RTON Black Mountain

RTON Czarna Góra (Radiowo-Telewizyjny Ośrodek Nadawczy) is a radio and television broadcasting center located at an altitude of 1,133 meters above sea level on the slope of Czarna Góra in the Śnieżnik Massif. The construction of the facility, initiated in 1974 by the State Enterprise of Radio and Television Stations, encountered numerous organizational and technical challenges, leading to prolonged stagnation. Eventually, after multiple changes in contractors, the responsibility for completing the project was taken over by the "Violetta" Crystal Glass Works. After resuming work in 1983 and employing unconventional methods, including collaboration with the military, construction was completed in 1986. The center became a crucial facility for the residents of the Kłodzko region, providing access to radio and television signals. In 1986, television broadcasting began, significantly impacting both access to information and the cultural life of the area. The facility expanded over time, gaining the capability to broadcast mobile phone signals, and in 2011, digital television broadcasting was launched, fully replacing analog signals by 2013. An interesting anecdote is the spread of rumors about the construction of a missile launch site, fueled by the military involvement during the building process. RTON Czarna Góra not only contributed to the development of media infrastructure in the region but also became an architectural landmark in the picturesque landscape of the Sudetes.