WSUM Broadcasting

By jspore
  • Period: to

    WMHA begins broadcasting.

    UW-Madison't first student radio station, WHMA (Men's Hall Association), begins broadcasting. The station was shut down in 1956 when the FCC found the station's wiring to be illegal, according to Radio Magazine.

  • WHMA becomes WHLA

    In 1959, WHMA changed it's call sign to WHLA (Lakeshore Hall Association), and was wired to serve dorms in the Lakeshore area of UW-Madison's campus. WHLA broadcasted at 640 AM, according to Radio Magazine.
  • Period: to

    WSSO and WSRM

    A second station for the Southeast dorms was created, called WSSO and later WSRM, but shut down in 1981 due to a lack of interest and finances.

  • WHLA switches to FM

    WHLA switched to FM broadcasting in 1984, and sometime between 1980 and 1990, began increasing the power which the station broadcasted at. According to Radio Magazine, this power boost meant the station no longer complied with FCC regulations, and the station shut down.

  • WHLA's budget approved

    In 1995, plans to restart WHLA began, and the station's budget was approved by UW-Madison student government. According to Radio Magazine, the plan was that WHLA would return as an all-campus station, and was approved by the UW Board of Regents. WHLA became known as UW-Madison Student Radio.

  • UW-Madison Student Radio moves to State Street

    According to Radio Magazine, in 1996, UW-Madison Student Radio moved to a location in "The Towers," at 602 State St.

  • FCC approves license

    The FCC approved broadcast licensing to UW-Madison Student Radio in October, 1996, and the station planned to begin broadcasting in September 1997. UW-Madison Student Radio changed its call letters to WSUM.

  • WSUM begins webcasting

    Although WSUM faced challenges broadcasting over the air, according to Radio Magazine, they began webcasting in September, 1997.

  • Broadcast tower debate begins

    According to Radio Magazine, WSUM needed to build a 403 ft. broadcasting tower within the town of Montrose, Wisconsin to broadcast to the campus area without conflicting with other stations. Montrose residents pushed back against the tower, claiming it was an eyesore and would negatively impact their property values. The case to build the tower went to court twice before WSUM was allowed to begin construction.

  • Construction begins in Montrose

    According to Radio Magazine, construction on the Montrose broadcast tower began in 2001.

  • WSUM begins broadcasting on 91.7

    WSUM began broadcasting on the air at exactly 2:22 p.m.