that in 
each of these cases, the three letter calls were still on a co-owned FM 
at the time they were returned to the AM. Does that make it OK under FCC 
rules?

Garrett Wollman wrote:
> <<On Sun, 21 Sep 2008 01:17:13 -0400, David Tomm <nostaticatall@charter.net> said:
>
>   
>> IIRC, that was a special instance because the KHJ calls were  
>> considered "heritage" in that market.
>>     
>
> No, that was a special, erm, instance because (K)KHJ broadcasts in
> Spanish and the owners told the FCC that they didn't want to be
> talking about caca (which means exactly what you think) when the
> station refers to itself on-air.  (Never mind the fact that they've
> always done the legal ID in English and never need to mention the
> callsign at any other time.)
>
> -GAWollman
>
>
>