WWBZ

[A Joseph Ross]

On 5/29/2014 2:09 AM, Glenn Spatola wrote:

> I am truly amazed that they were allowed to use the WWBZ call letters 
> in an area where WBZ is well known, and where its signal easily 
> reaches!  That's bound to confuse some listeners.

As I understand it, the FCC will give you whatever call letters you ask 
for, so long as it's available.  They don't get into any other issues, 
with the possible exception of obvious obscenity such as WF-K or some 
such.  If one station's call letters are too close to another's and 
might cause confusion, it's up to the aggrieved station to bring a 
lawsuit for unfair competition, etc.  Last one I remember hearing of was 
back in the 1990s, when WBCN (hard rock) sued WBCS (country).  I believe 
the court dismissed the suit, saying that there was little risk that 
anyone might confuse a country station with a hard rock station.

Which suggests that if someone were to put a classical music station on 
the air and call it WCRV, and WCRB were to sue, the result might be 
different.

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A. Joseph Ross, J.D.| 92 State Street| Suite 700 | Boston, MA 02109-2004
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