# Someone at the FCC needs a dictionary... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2007, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429 "2007-07-27T21:44:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429/41 "2007-08-30T20:30:26Z")
[QUOTE=Fiver] Complementary to KDKA in Pittsburgh (east of the Mississippi), isn’t there also a “W” spy in the “K” camp? [/QUOTE] Another exception is San Antonio, TX’s WOAI (broadcasting on both on TV & radio). ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429/42 "2007-08-30T21:23:08Z")
You find many exceptions to the K/W rule in the Twin Cities. The Mississippi River is generally regarded as the K/W dividing line, but there are many exceptions near the river, such as WCCO in Minneapolis and KSTP in St. Paul. When I first moved here in 1990, there was a WLOL-FM. “LOL” in those pre-internet days stood for “Land of Lakes”. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429/43 "2007-08-30T21:32:13Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] You’re really surprised that they’d have a problem with call letters that are phonetically the same as what many consider to be the most offensive word in the language? If it were up to me, the FCC would have nothing to do with obscenity and just regulate frequencies, but as long as they are in the naughty word business it seems a slam dunk they wouldn’t let this one fly, even though “cunt” is not normally spelled with a ‘k’. [/QUOTE] According to the article in **Ferd Burfel’s** link, though, the FCC doesn’t oversee radio and TV station call letters. > [@](#): > > Broadcasters are on their honor to choose appropriate call letters, as the Federal Communications Commission provides no human oversight. Its Broadcast Call Sign Reservation and Authorization System is online, totally automated. Although the owner did voluntarily request a call letter re-assignment, the lettes KUNT and KWTF are again available. > [@](#): > > TheBuzz checked. KUNT and KWTF are available again. What the … ? ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2007, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429/44 "2007-08-30T23:41:28Z")
Tulare, California used to have an AM/FM combo operation. The AM was Top 40 - KCOK The FM was Country - KJUG (Beavis and Butthead) Huh-huh. Huh-huh. He said Cocks and Jugs. (/B&B) ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429/45 "2007-08-31T00:26:35Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Nah, just the usual KRAP. [/QUOTE] There actually is a talk radio station call KRAP (pronounced kay-rap). [QUOTE=panamajack] No, but the now-gone Bay area station KOME used to have ads saying things like, “Get some KOME in your ear”. [/QUOTE] [QUOTE=askeptic] And “Don’t touch that dial, its got KOME on it”. [/QUOTE] And the one I remember hearing most in the late 70’s: “You’re listening to Kay-Oh-Em-Ee, the KOME spot on your dial.” ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429/46 "2007-08-31T02:14:14Z")
We have a WJZZ here. The first time I saw it advertised on a billboard, it took me longer than it should have to realize it was a play on the word “jazz,” and not… well. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429/47 "2007-08-31T13:05:39Z")
[QUOTE=Vinyl Turnip] We have a WJZZ here. The first time I saw it advertised on a billboard, it took me longer than it should have to realize it was a play on the word “jazz,” and not… well. [/QUOTE] We’ve got it’s mirror twin, KJZZ for the local NPR/Jazz station. They’ve never capitalized on the ‘Jizz’ connection, for some reason. Perhaps they found it unseamenly, for their demographic. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429/48 "2007-08-31T14:22:19Z")
[QUOTE=neorxnawange] More call-sign trivia: In the US there are two stations that spell out the city from which they are broadcast: WACO (TX) WARE (MA) [/QUOTE] I like WWVA in Wheeling, West (by God!) Virginia. Home of Mountain Stage. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429/49 "2007-08-31T15:27:58Z")
[QUOTE=anyrose] with one notable exception in Pittsburgh PA - America’s first commercial radio station - KDKA - which launched Nov 2, 1920. [/QUOTE] Two exceptions for that city. There is (or maybe was - it could be gone by now) an AM station KQV. During the '70s, Rush Limbaugh was a disc jockey on it, spinning Top 40. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429/50 "2007-08-31T16:37:50Z")
[QUOTE=Sean Factotum] Two exceptions for that city. There is (or maybe was - it could be gone by now) an AM station KQV. [/QUOTE] [Their license expired last year](http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/finder?call=kqv&sr=Y&s=C), no idea if they renewed or not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/someone-at-the-fcc-needs-a-dictionary/413429.md?page=2)