History
WMIT was the first FM station in North Carolina, and among the earliest in the United States. [6] On May 24, 1940, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the establishment, effective January 1, 1941, of an FM radio band consisting of 40 channels spanning 42–50 MHz, with the first five channels (42.1 to 42.9 MHz) reserved for educational stations, and the other 35 (43.1 to 49.9 MHz) available for commercial operation. [7] WMIT was first authorized on August 25, 1941, as W41MM, [8] for 50,000 watts on 44.1 MHz. [9] The station was licensed to 32-year-old Gordon Gray, described as "one of the nation's wealthiest young men", who was president of the Piedmont Publishing Company, publishers of the Winston-Salem Journal and Twin City Sentinel, and owner of AM radio station WSJS in Winston-Salem. [10]
The entry of the United States into World War II later that year caused construction delays. [11] After a couple months of test transmissions, W41MM began regular programming on the evening of July 26, 1942. Its initial schedule was 3 to 9 p.m. daily. [12] Due to the wartime shortages, it initially broadcast with 3,000 watts. Programming which did not originate at the transmitter site was relayed from WSJS studios by a Studio/transmitter link (STL) radio link. At first diesel engines provided electricity for the transmitter, but eventually power lines were installed. A two-story building was constructed at the transmitter site, housing the transmitter equipment. Living space was included for station engineers needing to stay during difficult winter weather when the road to the top was impassable.
The station's transmitter was 6,885 feet (2,099 m) above sea level. Originally licensed to Winston-Salem, 105 miles (169 km) away, the station operated by remote telephone line. [13] The Winston-Salem studios were eventually housed in a two-story building built in 1942 at 419 Spruce Street by the Winston-Salem Journal and The Twin City Sentinel for their AM station WSJS. [14]
Effective November 1, 1943, the FCC modified its policy for FM station call letters, and the call sign was changed to WMIT, standing for Mount Mitchell, [15] the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River, located about 2+1⁄2 miles northeast of the transmitter site. After the FM band was reassigned to 88-108 MHz, WMIT moved to 97.3 MHz.
In 1947, WSJS was authorized to establish its own FM station, WSJS-FM. Contemporary FCC rules disallowed more than one station on a given band from operating in a common studio site, so WMIT's studios were relocated from Winston-Salem to Charlotte, [16] 90 miles (140 km) away. Much of the music was classical or beautiful music, though three hours a day of local, regional music was played due to listener interest. [17] In 1948, WMIT was issued a Construction Permit to change its transmitting frequency to 106.9 MHz. [18] The station eventually increased its ERP power to 75 kw.
In April 1950, WMIT ceased broadcasting. In a letter to the FCC, Gordon Gray wrote: "With considerable regret I have decided to discontinue the operation of WMIT after April 13, 1950. After that date any outstanding licenses will be returned to the Commission for cancellation. I had hoped that we might be able to find a purchaser who would take over and continue the operation but we have not been successful along that line." [19] The license for WMIT was deleted on April 26. [20]
In December 1950, an application was filed by Mount Mitchell Broadcasters, Inc., headed by Charlotte investment banker W. Olin Nisbet, Jr., for use of the "former facilities of Gordon Gray - WMIT", specifying operation with 325 kw on 106.9 MHz. [21] This was approved early the next year. Although technically this was a new station, because it revived the WMIT call letters and operated on the same frequency from the same transmitter site, it has generally been considered to be a continuation of the original WMIT authorized in 1941. [22] The new studio location was in Black Mountain.
WMIT returned to the air on July 1, 1951. [23] [13] WMIT could be picked up in Atlanta, Georgia, 190 miles (310 km) away. Six and a half million potential listeners could receive the signal.
In 1955, the station was issued a Construction Permit that reduced its power to 36 kw. Billy Graham's ministry purchased WMIT in 1962. [24] At first Graham used the station to broadcast Christian instructional and preaching programs, hosted by Graham and other religious leaders, but around 2000, shifted its focus to airing a music-oriented Christian contemporary format, with some instructional and preaching programs during the day.
On October 12, 2023, the station's transmitter site at Clingmans Peak was designated the "'Munn Communications Facility", in memory of the late E. Harold Munn, Jr., who had served as a long-time member and officer of the Blue Ridge Broadcasting board of directors. [25]
