On September 7, 1949, the Federal Communications Commission authorized William N. Greer to build and operate a new 250-watt radio station on 1340 kHz in Charlotte Amalie.

[5] Greer lost money in his first two years of running WSTA,[6] but it was warmly welcomed and provided a valuable and eclectic broadcasting service.

[8] It described one of the station's foremost personalities in its early years: "Mango Jones", whose real name was Ron de Lugo, who would later enter politics and serve as the U.S. Virgin Islands delegate to Congress.

WSTA was a "secret affiliate" of NBC and the Mutual Broadcasting System, receiving network newscasts two days late by air from Miami.

[10] Len Stein, one of KUAM's employees, moved to St. Thomas to run the newly purchased Virgin Islands station.