April 24, 2025 Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ
Fort Pierce, FL (April 24, 2025) – Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Public Media announces the opening of its new broadcasting studio at the Williamson Center on Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ’s Dixon-Hendry campus in Okeechobee. Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the facility, which will serve as the home of WQCO – Lake O’s Rock Variety. WQCO broadcasts with a power of 11,000 watts from a tower and transmitter on U.S. 98 northwest of the city of Okeechobee.
Christa Luna (Chair of Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Board of Trustees), José L. Conrado (Board Member), and Chris Puorro (Associate VP & Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Public Media General Manager) in the newly opened studio.
The new studio will enable Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Public Media’s stations to conduct interviews and produce programs with the Lake Okeechobee community without traveling to the main WQCS studios in Fort Pierce. The station’s expansion will serve over 40,000 people in the Okeechobee area, including the previously underserved Seminole Tribal community of Brighton Reservation.
“This new facility represents a significant milestone in our commitment to serving the communities across our region,” said Christa Luna, Chair of the Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Board of Trustees, Okeechobee resident and business owner. “By establishing this studio in Okeechobee, we’re ensuring that the voices and stories of the Lake Okeechobee region are prominently featured in our programming.”
The studio will provide essential broadcasting capabilities for communities surrounding Lake Okeechobee, including Okeechobee, Lakeport, Moore Haven, Clewiston, and Belle Glade, which are covered by WQCO’s signals at 90.5 FM and 88.5 FM.
“The opening of this studio supports Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ’s mission to provide accessible education and resources throughout our service area,” said Dr. Timothy E. Moore, President of Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ. “This facility not only enhances our public media footprint but also allows the College to better connect with the communities we serve and provide valuable emergency information during times of crisis, such as weather events.”
The establishment of WQCO marks a significant achievement for Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Public Media, which was one of the first two public broadcasting entities in the country to receive grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) earmarked for upgrading equipment and expanding broadcast coverage as part of the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grant program, funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program specifically prioritizes public media stations serving rural, Tribal, and underserved communities, with Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Public Media receiving up to $165,680 for the project.
“We’ve wanted to expand our service across the region,” said Chris Puorro, Associate VP & General Manager of the four Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Public Media stations. “Our signals for WQCO at 90.5 FM and 88.5 FM cover communities like Okeechobee, Lakeport, Moore Haven, Clewiston, and Belle Glade. Now it will be easier to connect with those communities with a studio in their backyard.”
Puorro added, “This facility also will generate emergency weather messages to an area that was underserved previously, thanks to the grant from FEMA and CPB. WQCO will keep them informed and updated during emergencies when other services are not accessible.”
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About Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ: Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ, serving Florida’s Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties, offers high-quality, affordable education to 23,000 students annually through traditional and online courses. The College provides more than 120 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, technical certificates, and applied technology diplomas. For more information, visit irsc.edu.
