| Broadcast area | Asheville metropolitan area |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 106.9MHz (HD Radio) |
| Branding | The Light FM |
| Programming | |
| Languages | English |
| Format | Contemporary Christian andChristian talk and teaching |
| Subchannels | HD2:Christian rock "theEdge 106.9" |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WFGW,WAVO | |
| History | |
First air date | July 26, 1942; 82 years ago (1942-07-26) (current license dates from July 1, 1951) |
Former call signs | W41MM (1941–1943) |
Call sign meaning | Mount Mitchell |
| Technical information[1] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 5970 |
| Class | C |
| ERP | 36,000 watts |
| HAAT | 942 meters (3,091 ft) |
Transmitter coordinates | 35°44′6.00″N82°17′10.00″W / 35.7350000°N 82.2861111°W /35.7350000; -82.2861111 |
| Translator(s) |
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| Repeater(s) | |
| Links | |
Public license information | |
| Webcast | Listen live |
| Website | thelightfm |
WMIT (106.9MHz, "106.9 The Light") is a non-profitFM radio stationlicensed toBlack Mountain, North Carolina, United States and servingAsheville.
WMIT is a listener-supported ministry of theBilly Graham Evangelistic Association. It airs a mix ofContemporary Christian music with someChristian talk and teaching programs, including national religious leadersJim Daly,John MacArthur,David Jeremiah,Chuck Swindoll andCharles Stanley.[2] Its studios and offices are on Porters Cove Road in Asheville.
Programming issimulcast in the Charlotte area on full-powerWAVO (1150 AM) inRock Hill, South Carolina, and low-poweredFM translators W282BP (104.3 MHz) inMatthews, North Carolina and W268DM (101.5 MHz) in Rock Hill. In the North Carolina High Country, WMIT is simulcast on low-powered W234CF (94.7 MHz) inBoone, North Carolina. Most of WMIT's schedule is also simulcast on 106.7WFGW in theKnoxville, Tennesseeradio market.
In 2007, WMIT began broadcasting in theHD Radio format, adding "theEdge 106.9" on the HD2digital subchannel. It featuresChristian rock music for teenagers and young adults, which is also heard ontranslator W292CJ (106.3 FM) in Asheville.
WMIT has one of the largest coverage areas for an FM radio station in the Eastern United States. It claims a potential audience of five million people inNorth Carolina,South Carolina,Tennessee,Virginia andGeorgia. This is because itstransmitter is located on Clingmans Peak, with the combined mountain and transmitter tower elevation at over 6,700 feet (2,000 m) above sea level, with the highest transmitter site east of theMississippi River. Its transmitter rises 180 feet (55 m) above 6,557-foot (1,999 m) on Clingmans Peak, putting WMIT tower's light higher than anything else east of the Mississippi.
Itseffective radiated power (ERP) is 36,000 watts. Many FM stations nearby run at 100,000 watts but their towers are only a third the height of WMIT. Due to its unusualheight above average terrain (HAAT), WMIT isgrandfathered with a "superpower" signal.[3]
In addition to its home market of Asheville, WMIT provides at least secondary coverage to large portions of theGreenville/Spartanburg,Charlotte, andTri-Cities markets. Long before the installation of the translators and the WAVO simulcast, WMIT had a particularly large following in the Charlotte area, garnering a 1.4 rating in the Charlotte market in January 2014.[4] Since 2014, WMIT has identified as "Black Mountain/Charlotte/Asheville" to acknowledge its large listenership in the Charlotte area, which has as many people as the rest of its coverage area combined. However, it could only be heard clearly in the market's western portion until the addition of the translators and the WAVO simulcast.
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WMIT was the first FM station in North Carolina, and among the earliest in the United States.[6] On May 24, 1940, theFederal 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-oldGordon Gray, described as "one of the nation's wealthiest young men", who was president of the Piedmont Publishing Company, publishers of theWinston-Salem Journal andTwin 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 aStudio/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 toWinston-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 theWinston-Salem Journal andThe Twin City Sentinel for their AM stationWSJS.[14]
Effective November 1, 1943, the FCC modified its policy for FM station call letters, and the call sign was changed to WMIT, standing forMount Mitchell,[15] the highest mountain east of the Mississippi River, located about2+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 orbeautiful 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 inAtlanta, 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]