WDCB began broadcasting July 5, 1977 and was originally a part-time station, sharing time on the frequency with WEPS. The station's call sign stood for "DuPage Community Broadcasting". In its early years, the station aired classical, jazz, and folk music, College of DuPage courses, community affairs, and entertainment programming. The station began full-time operations in October 1987, after an agreement was reached for WEPS to move to a new frequency. Throughout the 1980s, WDCB was also used on the Cablevision of Downers Grove's Local/Public Access Channel.