WMBD began operations during a chaotic period when most government regulation had been suspended, with new stations free to be set up with few restrictions, including choosing their own transmitting frequencies. The station was first licensed on January 3, 1927, to the Peoria Heights Radio Laboratory at 107 East Glen Avenue, operating on a self-assigned “split” frequency of 1075 kHz.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3221818&view=1up&seq=250 “New Stations”], ”Radio Service Bulletin”, January 31. 1927, page 4.</ref> The call letters were randomly assigned from a sequential list of available call signs, and were later associated with a local legend that [[President of the United States|President]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]] once described [[Grandview Drive]], the location of the station’s original studios, as “the World‘s Most Beautiful Drive“.<ref>Szoke, Anita. [http://www.pjstar.com/news/x858456591/A-great-view-on-Grandview-Drive A Great View on Grandview Drive]. [[Peoria Journal-Star]], June 5, 2008.</ref>
WMBD began operations during a chaotic period when most government regulation had been suspended, with new stations free to be set up with few restrictions, including choosing their own transmitting frequencies. The station was first licensed on January 3, 1927, to the Peoria Heights Radio Laboratory at 107 East Glen Avenue, operating on a self-assigned “split” frequency of 1075 kHz.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b3221818&view=1up&seq=250 “New Stations”], ”Radio Service Bulletin”, January 31. 1927, page 4.</ref> The call letters were randomly assigned from a sequential list of available call signs, a [[President of the United States|President]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]] once [[Grandview Drive]], the location of the station’s original studios, as “the ‘s “.<ref />
Following the establishment of the [[Federal Radio Commission]] (FRC), stations were initially issued a series of temporary authorizations starting on May 3, 1927,<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763078&view=1up&seq=60 “List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits”], ”Radio Service Bulletin”, April 30, 1927, pages 6-14.</ref> which reassigned WMBD to 1080 kHz. In addition, stations were informed that if they wanted to continue operating, they needed to file a formal license application by January 15, 1928, as the first step in determining whether they met the new “public interest, convenience, or necessity” standard.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763078&view=1up&seq=205 “Extension of Broadcasting Station Licenses”], ”Radio Service Bulletin”, December 31, 1927, page 7.</ref> On May 25, 1928, the FRC issued [[General Order 32]], which notified 164 stations, including WMBD, that “From an examination of your application for future license it does not find that public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by granting it.”<ref name=notice>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015011384305&view=1up&seq=182 “Appendix F (2): Letter to and list of stations included in General Order No. 32, issued May 25, 1928″], ”Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission for the Year Ended June 30, 1928, Together With Supplemental Report for the Period From July 1, 1928 to September 30, 1928”, pages 146-149.</ref> However, the station successfully convinced the commission that it should remain licensed.
Following the establishment of the [[Federal Radio Commission]] (FRC), stations were initially issued a series of temporary authorizations starting on May 3, 1927,<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763078&view=1up&seq=60 “List of broadcasting stations issued temporary permits”], ”Radio Service Bulletin”, April 30, 1927, pages 6-14.</ref> which reassigned WMBD to 1080 kHz. In addition, stations were informed that if they wanted to continue operating, they needed to file a formal license application by January 15, 1928, as the first step in determining whether they met the new “public interest, convenience, or necessity” standard.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112106763078&view=1up&seq=205 “Extension of Broadcasting Station Licenses”], ”Radio Service Bulletin”, December 31, 1927, page 7.</ref> On May 25, 1928, the FRC issued [[General Order 32]], which notified 164 stations, including WMBD, that “From an examination of your application for future license it does not find that public interest, convenience, or necessity would be served by granting it.”<ref name=notice>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015011384305&view=1up&seq=182 “Appendix F (2): Letter to and list of stations included in General Order No. 32, issued May 25, 1928″], ”Second Annual Report of the Federal Radio Commission for the Year Ended June 30, 1928, Together With Supplemental Report for the Period From July 1, 1928 to September 30, 1928”, pages 146-149.</ref> However, the station successfully convinced the commission that it should remain licensed.
