WTMC — Mediated Wiki

{{short description|Traffic radio station in Wilmington, Delaware}} {{for|the charter high school in the Ann Arbor, Michigan, area|Washtenaw Technical Middle College}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox radio station | country = US | name = WTMC | logo = File:WTMC Wilmington Transportation Management Center radio logo.png | logo_size = 100px | logo_alt = Blue outline of a radio microphone with text reading "WTMC 1380AM". | city = Wilmington, Delaware | area = | branding = | airdate = 1948 | frequency = 1380 kHz | translator = 98.5 W253CQ (Wilmington) | format = Traffic | power = 250 watts day<br/>10 watts night | class = D | facility_id = 48381 | callsign_meaning = '''T'''ransportation<br>'''M'''anagement<br>'''C'''enter | former_callsigns = WAMS (1948–2000) | owner = Delaware Department of Transportation | webcast = [http://167.21.72.16/wtmc.mp3 Listen Live] | website = [https://www.deldot.gov/Traffic/wtmc/ WTMC website] | licensing_authority= FCC }}

'''WTMC''' (1380 AM) is a non-commercial radio station. It also broadcasts on FM translator station '''W253CQ''' at 98.5 MHz. WTMC serves as a traffic advisory station, a service of the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) broadcasting in Wilmington, Delaware. There are signs posted around the Wilmington area advising motorists to tune to this station for traffic advisories. One such sign exists on U.S. Route 202 upon entry into Delaware from Pennsylvania. The service was started in 2000, when DelDOT purchased the license.

WTMC is licensed as a conventional broadcasting station, not a travelers' information station, although the state has added synchronized repeater stations downstate on AM 1380 which are HAR/TIS stations, to extend the station's coverage. The HAR/TIS stations were provided by Information Station Specialists and comprise the largest network of HAR/TIS stations in the country - and the only one whose cardinal location is a former broadcast station, the former WAMS. Additional synchronized TIS/HAR repeaters are being added to the network.

==History== The 1380 frequency first signed on in 1948 as '''WAMS'''.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1949/Radio-BC-YB-1949-B&W.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1949 page 96]</ref> It was owned by the Wilmington Tri-State Broadcasting Company because its signal also extended into New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It was a network affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System, carrying its dramas, comedies, news and sports. An advertisement in the 1949 ''Broadcasting Yearbook'' said WAMS was "Delaware's home owned and operated station." The station originally was powered at 1,000 watts, day and night. WAMS also had an FM station, 96.1 MHz WAMS-FM, powered at 20,000 watts and simulcasting its AM sister station. (The 96.1 frequency is now broadcasting in Allentown, Pennsylvania, as WCTO.)

In the 1960s and 70s, WAMS was a popular Top 40 hit music station but also at various times was a country music station and adult contemporary outlet. It was later powered at 5,000 watts by day and 1,000 watts at night.<ref>[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1985/B-Radio-All-BC-YB-1985.pdf Broadcasting Yearbook 1985 page B-50]</ref> Due to financial problems, the station went dark in 1986. Its original transmitter site was sold, due to the value of the land on which it had been located. AM 1380 stayed off the air until DelDOT purchased the license for its travelers information service.

==Translators== {{RadioTranslators | call1 = W253CQ | freq1 = 98.5 | fid1 = 201388 | watts1 = 100 | haat1 = 55 | class1 = D | city1 = Wilmington, Delaware }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=49173 FCC History Cards for WTMC] * [http://www.oldwilmington.net/pages/radio-tv.html Old Radio Wilmington DE] * [https://bamlog.com/wams.htm 5 Tower Array] * [http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/315974.pdf Delaware DOT purchases AM radio license] * {{Official website|https://www.deldot.gov/Traffic/wtmc/}} {{AM station data|48381|WTMC}} *{{FCC-LMS-Facility|201388|W253CQ}} *{{FMXL|W253CQ}}

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TMC Category:News and talk radio stations in the United States Category:Radio stations established in 1948 Category:Wilmington, Delaware Category:1948 establishments in Delaware Category:Transportation in Delaware Category:Travelers' information stations