WMIT

WMIT (106.9 FM, "106.9 The Light") is a contemporary Christian radio station in Asheville, North Carolina. The station is licensed to the nearby town of Black Mountain. WMIT is a noncommercial, listener supported ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Despite its 35,000-watt effective radiated power, it boasts one of the largest coverage areas in the eastern United States. In addition to its home market of Asheville, its signal can be heard in the Tri-Cities (where it provides city-grade coverage), Greenville/Spartanburg, and Charlotte. All told, WMIT claims a potential audience of five million people in seven states. This is because its transmitter is located on Clingman's Peak, over 6,700 feet (2,000 m) above sea level—one of the highest transmitter sites east of the Mississippi River.

Recently, the station has begun identifying as "Black Mountain/Charlotte/Asheville," acknowledging its large following in the Charlotte area.

The station's call letters stand for Mount Mitchell, the highest mountain peak east of the Mississippi River, which is located about 2½ miles NE of the station's transmitter.

In 2007, WMIT commenced HD Radio service with theEdge 106.9 on the HD2 channel, featuring Christian music for teenagers and young adults. They now broadcast their sister-station, 1010 AM WFGW Talk on the HD3 channel.

History

In the summer of 1941, Mount Mitchell Broadcasters signed on W41MM, with 50,000 watts on 44.1 megacycles from 6,885 feet (2,099 m) above sea level. Though licensed to Winston-Salem, 105 miles (169 km) away, the station operated by remote telephone line.

W41MM became WMIT, and moved to 97.3, then to 106.9. At one time the station operated at 325 kilowatts^[1].

Rising 180 feet (55 m) above 6,557-foot (1,999 m) Clingman's Peak, the WMIT tower's light was higher than anything else east of the Mississippi.

The two-story building housing the station included living space. The road to the top was usually passable. Diesel engines powered the station at first, but eventually power lines had to be installed.

Gordon Gray had to close the station in Spring 1950 because he did not have the time to run it. When the station returned to the air in 1951, its power was the equivalent of 325,000 watts, and it could be picked up in Atlanta, Georgia, 190 miles (310 km) away. Six and a half million potential listeners could pick up the signal. Studios were in Charlotte, 90 miles (140 km) away, and programming was delivered by means of an STL. Much of the music was classical or semi-classical, though three hours a day of local, regional music was played due to listener interest^[2].

The station was donated to the Billy Graham ministry in 1971.

References

1. ^ http://www.fybush.com/site-030612.html, Retrieved on 2008/08/21.
2. ^ http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ggninfo/15.htm, Retrieved on 2008/08/14.

External links

• 106.9 The Light website
• Edge 106.9 website
• Query the FCC's FM station database for WMIT
• Radio-Locator information on WMIT
• Query Arbitron's FM station database for WMIT