In June 1947, WBSC took to the airwaves for the first time under the ownership of Loys Marsden Hawley,[4] with programming from the Mutual Broadcasting System.[5] Initially, WBSC broadcast on 1400 AM, but changed to 1550 AM sometime between 1951 and 1952.[6][7]
In 1949, Loys Marsden Hawley sold WBSC to Bennettsville Broadcasting Company for an unknown sum.[8] In 1956, WBSC was again sold, this time to the Atlantic Coast Life Insurance Company.[9] WBSC would change hands again on September 23, 1962, this time being sold to Big Bend Broadcasting.[10] At the time of the sale, WBSC was carrying a Country format.[10]
By 1970, WBSC was airing a mix of Gospel and country music, along with the normal fare from the Mutual Broadcasting System.[11] In 1973, the station dropped its Gospel and Country format for a contemporary one (what today would be considered Oldies).[12] By 1980, the station was airing a variety format, with contemporary, Gospel, and country music being heard.[13] The station would revert to a Gospel and country format in 1984.[14]
In 1990, WBSC would change formats again, this time to oldies and would drop Mutual Broadcasting System for the Satellite Music Network, the predecessor of the ABC Radio Network.[15][16][17] In April 1995, Big Bend Broadcasting sold WBSC to D-Mitch Broadcasting, Inc.[18] At the time of the sale, WBSC was still airing an Oldies format.[18] In 1997, the new owners, D-Mitch Broadcasting, tweaked the station's format, adding Gospel music along with the oldies.[19]
On June 27, 2008, the station was fined $12,000 for "failure to maintain operational Emergency Alert System ("EAS") equipment and failure to maintain and make available a complete public inspection file."[20][21]
A lawsuit was filed against D-Mitch Broadcasting, Inc. on March 4, 2010 to collect the $12,000 fine from 2008.[22] On May 12, 2010, D-Mitch Broadcasting, Inc. was ordered by the court, in default, to pay the $12,000 fine, plus $370.00 in court costs.[23][24] The defendants, D-Mitch Broadcasting, Inc., "failed to appear, plead, or otherwise defend as provided in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure" according to the Default Judgement.[24]
In the station's November 29, 2011 License Renewal Application, the station had been off the air "due [to] lack of funds" since October 6, 2011.[25] It was also noted that the station's Emergency Alert System equipment was not working, but was to be replaced, while the public inspection file was updated.[25] In January 2012, the station's former engineer told the Huffington Post that he was let go when the station "went under" in October 2011.[26]
On May 9, 2012, D-Mitch Broadcasting, Inc. was notified that they had neglected to file a "Special Temporary Authority" application declaring WBSC silent under FCC rules.[27] D-Mitch Broadcasting, Inc. was given "until 12:01 a.m., on October 7, 2012" to return to the air or their license would "automatically expire as a matter of law".[27]
On November 29, 2012, the FCC had not received a reply to their May 9 letter to D-Mitch Broadcasting, Inc. and "based on the lack of a response to [the FCC's] status inquiry letter" the FCC declared that WBSC had been off the air for more than 12 months.[28] Under the terms of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as a matter of law a radio station's broadcast license is subject to automatic forfeiture and cancellation if they fail to broadcast for one full year.[29] The FCC cancelled WBSC's license and deleted the WBSC call sign from the database.[28][29] Additionally, the station's November 29, 2011 License Renewal Application was dismissed. The November 29, 2012 letter was sent back to the FCC on January 22, 2013, with a "Return to Sender" label on the original envelope.[30]
In October 2008, WBSC was a focus of the South Carolina Educational Television documentary Losing Their Voices about the plight of local radio stations in an era of automation and group ownership.[31][32][33]
