If the Federal Radio Commission limits Radio Station WBT to an increase in power of only 20,000 watts, making the total power 25,000 watts, the station will abandon plans to construct the $250,000 new transmission plant.
Plans for the erection of such a plant and improvement of the studios were made when the station put in appeal for an increase to 50,000 watts. The examiner recommended that the station's power be limited to 25,000 watts.
Earle J. Gluck, manager, pointed out yesterday that the present transmission plant, located eight miles from Charlotte on the Nation's Ford Road can be readily improved for the needs of a 25,000-watt station. Such improvements would cost approximately $25,000.
The commission may require, however, that even with 25,000 watts the transmission plant must be moved further beyond the city. This order would make necessary the surveys of surrounding territory which WBT officials recently dropped, and the selection of a suitable site. An entirely new transmission plant for the station of 25,000 watts could be constructed at much less the proposed cost for the 50,000 watts station, Mr. Gluck said.