More than $100,000 will be spent in additional equipment and a new building will be constructed at radio station WBT's plant on the York road within the next six months in building a plant capable of 50,000 watt power, Earle Gluck, manager of the station, announced yesterday.
The station has for a long time been working to get its power increased from 5,000 watts to 50,000. It has been granted an increase to 25,000 by the federal radio commission but its application for the entire increase has not yet been definitely acted upon.
However, Mr. Gluck said, the station is going ahead with its plans for 50,000 watt power and will be prepared if permission is granted. When the new plant is completed, within the next half year, it will operate on the 25,000 watts authorized until the commission gives it the extra power.
PLANS BEING PREPARED.
Mr. Gluck said that the engineering department of the Columbia Broadcasting system is now preparing complete plans for the station enlargement. These will be completed soon and work is expected to start in about three weeks. A new transmitter will form the feature of the new equipment to be installed. Mr. Gluck pointed out that the new building will be of concrete and brick and will give the organization twice the space it has at the present.
When station WBT operates under 25,000 watt power, it will be the most powerful between Washington and Atlanta. Two southern stations, Charlotte and Birmingham, were granted 25,000 watts in the last decision of the commission. Four were given permission to increase to 50,000 watts power.
Mr. Gluck said that beginning the first of the year, a number of new programs originating in New York will be broadcast over the local station.