STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Vibrant
AGENDA DATE: June 11, 2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): Citywide
DEPARTMENT: Office of Arts and Culture
EXECUTIVE: M. Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira
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SUBJECT
Title
Authorize an amendment to an existing lease agreement to American Tower Corporation dba American Towers LLC to use the one five-year renewal options for each the primary and the auxiliary radio broadcast towers: the Cowboy Tower and the Milton Tower - Not to exceed $1,045,845.79 - Financing: WRR Enterprise Fund, with total reimbursement by vendor
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BACKGROUND
WRR 101.1FM officially began broadcasting in 1921, initially licensed for municipal and police transmissions for the City of Dallas. It later expanded its programming to include comedies, dramas, news, and sports, before eventually focusing on classical music in 1964. WRR became the first licensed radio station in Texas and the second in the United States. Making it the second oldest radio station in America, WRR is now 103 years old as of 2024.
Operated by the Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) as an Enterprise Fund, WRR is an integral component of the City's commitment to supporting our local arts organizations and providing information about arts experiences to Dallas residents and the nearly eight million North Texas residents capable of receiving the station's signal.
In 2021, the City of Dallas explored alternative operating models for the station due to eight consecutive years of lower-than-expected revenue. They concluded that private management would be better suited to operate the station.
On June 3, 2022, The Dallas City Council approved an agreement between North Texas Public Broadcasting Inc., ("NTPB") and the City of Dallas to manage Dallas-based classical music station WRR 101.1 FM. In this agreement, NTPB agreed to pay for all City-incurred expenses for operation of the station.
NTPB is an excellent management partner, assisting WRR in e...
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