MVY Radio wants to build a 60-foot antenna on the Chilmark fire station on North Road, part of a plan to improve transmission strength for the station up-Island.

MVY board vice chair Rogers Brandon presented the plan at the Chilmark select board meeting Tuesday, with the board voting to allow the radio station to move forward with the town permitting process.

Mr. Brandon said the new antenna would also help the station provide emergency alerts to areas with poor radio reception, and may have applications for town emergency services.

About six feet of the tower would be visible about the tree line, he said.

“There are big chunks of Chilmark...that the station does not service,” Mr. Brandon said. “We would be happy to donate [the tower] to the town once it’s completed in exchange for a long term, favorable license agreement.”

Dukes County sheriff’s deputy Anthony Gould also spoke in favor of the new antenna, saying it could have applications to improve communication and technological redundancy among Island emergency services.