The North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement

An added bit of confusion for those interested in the early history of radio in North America is a treaty called the North American Radio Broadcasting Agreement, usually referred to as ``NARBA'', which rearranged the radio dial substantially. The rationale behind the treaty was to set aside Canadian (and Mexican) clear channel frequencies throughout the dial, at a rate of about one per 100 kHz. The treaty also expanded the band from 1500 kHz to 1600 kHz; it took effect on March 29, 1941. This agreement is no longer in force; it has been superseded by US-Canada and US-Mexico working arrangements made in the early 1980s, as well as an ITU-sponsored agreement covering all of the Western Hemisphere.

Here are the most significant changes:

• 540: new Canadian clear
• old 550-680: unchanged
• old 690: mostly unchanged, except CFRB to 860
• old 700-730: unchanged
• 740: new Canadian clear
• old 740-780: moved up 10 kHz to 750-790
• 800: new Canadian clear
• old 790-830: moved up 20 kHz to 810-850
• 860: new Canadian clear
• old 850-870: moved up 20 kHz to 870-890
• 900: new Canadian clear
• old 880-970: moved up 30 kHz to 910-1000
• 1010: new Canadian clear
• old 980: KDKA to 1020
• old 990: WBZ to 1030
• old 1000: WHO to 1040
• old 1010: KQW [KCBS] to 740 (but not right away)
• old 1020: KYW to 1060
• old 1030: CFCN to 1010, CKLW to 800
• old 1040: WTIC, KRLD, KWJJ all to 1080
• old 1050: to 1070
• old 1060: WBAL to 1090, WJAG to 1110 (later traded for 780 with KFAB)
• old 1070-1150: moved up 30 kHz to 1100-1180
• old 1160: WOWO to 1190, WWVA to 1170
• old 1170: WCAU [WGMP] to 1210
• old 1180: KEX to 1190, KOB [KKOB] to 770, WDGY [KFAN] to 1130, WINS to 1010
• old 1190: WOAI to 1200, WSAZ to 930, WATR to 1320
• old 1200-1450: moved up 30 kHz to 1230-1480
• old 1460: KSTP, WSJV [WTOP] to 1500
• old 1470: KGA, WLAC, WMEX [WWZN] to 1510
• old 1480: KOMA, WKBW [WWKB] to 1520
• old 1490: KFBK, WCKY [WSAI] to 1530
• old 1500: to 1490
• old 1510: CFRC to 1490
• old 1530: W1XBS to WBRY [WQQW;dark] 1590, W9XBY to KITE [dark] 1550
• old 1550: W2XR to WQXR [WQEW] 1560, W6XAI to KPMC [KNZR] 1560
• 1580: new Canadian clear