Radio WSIA

WSIA is a college radio station in Staten Island, New York. The station broadcasts on 88.9 MHz FM. The station airs jazz, rock, and urban formatted content in addition to talk radio.In the mid 1970s, a group of students intrigued by radio gathered in a broom closet of the C Building at the College of Staten Island to form WSIA.The founding members of WSIA include Ronald Resnick, Greg Cully, Joe Mininni, Karen Cino, and Diane T (Champagne) amongst others. Upon working with the college, the students were able to apply for an FM license and were granted a construction permit.In the late 1970s, a new group of students applied to the Student Government and Association for money to commence construction. In 1980 a general manager, Greg Adamo, was hired to handle the daily tasks of the station and coordinate the construction of the station. In early 1981, an agreement was reached to acquire an antenna site on Todt Hill which is noted as the tallest point on the East Coast. Phone lines were eventually installed for the transmitter. The remaining construction of the studio was expedited in the basement of the E Building on the Sunnyside campus. On August 31, 1981, WSIA commenced regularly scheduled broadcast.After having worked off of student fees, the college would eventually pick up the salary of the general manager in 1985. Although WSIA was on the cutting edge in playing news music, the station was not highly promoted by the college. Most of the station’s support was a direct result of its listeners as the station grew in recognition. In 1985 and 1986 WSIA was host to two regional conferences of the Intercollegiate Broadcasting Convention Intercollegiate Broadcasting System.