Why do all radio and tv station call letters start with a W?

Answer 1

From About.com: "At first, it didn't matter what part of the country a station was located in to use either letter.

Then, in 1923, The Federal Communications Commission ordained that all new radio stations east of the Mississippi River would use "W" as the first letter and stations west of the Mississippi would use "K".

Certain stations were "grandfathered" and allowed to keep their call letters for various reasons, even if they did not conform to the new edict.

By the way, Canadian stations begin with "C" and Mexican stations begin with "X". "

Answer 2

The link below is a stie that contains several documentations on radio history. I would recommend looking through "United States Callsign Policies" for reasoning to the use of the letters K and W. Orignally they were used for Naval call codes, along with other letters. I'm not sure if this lists the actual reason for the decision to use these letters, but it's a start. The "K/W Call Letters in the United States" link lists all the discrepencies (K stations in the east, W in the west).

Answer 3

When the United States federal government begin licensing radio stations the (W) in front of the call sign indicated whether it was East(W) or West(K) of the Mississippi.
Only one exception that I know about is KDKA which is located in the eastern part of the nation.

Answer 4

Only east of the Mississippi. West of the Mississippi starts with "K" . Mostly.

Answer 5

East of the Mississippi begins with W.
West begins with K.

Answer 6

They don't; some start with K. It's part of the FCC's naming process.

Answer 7

not all start with w. on the west coast they start with k. i live in california so i know this for a fact.

Answer 8

they don't. depends on whick part of the country you are from. when i lived in sc, it was w. in texas it is k.