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WTBR may find a new home with PCTV.

PCTV Submits Proposal To Manage WTBR, The Brave FM

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Community Television wants to turn WTBR into a community radio station.
 
For nearly four years, school officials have been looking for partners to keep the The Brave FM alive after the demolition of the current Taconic High School building.
 
In the last few months, those talks led to the local public access television station. PCTV Executive Director Shawn Serre said the discussions are "in the initial phase" right now. But the organization sees great benefit in not only saving the radio station but enhancing its programming.
 
"If we end up managing the operations, we will look to increase community involvement," Serre said. "We also envision doing some interesting crossover programs."
 
Should it come to fruition, the shows that currently exist will remain but the studio would be relocated to PCTV's offices on Federico Drive. The organization will then solicit for new shows, and simulcast more programs on both mediums -- such as broadcasting City Council or School Committee meetings. Serre said the School Department will still own the licenses and PCTV will launch an outreach effort in the high schools to ensure students can still have that educational option.
 
"It was originally meant to be a student station but over the course of years and decades, it shifted," Serre said, calling the station now a "hybrid" between education and community programming. 
 
The station was formed in 1973 and operates out of Taconic High. Over time, student interest faded and equipment broke down. It was rejuvenated in the 2000s under active and knowledgeable advisers, but in more recent years, participation again waned.
 
Radio broadcasting is not part of the curriculum in the new school and the radio tower and station face a potential silencing. Demolition of the current school building is expected to start this fall, and with that the tower would need to be relocated.
 
"The biggest timeline we all are facing right now is the old Taconic is facing the wrecking ball," Serre said.
 
In 2014, School Superintendent Jason McCandless suggested the school halt operations but community members rallied against it -- not wanting to lose the FCC-licensed nonprofit educational broadcasting service. Since then, McCandless has been searching for answers -- how to manage it, who will partner, and where the equipment will go.
 
"We think one of our best opportunities to keep WTBR healthy, high quality, and sustainable, is to look for partners," McCandless said.
 
United Cerebral Palsy of Berkshire County operates LRRS-LPFM, Pittsfield 104.3, which hosts the Berkshire Talking Chronicle for the reading impaired. UCP had also been in the conversations about managing the station. But a management agreement had not been reached.
 
Serre said it was recently mentioned to PCTV that there could be an opportunity to take over management. He said if PCTV does, UCP will still be able to operate as it has, and possibly add more programming. 
 
Serre believes PCTV is particularly a good fit to manage the station because it already has staffing, funding, and longstanding partnerships with the schools. PCTV also has equipment in the current station to simulcast "Good Morning, Pittsfield," a morning show hosted by John Krol.
 
"PCTV for over 30 years has been the champion of public access," Serre said. "We find ways to give the community a voice."
 
A community radio station opens the door for many who may not otherwise have access to that medium. Serre believes public access allows for more diverse viewpoints. But the three Pittsfield Community Television stations are somewhat limited in reach because the channels are only available to local Spectrum Cable subscribers. He sees WTBR as a way to be reach more of the community. 
 
"The platform itself is important. It is accessible to everybody," Serre said, adding that the station reaches "as far north as Adams and as far south as Lee." 
 
He also believes that while PCTV allows citizens to produce shows, there is a population of people who shy away from television and would prefer doing radio. He said radio shows can be produced by just one person, whereas television requires a number of people being involved.
 
"In radio, you have the chance to be one person, one voice," Serre said.
 
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 for the town but no site has been settled on.
 
"There are some significant costs for the relocation of the tower," Serre said.
 
He said 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 those efforts would be a combination of underwriting and traditional fundraising. As for manpower, Serre believes there will be volunteers attracted to the radio station.
 
"We always require more volunteers, as does any non-profit. But bringing a new platform like a public radio station online would bring a new crop of volunteers," Serre said.
 
There are still legal and logistical hurdles to jump before any of these changes can happen. Serre is hoping everything, including reaching an agreement with the schools, will come together quickly so the station can be transitioned before the demolition begins.

Tags: PCTV,   radio,   WTBR,   

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Crosby/Conte Statement of Interest Gets OK From Council

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With the approval of all necessary bodies, the school district will submit a statement of interest for a combined build on the site of Crosby Elementary School.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously gave Superintendent Joseph Curtis the green light for the SOI to the Massachusetts School Building Authority by April 12.

"The statement I would make is we should have learned by our mistakes in the past," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.

"Twenty years ago, we could have built a wastewater treatment plant a lot cheaper than we could a couple of years ago and we can wait 10 years and get in line to build a new school or we can start now and, hopefully, when we get into that process and be able to do it cheaper then we can do a decade from now."

The proposal rebuilds Conte Community School and Crosby on the West Street site with shared facilities, as both have outdated campuses, insufficient layouts, and need significant repair. A rough timeline shows a feasibility study in 2026 with design and construction ranging from 2027 to 2028.

Following the SOI, the next step would be a feasibility study to determine the specific needs and parameters of the project, costing about $1.5 million and partially covered by the state. There is a potential for 80 percent reimbursement through the MSBA, who will decide on the project by the end of the year.

Earlier this month, city officials took a tour of both schools — some were shocked at the conditions students are learning in.

Silvio O. Conte Community School, built in 1974, is a 69,500 square foot open-concept facility that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s but the quad classroom layout poses educational and security risks.  John C. Crosby Elementary School, built in 1962, is about 69,800 square feet and was built as a junior high school so several aspects had to be adapted for elementary use.

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