WKIZ (1500 AM) was a radio station broadcasting a talk radio format. Licensed to Key West, Florida, United States, the station was last owned by Daniel Caamano, through licensee Almavision of Miami, brokered to KONK Communications.
History WKIZ began broadcasting on March 27, 1959. It was owned by the Florida Keys Broadcasting Corporation.History Cards for WKIZ, fcc.gov. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
In the early 1990s, the station aired an oldies format.Ross, Sean; Stark, Phyllis; Levy, Rochelle. "Vox Jox", Billboard. January 18, 1992. p. 76. Retrieved March 11, 2020.Unmacht, Robert. "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 9, No. 17. April 27, 1992. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2020. It was taken off the air December 6, 1994, but resumed broadcasting in early 1997, as an affiliate of Bloomberg Radio.Unmacht, Robert. "Washington This Week", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14, No. 6. February 12, 1997. p. 10. Retrieved March 11, 2020."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14, No. 7. February 12, 1997. p. 1. Retrieved March 11, 2020. It adopted a Spanish language religious format later in the year."Format Changes & Updates", The M Street Journal. Vol. 14, No. 38. September 24, 1997. p. 2. Retrieved March 11, 2020. In the 2000s, the station aired a progressive talk format as an affiliate of Air America.Bender, David (2006). Air America: The Playbook. Rodale, Inc. p. 258.
In 2010, Overseas Radio, LLC began brokering broadcasting time on WKIZ. The station was branded KONK and aired a talk radio format. The radio station was called "The Best Talk Radio Station in Florida" by Florida Monthly magazine (September 2010). KONK originally signed on May 26, 2009, as an unlicensed station operating under U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Part 15 low power rules, broadcasting on 1630 kHz at 1 milliwatt, covering only the island of Key West.
The station was taken off the air on September 10, 2017, due to damage to its transmitter, caused by Hurricane Irma."Request for Special Temporary Authority to Remain Silent", fcc.gov. November 1, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2020. It resumed operations in September 2018, running reduced power of 62.5 watts, but was again taken silent on October 22, 2018.Almavision of Miami, Inc. WKIZ(AM), Key West, Florida Facility Identification Number: 11193 Special Temporary Authority", fcc.gov. September 7, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2020."Request for Special Temporary Authority to Remain Silent", fcc.gov. November 29, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2020. The WKIZ license expired on February 1, 2020, as its owner failed to file an application to renew the station's license."Radio License Expirations", fcc.gov. January 17, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
References
External links Facility details for Facility ID 11193 (WKIZ) in the FCC Licensing and Management System FCC History Cards for WKIZ (covering 1956-1980 as WFKB / WKIZ)