Religious Broadcaster Gives Up Claim To Cambridge Radio Station WCAS

An Oakland, Calif.-based religious broadcaster yesterday gave up its bid for ownership of Cambridge radio station WCAS, three months after staking its controversial claim in the AM station.

Family Stations Inc., a non-profit religious programmer, agreed mutually with Kaiser Broadcasting Inc. to end negotiations for the Kaiser station.

Frank A. Philpot, director of special projects at Kaiser Broadcasting in Oakland, said last night that WCAS would remain on a "progressive folk/folk-rock" format indefinitely.

He said that Kaiser would continue to look for a buyer for the station, which has sustained heavy losses under varied formats over the past five years.

In late January the Federal Communications Commission approved the sale to Family Stations and the change of format to religious programming, but Cambridge community groups subsequently protested the switch.

Delay the Case

The Citizens for Community Radio filed briefs with the FCC in the matter and promised to delay the case in court as long as possible.

The organization claimed that the WCAS offering, with heavy public-service emphasis, was unique on the Cambridge air waves.

Philpot said that Kaiser "hopefully could find some buyer who would keep the present format."