| Frequency | 990 kHz |
|---|---|
| Branding | Talk 990 |
| Programming | |
| Format | Defunct, was talk/personality |
| Affiliations | USA Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Ralla Broadcasting Co. |
| History | |
First air date | May 15, 1922[1] (initial licensing date) |
Last air date | April 21, 2017 (date of license cancellation) December 31, 2017 (end of unlicensed operation) |
Call sign meaning | None (sequentially assigned) |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 7634 |
| Class | D |
| Power |
|
Transmitter coordinates | 40°24′32″N 91°10′13″W / 40.40876°N 91.17017°W |
WCAZ (990 AM, "Talk 990") was formerly a commercial radio station, whose operating license was cancelled by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on April 21, 2017. First licensed in May 1922, WCAZ had been one of the oldest radio stations in the United States. At the time of its deletion the station was licensed to the Ralla Broadcasting Company in Carthage, Illinois, and featured a talk/personality format.
Following the license cancellation, in the opinion of the FCC the station effectively began operating as a pirate radio station, when it continued regular broadcasts, still identifying itself as "WCAZ", despite FCC orders to cease. The station finally ended operations shortly after noon CST on December 31, 2017.[2]