About PCTV
Portland Classroom TV (PCTV) is a project of PRETC. PCTV provides instructional programming to schools in the Portland area using frequencies reserved by the FCC for delivery of educational programming via an EBS system.All of our courses are non-commercial, FREE educational programming. We offer these programs for member schools to tape and inventory as school resources. Both teachers and students may use them in classrooms, as well as for independent study or home viewing.
Educational Broadband Service
EBS is a microwave radio service which uses frequencies reserved by the FCC for broadcast of educational programming. EBS transmission is exactly like cable television's, except that it uses microwave frequencies that ordinary TVs are unable to receive. Therefor it is necessary to install a special EBS antenna at each receive point; the antenna picks up the EBS microwave signal and "down converts" it to VHF TV channels which can be picked up by an ordinary set with the help of a cable-type set-top converter. The converter is connected to the TV by a cable, but no modification of the TV itself is required.
EBS systems have been used successfully for years by countless educational organizations across the country. Although PRETC airs programming only in Portland, we work closely with ITF, DAETC, CITF and TCSTG which air programming in Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Sacramento and Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago and the Twin Cities areas respectively.
The current PRETC Board includes:
- President: John Schwartz
- Executive VP: Alice Ellis Gaut
- Member: Thom Hartmann
- Member: Howard Shapiro
The current PCTV Staff includes:
- Local Coordinator: Laurel Hortsch
National Office Staff in Longmont, CO:
- President: John Schwartz
- National Director: Adam Miller
- Chief Financial Officer: Patricia Dwyer
- Director of Instructional Video: Chris Artem
- Business Manager: Hazel Bolsover
- Administrative Assitant: Lonnie Dooley
- Bookkeeper: Cassandra Allen
- Program Officer: Hollis Hope
- Data Services Director: Michelle Warner
- Community Development Manager: John Kennedy
- MC Customer Service Associate: Tricia Castillo