Email a Friend
Print
Larger
SmallerThe tower is necessary to comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandates for all television stations to begin broadcasting a digital signal. WIPB's current tower cannot support a new digital antenna and transmission line.
The station, which operates under a license granted to Ball State, will pay for the property, but state funding appropriated to the Indiana Public Broadcasting Services, Inc. will cover the tower construction costs.
"We looked at sites all across the county to build the tower, but this one is the best option for a number of reasons," said William Cahoe, director of the university Teleplex, which manages WIPB.
Those reasons included:
* The property is not in the flight path of regional airports
* It is the appropriate distance from WIPB's existing tower
* It has no wetlands or hills
* It has accessibility to three-phase power
Pending final approval of the plan from the FCC and Federal Aviation Administration, construction should begin in the summer.
In other action, the trustees approved a new policy for graduate assistants who are called to active military duty. They will be guaranteed an assistantship when they return from active duty.
Trustees president Thomas DeWeese decided to remove proposed rates for room and board for 2003-04 from the agenda because scheduling conflicts and inclement weather prevented nearly half of Ball State's board members from attending the meeting.
"We proceeded with more routine agenda items, because a simple quorum is sufficient to consider those issues," DeWeese said. "However, setting room and board rates is a significant topic, and I believe it is in the best interest of Ball State and this board to defer this item until we have more members present."
Proposed room and board rates will be addressed at the board's next meeting.
(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Glenn Augustine, associate director of university communications, at (765) 285-1560 or ggaugustine@bsu.edu.)
