One small step last week for WQWK radio will be a large step for potential listeners, station officials say.

WQWK, now 97.1 on the FM dial, moved and enlarged its transmitting tower last Wednesday, expanding its reception by about 20-25 miles, and allowing residents of Bellefonte, Lock Haven, Williamsport, Huntingdon, Philipsburg and Altoona to hear the station for the first time, said Robert Schmidt, WQWK's general manager.

"I couldn't listen to it before. There was too much static," said Diane Johnson of Bellefonte.

"We've received 4 to 1 favorable calls about the move. People say they've picked us up where they couldn't before," he said.

WQWK, which has been considering the recent move for at least five years, wanted to reach a larger audience, Schmidt said.

The station moved its 200-foot tower from Clearview Avenue to Scotia Road last week, he said.

"The station had to relocate the tower because its new size would have interfered with another station in Maryland," Schmidt said. "We feel it's been successful."

However, the move has also produced some dead spots where reception is weaker than before, Schmidt said.

"Any radio signal has holes in some areas. Our dead spots have moved since our tower has moved," he said. "For example, the reception has been weaker at my house on Westerly Parkway."

One Bellefonte resident found no change in reception.

"It came in clear before," Dee Flory said.

Several area radio stations reported no differences from WQWK's change.

At competing B103 radio, the station's general manager said the move may increase his station's audience.

"If people didn't hear of the change, we may have more people sample the station," said David Burdette. "Since they didn't change their music format, I don't think it affected us at all."

Officials at WZWW agreed.

"WQWK was not at their maximum facilities allowed by the Federal Communications Commission. We've been at that (maximum) since we've began," said Dan Barker, the station's president and general manager.

In addition, the two stations aim at different markets, said Kay Barker, WZWW's vice president of operations.

"It has definitely not affected us at all," she said.

Although WQWK's change has not affected the area's public radio station, WPSU is also considering expansion, said David Dever, WPSU's vice-president of administration.

"We're potentially two separate markets. We provide alternative programs and services such as public service talk shows, new music, afternoon classics, gospel, folk and jazz," he said.

WPSU is speaking with the FCC about expansion, Dever said.