PCTV submitted a proposal in February that would keep the license in the school's hands but would relocate the studio  to the community broadcasting organization's offices on Federico Drive. Students will still be given a priority to learn radio and PCTV plans to simulcast some of its television shows, like municipal meetings, and add new shows. United Cerebral Palsy of Berkshire County will also still be allowed to host its show.

 

"We are going to be reaching out to both schools and possibly even dedicating a part of the day station to the students," PCTV Executive Director Shawn Serre said.

 

PCTV believes that public access to the radio will increase the number of diverse viewpoints. Not everybody has cable and can get PCTV's three television stations and the radio station has a larger reach. Further, PCTV says it is easier for a newcomer to get involved in radio than it is television -- the learning curve and required help is significantly smaller.

 

"The platform itself is important. It is accessible to everybody,"  Serre said when the organization first presented its plan.

 

It is still unclear where the tower will be placed. Office space at PCTV can easily be converted into a new radio studio. Some locations identified as a possibility for the tower are the Clocktower Building on South Church Street, the Crowne Plaza, 7 North St., or at PCTV's studios. Serre said he's been researching the technicalities of various locations but no site has been settled on -- but that one is very close.

 

PCTV would likely have to replace the antennae and the transmitter and will assess the current equipment, and work to improve it as time goes on. PCTV will also have to embark on fundraising efforts to offset the cost to operate the station.

 

Serre said the organization will be bringing in a consultant to ensure all the regulatory filings are done correctly, a radio engineer and tower specialist will be sorting the details on the relocation, and staff will be performing an inventory of the WTBR equipment to determine what can be salvaged and what needs to be replaced.

 

 

"In order to facilitate that move, there will be a time when WTBR is literally off of the air," McCandless said." I think we can look forward to, in the fall, having a new and improved WTBR back on the airwaves for the community to be a part of and enjoy."

 

Serre said he hopes to have the station back on the air in mid-September, but that somewhat depends on how smoothly things go. 

 

The School Committee was happy with the agreement, feeling as if they found a perfect partner to take over the station.

 

"I think this is a match made in heaven," Chairwoman Katherine Yon.

 

The agreement also ensures that producers of shows are guaranteed their time slots for one year. After that, management could make changes.

 

"There are many people in the community who are really dedicated to WTBR," McCandless said. "We wanted to be really respectful of the people who kept producing shows year after year through thick and thin. But we did not want to handcuff the management."

 

Serre expressed confidence with the School Committee's unanimous approval that they all see the same vision.

 

"We're all very excited about the prospects of it. It was great to hear the encouragement I heard tonight from the School Committee. It sounds like they agree with us that this cooperation agreement is going to be good for the radio station, it will be good for the public schools, it will be good for Pittsfield, it will be good for PCTV," Serre said.