ED 112 855

ZITS. E

,INSTITUTION

PUB DATENOTE

EDRS PRICEDESCRIPTORS

IDENTIFIERS

DOCUMENT RESUME

IR 002 564

Public Use of Public Channels: Opportunities in CableTelecommunications. First Report to the GeneralAssembly.Connecticut State Commission on the Educational andInformational Uses of Cable TelecOmmunications,Hartford.15 Feb 7596p.

MF-$0.76 HC-$4.43 Plus Postage*Cable Television; Educational Planning; *EducationalTelevition; Information Needs; Information Networks;Information Sources; Instructional Media; InteragencyCobrdination; *Media Research; Public Policy; StateLegislation; State Licensing Boards; State Programs;Statewide Planning; *Telecommunication; UtilitiesCommunity. Access; *Connecticut

ABSTRACFor the benefit of the Connecticut General Assembly, .

a first report is submitted on the importance, development and futureuses ofIcable telecommunications for educational and informationalpurposes. Current status of cable television in thestatels 169 townsis described, along with nakes of licensees and progress inconstruction; membership on local advisory councilskas required bythe State Public Utilities Commission also is listeq0tDevelopments

"*" and possibilities in public information, schoolsvlibraries, thegovernment channel, higher education, health and soceLil sciences, andinterstate cooperation are summarized. Recommendation fortelecommunications policy as requested by the Assembly are promisedin a further report. (SK)

***********************************************************************DocMments acquirok by ERIC include many informal unpublished *

* Materials not available from other sources. ERIC makes every effort ** to obtain the best copy available. Nevertheless, items of marginal *

* reproducibility are often encountered and this affects the quality *

* of the microfiche and hardcoRy reproductions ERIC makes available *.

* via the ERIC Document ReprodUction Service (EDRS). EDES is not-* responsible for the quality of the,original document. Reproductions ** supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original.***********************************************************************

4

v.% ,

Lc\ODC1r---I

LL

public useof

publie channels.t

cablein

teleanpmunication

L_

U S OEPARTMENTOF HEALTH,EOUCATION & WELFARENATIONAL INSTITUTE OF

EOUCATIONTHIS DOCUMENT HAS BE EN REPRODUC C Fx RECEIVED FROMTHE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINJIANG T POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONSSTATFU DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OF F ICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTOFF DUE A TION POSITION OR POLICY

L JL..

SSIHMIE3

Commission on the Educational and InformationalUses of Cable Telecommunications

Hartford, Connecticut 2February 1875

Cable is an industry hich is closelylinked to several maj

i

r nationalindustries including electronic dataprocessing, teZephon , television and-radio broadcastilk he motion pictureand music industrigs, and co nica-tions satellites. Although e ch cablesystem is a local e terprise, itdistributes television signal ininterstate commerce. Tecaus of thesecharacteristics, c Ze requires aconsistent and cope ent national policy.

Recognition qf the need for a nationalpolicy; Aowel)er, must not preclude anappreciatioin for th important andoften diverse local interests in thedevelopment and peOrmance of cable,systems. LoCalism plays as importanta role in our systeni ormass communi-cations as it does i our systemof government. CabZ can fulfill itspromise of providing a medium for amultitude of diverse voices servingboth local and natio Z purposes onlyas lavas state local governmentsare given a substantial role indetermining the policies for-cable

"Lls communications services.

air

--CABLE REPORT TO THE PRESIDENTBY THE CABINET COMMITTEE ON CABLECOMMUNICATIONS, January 16, 1974

4e.

6tair of 0.:niturritirutGENERAL ASIREMRLY

STATE CAPITOL

HARTFORD. CONNECTICr 01111

Co mission on the Edueatioial and InformationalIlse: of Cable. Telecommunication:

FIRST REPORT, TO 14 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

PUBLIC USE Of PUBLIC CHANNELS:OPPORTUNITIES IN SABLE

TELECOMMUNI CAT ICINIS

FEBRUARY 15, 1975

COMMITTEE ON,,,THE S1DY

BERNARD SHEA, CHAIRMAN

FRANK DELUCIA

ROBERT HALE

SELMA MARKOWITZ

GERALD_ MCCANN

° MARGARET CLELAND, SECR ARY EX OFFICIO

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Pages

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 1-2

ENABLING LEGISLATION 3-4'

ROSTER OF COMMISSION MEMBERS 5

COMMITTEES 6

PURPOSE AND PROCEDURES ,7

LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND 8-9

DATA ON CABLE FRANCHISES AND CONSTRUCTION 10-13

WHAT IS CATV? 14=2[1.1

EXPERIENCE OF THE COMMISSION 21-30

LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS31-36

TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT37-39

PUBLIC INFORMATION40-43

CABLE AND THE SCHOOLS44-48

LIBRARIES49-50

THE GOVERNMENT CHANNEL51-53

HIGHER EDUCATION54-55

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES 56-57

INTERSTATE COOPERATION8

CABLE SATELLITE NETWORKS59-60

APPENDICES'62-90

Written reports and statements directed to the Commission through

April 7, 1975 are appended to File Copies of this FIRST REPORT deposited

with the Education Committee, ,the Regulated Activities Committee, and

the State Library. Transcribed oral testimony will be added to the File

Copies./A set of Connecticut Cable CZips published from September 4,

1974 --February 26, 1975 and a dopy of a bibliography, On the Cable, will

also be appended to File Copies.

The Commission's regular meetin in Hartford on December 17, 1974 was

videotaped by the Connecticut S ate Library. The Commission's public

hearing held in Danbury on Januia was videotaped by the Danbury

Public Library. Copies of these tapes will be deposited in the State

Library archives.

Reports.and statements related to the charge of the Commission received

after. February 15, 1975 will be assembleawn a Supplement to be appended

to File Copies of the FIRST REPORT.

<

3:31tatr of CouncrtirittGENERAL ASSEMBLY

STATIC CAPITOL

HARTFORO.CONNCCTICUT001111/

COMMISSION TO STUDY THE EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONALUSES OF CABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

9

The Honorable Mary Martin'The Honorable Howard KlebanoffCO-chairmen, Education CommitteeState CapitolHartford, Connecticut

February 15, 1975

Dear Senator Mattin and Repr. Klebanoff;

It gives me great pleasure to transmit to You and your colleagues on the

Education Committee the First Report of the Commission to Study,the

Educational and Informational Uses of Cable Telecommunications.

As you are aware, the Commission was established by Special Act 74-111

of the 1974 session, and was charged to make a study of, and submit

recommendations regarding, the imnortance, develooment and future usesof cable telecommunications for educational and informational purposes,said report to be submitted to the General ilssembly no later than

February 15, 1975. The sum of $50,000 was apnropriated to carry out

the purposes of the Act.

0

As you may know, the Commission has encountered several obstacles to date

in its effort to carry out the charge of the Legislature and complete its

report within the time alloted. Regrettably, we are not now in a position

to provide you with a final report, for it was our feeling that the gravity

of the subject matter committed to our study reouired that our investi.gation_

be carried out with all due deliberation. We have therefore 4ecided to

request that the General Assembly grant us an extension of,ourdeadlinesufficient to allow completion of the study in the manner in which it

should be carried out, and simultaneously provide you with this First bReport so that you will be aware of our activities to date.

It is our belief that the proper development of the educational and informa-

tional potential of cable telecommunications here in Connecticut is of

critical importance. At the present time, it is safe to say that cabletelevision is still in its infant stages here. It is a communications

medium that may one day reshape our lives in much the same way thattechnological advancements in the field of communications have always

done. In light of the impact that this medium could have on our lives,

our educational institutions and the manner in which we handle information,

the General Assembly,sand more oarticularly, the Education Committee,

' demonstrated great foresight in creating thiNommission to study this

complex field.

1

We are aware that Representative Klebanoff has introduced HB 6708, whichwould extend the life of the Commission to February 15, 1976. TheCommission fully supports this bill, and applauds your initiative inintroducing it, as this will provide us the time that we feel will be°necessary to do justice to the subject matter.

There is another matter of which you should be-aware, one.that we.hopewill be resolved in the very near future. That is the desperate needof the Commission to be all wed access to the funds appropriated to it.

We have tried unsuccessfully on several occasions to have these fundsallocated to us as needed by the Legislative Management Committee. At'their December meeting, it was decided that no action should be takenuntil a decision was made by the 1975 session as to whether the lifeof the Commission should be extended.

We have been in operation since October, and as the attached report reflects,have accomplished a good deal in that time. However, the financial uncer-tainty has placed a considerable strain on the morale of the Commissionand its members, none of whom are compensated for the many hours theyhave already put into this prdject. Further, this uncertainty has seriouslyimpeded our ability to progress with our study at the pate and in thedepth necessary.

The Commission, prior to January 1st., was the benefactor of the offer ofthe State Librarian to provide staff services using funds available tohim under a Federal grant. Unfortunately, these positions were,lostwhen the grant expired at the end of December. Since that time, one ofour:staff members has been working without salary, and the other hasleft to seek more secure employment. Until we are able to begin drawingagainst our initial appropriation, our ability to complete the finalreport requested by the General Assembly is questionable:,

It is my hope that the General. Assembly will actswiftly in the matter ofextending the life of the Commission, and that in so doing, it will extendsimultaneously the original appropriation, so that it does not lapse at theend of the fiscal year. In anticipatiori of early action by the Legislaturewe will shortly be preparing a revised budget for the Legislative ManagementCommittee, and I will gladly provide you and the members of your committeewith this document. With your support, it is our intention to work dili-gently over the next year to produce a report containing recommendationsdesigned to insure that the citizens of Connecticut will reap the full'fruits of the vast educational and informational potential of cabletelecommunications:

I trust that the information contained in this First Report is helpful toyou in your deliberations.

Sincerely,

\\ I (H)

,1\

(JOHN ''JEFFREY ALMQUISTChairman

2 7

STATE OF CONNECTICUTCONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY231 CAPITOL AVENUE HARTFORD. CONNECTICUT 06115

CABLE INFORMATION SERVICES ROOM 601TEL.: 566-731,5

SPECIAL ACT 74-111

file No..546

Substitute House BillNo. 5105

AM ACT ESTABLISHING A COMMISSION ON THE

' EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL USES OF CABLE

TELECOMMUNICATIONS.

So it enacted by the Senate and House ofRepresentatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. There sash' be 'a commissionconsisting ot tour members ot the joint standing

committee on education appointed by the chairmen'of said committee, not sore than two of whOm shall

be of the same political party; apd twenty-onepersons 4pppolmted by the goverpor, one of whom

shalt be repreientative ,tromythe state planningcouncil; one represehtatirM from the board/ forstate academic awards; one'representative from the

Connecticut Institute ot Health Manpower'Resources;.one representative frOm the ConnecticutNigher Education Television Association; one

representative from tne commission for higher

education; cne representative from' the state

library; one .reprisentative tros tne state board

of education; one representative from the

Connecticut Audio-Nisual Education Association;one representative from Conaecticut Public

Televisions; one representative from the Cable

Television Operators Association; one

representative from cossercial broadcast'

television; one repremintmtive -from the

Connecticut, Conference of Mayors; one

representative from the commission on the arts;

one representative from the Connecticut LibraryAssociation; one representative from the public

utilities commiss1Ion; one representative from theConnecticut Association for the Advancement of

School Administration; and five representatives of

the public who have demonstrated interest. and

creativity in the informational and educationaluses of the communications.

,

a

SPECIAL ACT 74-Ill

'Soc. 1. Said commission shall conduct astudy ot, and maim recommendations regarding theimportance, developient and future use of cable.telecommunications for Aeducatronal andinformational purposes. This study shall be madewith -reference to Federal CommdnicationsCommission regulaticns which require a, five yearperiod during which cable channels must be setaside -for educational, local governmentaL andpublic access purposes, and shall include, but notbe limited to, the following: (1) Theidentifications of the needs and costs ofeducational and informational uses of cabletelecommunications; (2) an examination of the typeof control and franchising of cabletelecommunications in Connecticut, incl4ding thedistribution of channel usages,.which will bestprotectd promote'and assure maximum access foreducational ilhd_ informational purposes; (3)

development of a state pcilicy which will ensurefunding adequate 'to encourage educationalflexibility, convenience and experimentation, andto develop open or 'closed circuit programs for alleducational levels and typos of. neededinformational sorvides; (4) the feadability ofestablishing comminity.information centers whichare convenient to non-cable subscribers:, (5) themean/ of co-operating with other States in thedevelopsat and use of cable telecommunications;(i) an examination of those criminal and civillaws, including, but, not lisitdd to, libel,slamder. obscenity and copyright, which may affectuse of and access to the cable by placingliability in the first instance . on the cableoperitor; cOnsideraiidh ofthe establishmentof a permanent commission on cabletelecommunications; and 48) all other germanematters.

'Soc. 3. Said commission may employ suchprofessional and clerical assistance as it deemsnecessary to carry out the provisions, of this act.

Sec. 4. Said commission shall, not latertnan February 15, 1975, report its findings to the1975 session of the general assembly and recommendto said session of the general assembly anylegislative programs which will achieve thepurposes of this act.

Sec. 5. The sum of fifty thousand dollars isappropriated to said Commission to implement thepurposes of this act, which appropriation shall befrom the sum appropriated to the finance advisorycoimittee under section 1 of number 74-31 of thespecial acts of the .current session, for' thereserve for legislation affecting agency budgetsand shall be administered by the joint committeeon legislative management.

STATZNIXT or PUMPCOts To assure that the vast educational and

informational potential of cable telecommunications will be

developed and utilised to the'greatest possible extent.

COMMISSION ON THE EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL

USES- OF CABLE IELECONIUNICATIONS

CHAIRMAN: J. JEFFREY ALMQUIST

VICE-OAIRMAN: SETH HOUCK

-, Roster of Members

J. JEFFREY ALMQUIST - PUBLIC

GEORGE M. BENNETT,, JR. - PUBLIC ' ry

WALTER T. BRAHM - CONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY

.FRANK R. DeLUCIA - CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE OF MAYORS

ROBERT G. HALE, SR. -11CONNECTICUT AUDIO VISUAL EDUCATION ASSOC.

SETH HOUCK - PUBLIC-

MATTHEW T. JENETOPULOS - CONNECTICUT CATV ASSOCIATION ,/

PETER M. KELLOGG - COMMISSION ON %ARTS

REP. HOWARD M. KLEBANOFF - LEGISLAT

NOLAN CUSHINGTON - CONNECTICUT LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

SELMA LEE MARKOWITZ - CONNECTICUT INSTITUTE FOB HEALTH MANPOW

RESOURCES, INC.

GERALD J. McCANN - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

EDNA NEGR6N-SMITH - PUBLIC _

REP. CORNELIUS P. O'LEARY !- LEGISLATOR

JOHN PALMER - CONNECTICUT BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION

VIRGINIA PETTIROSS - CONNECTICUT HIGHER EQUCATION TV ASSOCIATION

GEORGE SAMAHA - PUBLIC

BERNARD D. SHEA - .BOARD FOR STATE ACADEMIC AWARDS

IRA J. SINGER - CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF

SCHOOC,ADMINISTRATION

HERBERT SMITH - COMMISSION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

PAUL K. TAFF -.CONNECTICUT PUBLIC TELEVISION

GEORGE WEST- STATE.BOARD OF EDUCATION

MARGARET CLELAND EXECUTIVE OFFICER

REP. WILLIAM CHURCHILL, Legislator

REP. RUTH H. CLARK, Legislator

HAROLD R. STERRETT, III, ConnecticutState Planning Committee

were member of the Commission

, as origin ly constituted.Their positions are currentlyvacant

ADELA M. EADS represented State Board of Education prior to appointment

of GEORGE WEST

February 15, 1975

COMMITTEES

OF THE COMMISSION ON THE EDUCATIONAL ANDINFORMATIONAL

USES OF CABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS.-- NOVEMBER 1974-

O

COMMITTEE ON"

Shea, Bernard (Ch)

'DeLucia, Frank R.

Hale; Robert G.

.

Houck, Seth

Markowitz, Selma Lee

McCann, Gerald J.

THE. SFUDY:

rn

a

STATE OF THE ART

Eads, M. Adele

Smith, Herbert

Taff, Paul K.

STANDING COMMITTEES

COORDINATING Male, Robert

(Ch

416gron-Smith,; Edn

COMMITTE4:

Shea,Bernard

Samaha, George

.SUDCOMMITTEES OF; THE COMMITTEE ON.THE STUDY

NEED'S/

ORTUN IT I ES

Markowitz,

lma.Lee (Ch)

Clark, Ruth H.

Hale, Robert G.

KTebanoff, Howar

Lushingtop, Nolan

Negron-Smith, Edna,

O'Leary, Cornelius P.

Pettiross, Virginia

Shea, Bernard.

Singer, Ira J.

..

-CO

S/FUNDING

McCann, Gerald J. (Ch)

Clark,' Ruth H.

Sterrett, Haroldl_LII

LEGAL MATTERS

DeLucia, Frank R. -(Ch)

Jenetopulos, Matthew

Samatta, George si

r

a,

FURTHER STUDIES

_Houck, Seth (Ch),

Brahm, Walter T,

Churchill,William

Haler Robert G.

Margaret Cleland, Executive Officer, serves as secretary ex officio to all committees

L

4.

PURPOSE AND PROCEDURES

'The Commission on the Educa 'tional and Informational Uses of. Cable telecommunications

a-c-Was convened on October 1, 1974 by Senator Ruth Truex and Representative Rufus Rose, Co-

.

chairmem of the Education Committee. Senitor Truex -cited the charge to the Commission:

to study and make recommendations concerning the importance, development and future use

of cable-telecommunications with specific referende to public rannels designated by the

Federal Communications Commission for an experimental five -years period.. The intent of

the )egislation'was to develop State policy for the most effecOve use of cable technol-

Vo6y in the public interest.

Officers were elected,-committees formed, and policies and proce4res adopt . Regular

meetings were held at least twice monthly. Public hearings.were 41crin New London and

banbury. Public notice was duly given of all meetings. Records,-correspondence and

other Commission files have been maintaindd for official audit and public inspection at

the Commission's'headquarters at the State Library.

Administrative and secretarial staff, office space,. telephone, Awlicating and mailing

facilities tooperate,the,Commission werecontributed:through December 31, 1974 by the

Connecticut State Library, with the expectation that funds appropriated to the Commission

would be made available to the Commission to continue the implementation of the charge

from the Legislature. Research and public information services have been'provided by

the State Library to the Commission by the Library's Cable Information Services unit,

whose director, Margaret Cleland, has served the Commission as ekecutive officer, on

detached.servicefrom the Library.

Guidelines for this neat Report Were dr'awn up by the Commission in January. Responsi-

bility for writing the Report was assigned by the Commission to Mrs. Cleland, under the

supervision of Dr. Bernard Shea,. Chairman of the Committee on the Study.

'The Commission Offers the'/iloport to acquaint members of the LegiSlature with the ecology

of cable in Connecticut and to share information and impressions obtained from a number

of organizationS and individuals interested iryasfng cable telecommunications for public

purposes: The Ropoit:does.not purport to be a technical', legal or analytical study with

considered conclusions, a task that remains on the State of Connecticut's agenda.

M. C.

*lair of CoutultirutGENERAL ASSEMBLY

c.

STATE CAPITOL

HARTFORD. CONNECTICUT 0111 IS

COMMISSION ON THE EDUCATIONAL' AND INFORMATIONALU" OF CABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

c/o Connecticut Stat Libr84/231 Capitol Ave./Room 601/Hartford, CT 06115r Tel.: (203) 566-7315.

FIRST STATE TO

REGULATE CABLE

FIRST STATE

TO FIELD A COMMIS-

SION FOR PUBLIC

USE OF CABLE

LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND: CONNECTICUT FIRSTS

Connecticut is a national pace-setter in cable legislation.

Legislation enacted in 1963, authorizing the Public Untilities

Commission to award franchises to community antenna television

companies, made Connecticut the first state to regulate cable.

Although most cable franchising in the country is still con-

ducted at the municipal level, there is a discernible trend

toward state regulation or oversight of some kind (summary

sheet follows).

In 1974 the General Assembly again enacted first-of-its-kind

cable legislation.by establishing the. Commission on the Educa-

tional and Informational Uses of Cable Telecommunications. The

Commission's charge was to assure that a portionof the vast

spectrum of cable channels be devoted to public service uses re-

flecting the needs and interests of Connecticut, citizens.- The

legislation was commended by the Federal Communications Com=

mission, which in 1972 set aside thre Tee so-called access

channels for education, state and local government, and the

8 1'1

OTHERS.LOOK,TO

CONNECTICUT FOR A

MODEL STRATEGY

general public. A number of other states ;are drafting' legis-

lation similar to Connecticut's Special Act 74-111.

The realization that time for experimeAtation with. access, chan-

nels is running out, and that

public programmiing is needed,

to,access-minded citizens and

assistance to,develop qualityk

is a matter.df growinOconcern

officials ,across the country.

Many now look to Connecticut's Commission to devise a State

strategy that will help educators, public agencies and citizens

make effective use of cable.

evident to the Commission that informed Connecticut cit-

izens co ider public use of,public channels- important. Its

is also evident, however, that without a State policy and

State support interesting and usefulcable Programming truly

responsive to Connecticut's priorities and public interests

may not be fuily developed. Nopefully,"the Commission will be

authorized to contfnue its study and advise the Legislature

how "to assure that the vast educational and informational

potential of cable telecommunications will be developed and

utilized to the greatest possible extent."

14

r

STATE

STATES REGULATING CABLE TELEVISION (4/15/75)

FRANCHISING AUTHORITY'

ALAKA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION', PUC

CONNECTICUT PUBLIC UTILITIES !COMMISSION' t

'DELAWARE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION MUNICIPALITYPSC FOR UNINCORPORATEDAREAS

HAWAII DIVISION OF ;DEPARTMENT OF PUCREGULATORY 4GENCIES OF PUC .

MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITY, ANTENNA TELEVISION MUNICIPALITYCOMMISSION: ; COMMISSION CAN RE OKE FRANCHISE_

MINNESOTA CABLE COMMISSION PRIOR 's MUNICIPALITYAPPROVAL BY COMMISSION AND CONTIGUOUS MUNICIPALITIES REQUIRED

r

TO ENCOURAGE JOINT FRANCHISING.

NEVADA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION PSC

NEW JERSEY BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES, MUNICIPALITYOFFICE Of CABLE TV

NEW YORK COMMISSION ON CABLE TELECOMMISSION ISSUES CERTIFICATES

VISION OF CONFIRMATION

RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC UTILJTIES COMMISSION PUC

VERMONT PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD OF

al s6

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE PSB

COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC UTILITIES-'COMMISSION PUC

OF PUERTO RICO

PENDING LEGISLATION

NEW JERSEY . ESTABLISH CABLE TELEVISION COUNCIL WITHIN PUCtr

OREGON. ESTABLISH STATE COMMISSION ON.TELECOMMUNICATIONS

TEXAS ESTABLISH PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

WASHINGTON ESTABLISH STATE COMMISSION ON TELECOMMUNICATIONSREGULATE CABLE UNDER UTILITIES AND. TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

WEST VIRGINIA ESTABLISH'PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

WYOMING ESTABLISH A SECTION WITHIN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO

REGULATE CABLEalso

INCLUDE CABL IN LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (FOR UN

CABLED AREAS)10 15

STATE OF. CONNECTICUTC/ONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY231 CAPITOL AVENUE HARTFORD,' CONNECTId T 06115

CONNECTICUT/ CABLE ,TV FACT SHE

February 15, 1975

FRANCHISES AWARDED: /. ,- 19

-TOWNS COVERED BY,FRANCHISES: 99

NUMBER OF SYSTEM lOPERATING: 9

TOWNS RECEIVING' tRVICE: 21

OPERATING SYSTEMS

Coastal Cable TV Co. Groton 2,000

44. 4.'441*

Ledyard, North Stonington,Voluntown, Stonington

ti

Community TV Systems,Inc. i

,Eastern ConnecticutCable Television

Wallingford (ready to go) East Haven, North Haven, Branford,Guilford, N. Branford, Madison

New; London, E.

Lyme, Waterford,Montville

10,000

Greater Hartford CATV.

ManOester (ready to go)-

Plainfield, Killingly, Putnam,Griswold

Wethersfield, Newington, RockyHill, Glastonbury

Laurel Cablevision Torrington 2,900 Watertown, Litchfield, Thomaston

New Milford CATV New Milford 2,000 Bridgewater

Teleprompter ofDanbury

Danbury, Bethel 12,250

Telesystems Corp. Meriden 2,200 Southington, Cheshire, Wolcott,Prospect

United Cable TV ofConnecticut

New Britain 1,500 Bristol, Plainville, Farmington,Berlin

Valley Cable VisionCo.

Shelton, Nauga-tuck, Ansonia,Seymour, Derby,Oxford, BeaconFalls

12,000 Bethany

Waterbury CommunityAntenna, Inc.

Waterbury 5,500 Plymouth, Middlebury

TOTAL: 21 towns 50,300

11 16

33 towns

.)

CONNECTICUT CATV/FRANCHISE LDERS - JANUARY 1975

/

45E.,\(,xs

-0 okA 010

BRIDGEPORT COMMUNITY ANTEN-NAE TELEVISION CO.

(TelePrompTer of Bridgeport)P. O. Box 484 (135 Main St.Danbury, CT 06810

Frank StaleyDist. Mgr., TPTof Danbury792-0900

414BridgeportA ord, Strat-ford, Orange, Woodbridge

CABLE VIDEO, INC.P. O. Box 272/Waterford 06385

Peter Matthews, Exec, Norwich, Preston(, Sprague,Vice-Pres. - 442-8525 Lisbon, Bozrah, Franklin

COASTAL CABLE TV CO.19 Moss Ledge Rd./Yestport 06880

COMMUNI4Y TV *HMSBox 667/Branford. 06405

Bernard Perry,, Pres. Groton, Stopingtoh, Ledyard, -.226-6986 N. Stonington, Voluntown

Mel Shlan Pres. Wallingford, E. Haven, North Haven,481-343 Branford, Guilford, N. Branford,

Madison

CONNECTICUT RIVER pp E TV. Bernard ery,c/o Mosf Ledge Rd./Westport 06880 Press: 22P6-r6986

EASTERN CONN.. CABLE TELEVISION,INC. - P. O. Box 27g/

Waterford, 06385

GREATER HARTFORD CATV -801 Parker St./Manchester 06041

HAYSTACK CABLEVISION, INC.510 Main'St./Winsted 06098

HARTFORD CATV - 611 New ParkAve./West Hartford 06110

LAUREL CABLEVISION, INC.P. O. Box 516 (339 Main St.)Torrington 06790

Peter Matthews442 -825

Vincent King, Mgr.646-6400

Nicholas Eddy,Pres. - 379-2758

Raymond A. Petow,Mgr. - 233-6228

Monroe F. Rifkin,Pres. - 489-0135

NEW MILFORD CATV - (30 Elm St.)P. Q. BA, 237/New ,Milford 06776

NORTHWEST CABLEVIS ON, INC.110 Main St./Winsted 06098

Paul M. Hancock,Pres. - 355-0115

Anthony S. Katona,Mgr. - 379-2288 Barkhamsted, Goshen

Clinton, Old Saybrook, Essex, Durham,Haddam west of CT River, Westbrook,Deep River, Chester, Killingworth

New London, Waterford, Plainfield,Montville, Killingly,jast Lyme,Putnam, Gritwold . /-

Manchester, Wethersfield, NewingtelGlastonbury, Rocky Hill /

Salisbury, North taan, Norfolk,Sharon, Cornwall, Canaan

`Hartford, West Hantford, East Hart-ford, Windsor$ Bldomfield, Simsbury

Torringtghi Watertqwn, Lttchfield,Thomaston

New Milford, Bridgiwater

Winchester, Harwint n New Hartford,

SYSTEMS TV, INC. (109 Church St., Matthew Jenetopulos, New Haven, ilest Haven,

Rm. 608) P.O. Box 3027/New Hai/en 06515 Pres. 1-.389-5321 Hamden

TELEPROMPTER OF DANBURY(135 Main St.) P. O. Box 484/Danbury 06810

TELEPROMPTER OF MIDDLETOWN(office closed 1973)

Frank Staley, Disty Danbury, BethelMgr. - 792-5572

Frank Staley - Middletown, Portland, Cromwell,Danbury 792-5572 East Hampton, Middlefield

TELESYSTEMS CORPORATION William Chain, Mgr. Meriden,,Southington, Cheshire,683-685 E. Main St./Meriden 06450 634-1680 Wolcott, Prospect

UNITED CABLE TV OF CONNECTICUT319 Cooke St./Plainville 06062

VALLEY CABLE VISION CO.80 Great Hill Rd./Seymour 06483

Russel Johnson7.747-6891

David A. Coe,Mgr. - 735-9505

New Britain, Bristol, Plainville,Farmington, Berlin',

Shelton, Naugatuck, Ansonia, Seymour,Derby, Oxford, Bethany, Beacon Falls

WATERBURY COMMUNITY ANTENNA, INC. John Baker,24 E. Aurora St./Waterbury 06708 757-2400

Waterbury, Plymouth, Middle6ury.

(19 areas) page 12 (99 towns)

(

CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISES

AWARDED IN CONNECTICUT (19)

CATV service available

to 21 towns in 11

operating systems

CABLE NO LONGER

;MERELY A MASTER

COMMUNITY ANTENN

FOR TELEVISION

NEW TECHNOLOGY

WHAT IS TV?

Back in the rly sixties when the Weral Assembly authorized

the PUC to franchise community antenna television companies,-

few legislators would have imagined what'advanced cable tech-

nology would bring. A decade or so later an article in the

Hartford Courant described cable as follows:

Cable teZevision is a system of picture and soundtransmission through cables into people's homes overstandard teleijision sets. Reception is excellentbecause the signal is protected by cable -- no static,no ghosts, no interference., As many as 64 channelscan be used for voice and non-voice communications be-tween home and a television studio, school, museum,library, bank, hospital, policei fire departmOt, andthe like, and can be used ralso for meter 'reading,burglar alarms, facsimile of newspapers, record keep-ing, mail, Messages, opinion polls, and so on. Evenby excluding the most sophisticated uses; cable tele-vision can receive up to 65 channels providing everytype of programming from entertainment to educationto public information to religious services to sportsto consumer information.

See diagram, Bold New Concept, and Cabletter for description

of technology.

AUGMENTS CAPABILI- . With interconnection and networking via satellite not far in

TIES OF CABLE

CABLE INTERFACE

WITH OTHER INDUS-

TRIES RAISES

COMPLEX ISSUES

the offing, cable will be able to serve large and small groups

of people everywhere for as many purposes .as people will invent.

.4

The rapid advance in technology has linked cable telecommuni-

cations with major'national industries -- television and radio

broadcasting, telephone, motion picture and music, electonic

data processing, and communications satellites. These linkages

have given rise to hotly contested issues, most of them yet to

be resolved.

The complexity of the issues poses problems for ready ac SS

to cable telecommunications in the public interest.

14

19

N CON

PROGRAMSNETWORK

PROGRAREGIO

LIV

FDUCAPROGRAM

CENTRALCONTROLCENTER

REGIONAL REGIONAL

CENTERCONTROLCENTER

CONTROL

LNNTER"

COMMUNITYA

COMMUNITYC

COMMUNITYD

OFATION

H.S.AL

HOUSE

SUBSCRIBER'SHOME

AGREEMENI.IN NEGOTIAT(bN

Reproduced withpermission of

1140CIGNIAIMMIA C00111/BLIVINCION owe.16

FROM TALKING BACK: CITIZEN FEEDBACK AND CABLE TELEVISION

The MIT Press. 1973

Cambridge, Massachusetts\and London, England

Edited byIthiel de Soli

Pool

Excerpt from PART 'I - -WHAT CABLE CAN BRING,Section 4--"Community Control of Cable TeleVitionSystems" by Charles Tate, staff member of theNational Cable Information'Service in the UrbanInstitute, Washington, D. C.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTCable television provide! a substantial opportunity for ur n minority com-munities to develop and.eontrol the most powerful cultu; 1 and social instrument in their communities. It can also provide a viabl economic base andpolitical leverage foripower-deficient communities.

A partial listing of the wide variety of program see will give some ideaof the development possibilities: ,

Educational UsesVideo correspondence courses /

°Specialeducation programs for unskilled,ii rkers,tens, and hand apped persons

BLANK PAGE

hou

Jor students who are" temporarily confined,11it c ()grams

o eotaped educational programs with other schools,ie ce, travel, and cultural programs

Interconnection of school'systems to facilitate administration, teacher con-ferences, and se inert, ,,,

mGreater use of c mputeriSed%.kesting and gradingthus giving teachers ore_,,,----`.

time for individual instruction:

for example,

Health Uses,Interconnection of rrtedical facilities (private offices, clinics, hospitals) toprovide a widerrayige of conailtatiork services to patients on an emergencyor nonemerAgency basis espe4ally those without means of transportationWide dissemination of-preventive medical and dental information to the com-munitymunityInformatiowprograms concerning sanitation, se4agecontrol, and similar pioblem.

Legal and Consumer Uses alListing of substandard And abandonag iN1GEReview of leases, agreements, aNst1/101.111Discussion of labeling, marking, pricing of food, drag, clothing, automobile,end other consumer products

rat control, garbage

Establishmentof a "hotline" in legal aid and consumer Fir otection agencies toprovide immediate notice of fraudulent and exploitatpe practicesUse of videotaped records and depositions in nonjury cases\

Safety UsesInstallation of fire emergency and burglar alarm systems in a4fory home(these systems can operate over the same cable that brings in 4deo signals)

Automatic gas, water, and electric meter readingsRumor controlDisaster and emergency warning systems.

.15

... .... a

Cab

lette

r

INS

TIT

UT

E O

F P

UB

LIC

SE

RV

ICE

TH

E U

NIV

ER

SIT

Y O

F C

ON

NE

CT

ICU

T

CO

HO

W C

AB

LE T

ELE

VIS

ION

Ws

SB

y N

atas

ha H

ertz

sum

mar

ized

from

Pill

's a

ndB

aer's

Cab

le T

V: A

Gui

de to

the

Tec

hnol

ogy.

Cab

le T

elev

isio

nis

a c

omm

unic

atio

n *s

tem

that

dist

ribut

es te

levi

sion

sig

nals

and

oth

er in

form

atio

n by

wire

rat

her

than

thro

ugh

the

air.

The

sig

nals

are

tran

smitt

ed th

roug

h a

coax

ial c

able

whi

ch c

an b

e la

idin

the

grou

nd o

r st

rung

ont

o te

le

itsel

fiq

just

on

kind

of i

nfor

mat

ion

ri---

4cis

rnci

ltter

no d

iffer

ent i

n pr

inci

ple

from

a te

leph

one

wire

ora

wire

less

com

mun

icat

ion

link

such

as

broa

dcas

t rad

io o

r te

levi

sion

. In

each

cas

e, in

form

a-tio

nis

sen

t as

a va

ryin

g el

ectr

ical

sig

nal g

ener

ally

supe

rimpo

sed

on a

/hig

h-fr

eque

ncy

carr

ier.

The

hig

her

the

freq

uenc

y of

the

sign

al, t

he m

ore

info

rmat

ion

the

syst

eca

n tr

*i-s

mit.

The

adv

44es

of u

sing

e co

axia

l cab

le a

re s

uch

that

it al

low

s =

of a

-,.m

uch

grea

ter

tran

smis

sion

of i

nfor

ma-

tion

flow

whi

ch is

why

cab

le o

ffers

so

man

y m

ore

tele

visi

on c

hann

Ns

for

ente

rtai

nmen

t, pl

us a

larg

enu

mbe

r of

dat

a se

rvic

es fo

r he

alth

, edu

catio

n, a

ndre

crea

tion.

Thi

s-al

so e

xpla

ins

the

diffe

renc

e be

twee

nth

e te

rms

"bro

adca

stin

g" (

whi

qh is

util

izat

ion

of th

eai

r w

aves

for

info

rmat

ion

to r

each

a la

rge,

gen

eral

audi

ence

i .an

d "n

arro

wca

stin

g" (

info

rmat

ion

dire

cted

at s

peci

aliz

ed a

udie

nces

thro

ugh

a w

ire).

Alu

min

umul

tr C

ancl

ucio

xco

mx

Cis

*A

lum

inum

Wire

,C

Lr*e

r C

orriu

ci-n

it

.. , .

....

a ^

---.

.1.:'

.!.4

....,,

,

Ilk' Pla

s1-1

C. F

ear\

.15-

lialla

.-iio

n

Ele

men

ts o

f a C

onve

ntio

nal C

able

Sys

tem

1. T

ower

s an

d A

nten

nas

2. "

Hea

dend

"3.

Cab

le d

istr

ibut

ion

netw

orks

4. T

V R

ecei

vers

(H

ome

Cab

le T

erm

inal

)

Ant

enna

sC

AT

V s

tart

ed in

Pen

nsyl

vani

a as

a r

esul

t of t

he p

oor

rece

ptio

n pe

ople

had

bgc

ause

of t

he h

ills

and

mou

n-,

tain

s su

rrou

ndin

g th

em. T

his

is w

hy 't

e an

tenn

asw

hich

rec

eive

the

TV

bro

adca

st s

igna

ls a

re u

sual

lylo

cate

d on

one

or

mor

e hi

gh to

wer

s. T

V s

igna

ls(w

hich

flow

in ,e

str

aigh

t lin

e) a

re b

lock

ed b

y th

ecu

rvat

ure

of. t

he\e

arth

or

othe

r ob

stac

les

such

as

mou

ntai

ns. T

here

fe e

, a s

uffic

ient

ly s

tron

g si

gnal

will

be r

ecei

ved

only

ere

ther

eis

an

unre

tric

ted

line-

of-s

ight

bet

wee

nT

V s

tatio

n's

tran

smi

r an

dth

e ca

ble

syst

em's

ant

e na

. Tod

ay s

atel

lites

ar

used

to r

efle

ct s

igna

ls b

ack

to e

arth

for

tran

smitt

ing

(Tel

esta

r is

an

exam

ple)

,ut

thei

r us

e is

not

who

llyw

ides

prea

d.

Hea

dend

Fro

m th

e ca

ble

ante

nna,

eac

h br

oadc

ast s

igna

l is

conn

ecte

d by

the

,cab

le to

the

.hea

dend

faci

lity,

usua

lly lo

cate

d in

a s

mal

l bui

ldin

g ne

ar th

e to

wer

. In

a ci

ty, t

his

mig

ht b

e th

e of

fice

build

ing

upon

whi

chth

e re

ceiv

ing

tow

er is

mou

nted

. The

'hea

dend

con

tain

sal

l the

equ

ipm

ent n

eces

sary

to p

roce

ss\th

e si

gnal

s fo

rdi

strib

utio

n on

the

cabl

e ne

twor

k. T

he h

eade

nd m

ayal

so h

ave

othe

r ty

pes

of e

quip

men

t sug

h as

a s

mal

lco

mpu

ter

or a

utom

ated

sw

itchi

ng s

yste

m th

at w

illad

d th

e us

e of

the

com

pute

r in

the

hom

e fo

red

ucat

ion,

sho

ppin

g, o

r ho

me

man

agem

ent p

urpo

ses.

Itco

uld

also

inte

rcon

nect

with

oth

er c

able

or

com

pute

r sy

stem

s an

ywhe

re in

the

coun

try

and

prov

ide

othe

r sp

ecia

l ser

vice

s su

ch a

s P

ay T

V.

The

Cab

le D

istr

ibut

ion

Net

wor

kT

he m

ain"

cabl

es th

at c

arry

sig

nals

from

the

head

end

-are

cal

led

trun

k ca

bles

. The

y ar

e us

ually

'A o

r %

inch

in d

iam

eter

, but

may

be

as la

rge

as 1

to 1

% in

ches

.T

he la

rger

dia

met

er c

able

s ar

e us

ed to

car

ry s

igna

lsfo

r lo

nger

dis

tanc

es s

ince

they

atte

nuat

e (le

t sig

nals

lose

som

e of

thei

r st

reng

th)

sign

als

muc

h le

ss. W

hen

atr

unk

cabl

e pa

sses

a r

esid

entia

l str

eet o

r ot

her

area

of

high

sub

scrib

er d

ensi

ty, a

sm

alle

r di

strib

utio

n or

feed

er c

able

is u

sed

to d

istr

ibut

e si

gnal

s fr

om th

etr

unk

to th

at a

rea.

Fee

der

cabl

e ar

e si

mila

rin

cons

truc

tion

to th

e tr

unk

cabl

e bu

t are

sm

alle

r in

diam

eter

, bei

ng u

sual

ly a

littl

e le

ss th

an 1

/2 in

ch. F

rom

ther

e, a

sm

all d

rop

cabl

e br

ings

the

sign

al fr

om th

ecl

oses

t fee

der

line

into

the

subs

crib

ers

hom

e. A

coup

ler,

or

tap

conn

ects

the

drop

to th

e fe

eder

cab

le.

An

adde

d ex

pens

e to

mos

t cab

le s

yste

ms

is th

ene

cess

ary

inst

alla

tion

of a

mpl

ifier

s th

roug

hout

the

syst

em s

ince

nea

rly a

ll si

gnal

s at

tenu

ate

sdm

Ow

hat

and

ther

e is

a n

eed

to r

eam

plify

them

. The

y ar

eus

ually

loca

ted

at th

e tr

unk

cabl

es a

nd th

eref

ore

refe

rred

to a

s tr

unk

ampl

ifier

s.

Bui

ldin

g th

e co

nven

tiona

l one

-way

cab

le s

yste

mde

scrib

ed a

bove

typi

cally

cos

ts a

bout

60-

70 d

olla

rspe

r ho

me

pass

ed b

y a

trun

k ca

ble,

if m

ost o

f the

cons

truc

tion

is a

bove

grou

nd.,A

ssum

ing

fifty

per

cent

of th

e ho

useh

olds

in a

n ar

ea s

ubsc

ribe,

the

syst

em's

-in

itial

, con

stru

ctio

n co

sts.

are

abo

ut $

120-

6150

per

subs

crib

er. M

any

CA

TV

sys

tem

s w

hich

dis

trib

ute

only

tele

visi

on b

road

cast

sys

tem

s ha

ve b

een

built

for

cons

ider

ably

less

.

'Hom

e C

able

Ter

min

als

At t

he s

ubsc

riber

's h

ome

the

drop

cab

le m

ay c

onne

ctto

a s

mal

l tra

nsfo

rmer

that

mat

ches

the

char

acte

ris-

tics

of th

e ca

ble

to th

e im

put o

f the

TV

set

. Man

yne

w c

able

sys

tem

s us

e th

e se

t-to

p co

nver

ters

topr

ovid

e m

ore

than

twel

ve c

hann

els.

The

sub

scrib

erm

ay a

lso

wan

t to

have

a s

witc

h to

con

nect

thei

r se

tw

ith a

roo

ftop'

ante

nna,

sho

uld

the

cabl

e sy

stem

fail.

The

re a

re th

ree

othe

r po

ssib

le s

yste

ms

abov

e th

etw

elve

bas

ic c

hann

els

1. D

ual-c

able

sys

tem

2. S

y_ te

rns

with

con

vert

ers

3. S

witc

hed

syst

em

.Dua

l-cab

le s

yste

m'

if on

e ca

ble

can

deliv

er tw

elve

dire

ctly

sel

ecta

ble

chan

nels

to th

e T

V s

et, a

n ob

viou

sso

lutio

n to

exp

andi

ng c

apac

ity is

to u

se tw

o or

mor

eca

bles

. The

sub

..%

,iber

is fu

rnis

hed

with

a tw

o-po

sitio

n "A

-B"

switc

h w

hich

can

con

nect

one

of t

hetw

o ca

bles

to th

e te

levi

ion

set a

t any

giv

en ti

me.

Thi

sdo

uble

s th

e vi

ewin

g c

acity

. Dua

l or

mul

tiple

cab

le$

syst

ems

are

abou

t 50,

rcen

t mor

e ex

pens

ive-

than

sing

le c

able

sys

tem

s. T

h pr

inci

ple

adva

ntag

e to

the

mul

tiple

cab

le s

yste

m i

its s

impl

ic4

It el

imin

ates

conv

erte

rs, w

hich

are

oble

m c

ompo

nent

s, m

akin

gth

e sy

stem

mor

e re

liabl

e.

AB

LEA

CA

&L

E-

6

150A

titt

1

C2

chom

el3

(A o

r

Sys

tem

s w

ith c

onve

rter

sa

conv

erte

r ch

ange

s a

non-

stan

dard

freq

uenc

y ch

anne

l to

a V

HF

cha

nnel

that

can

be

tune

d di

rect

ly to

the

subs

crib

er's

TV

set

.In

effe

ct th

e co

nver

ter

repl

aces

the

old

TV

set

tune

ran

tiant

i pro

vide

s m

ore

chan

nel p

ositi

ons.

Cha

nnel

s m

aybe

with

a d

ial

like

the

conv

entio

nal T

Vtu

ner,

a s

lide

leve

r, o

r pu

sh b

utto

ns.

CA

8 LE

,2.

5 =

35ch

anre

-Ls

f-T

unab

le. C

ariv

er+

erO

I

rs.1 O

r

Sw

itche

d sy

stem

ssw

itche

d sy

stem

s pr

ovid

e a

com

plet

ely

diffe

rent

app

roac

h to

exp

ande

d ch

anne

lca

paci

ty b

y pl

acin

g ch

anne

l sel

ectio

n ou

tsid

e th

esu

bscr

iber

's h

ome.

The

two

prin

cipl

e sw

itch

syst

ems

unde

r de

velo

pmen

t are

the

AM

EC

O D

ISC

AD

E a

ndth

e R

ediff

usio

n sy

stem

s. B

oth

brin

g si

gnal

s fr

om a

head

end

to a

sw

itchi

ng c

ente

r th

at s

erve

s fr

omtw

enty

to s

ever

al h

undr

ed s

ubsc

riber

s. T

wo

sepa

rate

wire

s ar

e ca

bles

whi

ch r

un fr

om th

e sw

itchi

ng c

ente

rto

eac

h su

bscr

iber

rec

eive

r. O

qe w

ire c

arrie

s su

b-sc

riber

req

uest

s to

the

switc

hing

'cen

ter,

whi

le th

eot

her

retu

rns

the

sele

cted

TV

sig

nal.

Thi

s br

ief e

xpla

natio

n on

how

cab

le w

orks

is. j

ust t

hebe

ginn

ing

of u

nder

stan

ding

the

man

y is

sues

and

pote

ntia

ls o

f cab

le. A

t pre

sent

, the

re is

.a p

ress

ing

need

in tw

o ar

eas:

1) T

o pr

ovid

e fo

r th

e fu

ture

of ,

two-

way

cab

le s

yste

ms,

seg

men

ting

neig

hbor

hood

sfo

r va

ryin

g pr

ogra

mm

ing,

and

the

sele

ctio

n of

spe

cial

.se

rvic

es...

2)

Lear

ning

and

obt

aini

ng a

dvic

e pe

rtai

ning

to c

ost i

mpl

icat

ions

to a

s to

be

able

to d

iscu

ss a

ndco

ntro

l the

cab

le c

ompa

ny w

hich

has

the

fran

chis

e.

I-M

atm

lia H

ertz

is a

sen

ior

maj

orin

g in

C.o

nwnu

nica

ttliti

rat

e O

mits

% M

s. H

ertz

pla

neill

7lir

rlfa

nd te

teco

mm

acat

iore

t..

ty.3

ofcn

nyek

ko-.

...f.

,,-"

.1-,

-o,

-4

ins

her

unde

rgre

dul.

ue s

tudi

es i.

"Alo

ol-

.."\

.

\:.,"

'41

\\c'

l

a

Cab

lette

r is

a c

reat

ion

of th

e In

stitu

te P

iPub

lic S

ervi

ce a

ndth

e C

onne

ctic

ut C

able

.Coa

litio

n, It

s di

strib

utio

n to

Con

noct

icu

t pub

lic s

ervi

ce p

erso

npel

is a

n ed

ucat

iona

l ser

vice

inte

nded

to a

cqua

int r

eade

rs' w

ith lo

cal,t

elec

omm

unic

atio

ns is

sues

and

.1!

THE EXPERIENCE OF THE COMMIS IONt .

v,In the course'of its first three months-months of operations-the

#Commission on the Educational, and Informational Uses of Cable

.7

Telecommunications has gained'a.ibasic appreciation of the

potential of cable telecommunichtions for public service pur-

poses. The Commission has also learned first-hand that educa-

tors, officials and informed.citizens are eager to take advan-

tage of the new technology cable brings to improve the quality

of life for the people of our State. Information was obtained

POLK :HEARINGS HELD direttly at public meetings:of the Commission in New London

IN NEWLopooN AND and Danbury. Statements were presented to the Commission at

DANBURY : regular meetings in Hartford held atleast twice a month.

Some information has been transmitted to the Commissidn

through staff and surveys conducted by,individual Commissioners.

Information offered to the Commission by groups and

individuals already experience in cable thoughtfully addresses

some of the issues listed in'th Commission's charge. Much

valuable input of this nature was\obtained at the Commission's

public hearing at the Danbury Pub0t Library, which operates

the official municipal information ncy in that city. The

first cable system in the State was built in Danbury and began

operating in February 1972.

Because of the need to report to the GAeral Assembly,by Feb-

PUBLIC HEARING TO BE ruary 15 the Commissiov postponed a public hearing in Seymour

HELD AT SEYMOUR and has yet to schedule hearings in Meriden and other areas

HIGH SCHOOL where cable systems are operating. Citizens' groups represent-

ed in the Connecticut Cable Coalition prepared extensive

1

0

WHAT ABOUT

;UNFRANCHISED'AREAS?

statements to present to the Commission at Seymour. The Com-

mission intends to hear these statements and to resume regional

public hearings as planned.

The question of cable service for unfranchised areas or non

operating areas has also arisen. Most of southwestern Connect-.

icut and the Windham area are unfranchised. In Bridgeport, New

Haven and Middletown, where franchises were awarded, the sys-

tems have not been built. Construction tn Hartford is stalled

pending the outcome of litigation.

STATEMENTS. The following is a partial list of individuals and organizations.

PRESENTED that have submitted statements .of opinion, reports or other in

. formation for the Commission's consideration.

John O'Neill, Mitre Corporation, McLean, VirginiaPaul Capra, University of ConnecticutArnold Posner, Cable-RAVE, MeridenHarry Osgood, Area Cooperative Educational Ser-

vices, New HavenConnecticut Town h City Managers AssociationKas Kalba, Harvard UniversityJohn Wolfkeil, Supt. of Schools, DanburyDr. Howard Jacobson, Uhiversity of BridgeportHollis Huston, State Dept. of Community AffairsGeorge H. Murray, Institute of Public Service,

University of. ConnecticutBarbara Klein, Killingworth Local Advisory CounElizabeth Fast, Target '76Peter Matthews, Eastern Connecticut Cable

Television, Inc., New LondonBryan Sperry, Eastern Connecticut Cable Tele-

vision, Inc., New LondonJohn Writtner, Old Lyme SchoolsBernard Perry, Coastal Cable TV Co., WestportSydney Walton, West HartfordConnecticut Higher Education Television Assoc.Ivor Hugh, VOTU, West HartfordRev. Robert H. Naylor, First Congregational

Church,,DanburyConnecticut Office of Civil PreparednessProf. Wtlliam Melody, Annenberg School of Com-munications, University of Pennsylvania

Stanley J. Quinn, Radio/TV Center, Universityof Connecticut

Hartford Public LibraryLa Casa de Puerto Rico, HartfordNorman oh , New HavenCtaWashington to LibraryRep. Clarice Osiecki, DanburyAmerican Society for Training &

Development, Conn. ChapterConnecticut Audio Visual Edu-

cation AssociationConnecticut Library AssociationConnecticut Association for theAdvancement Of SchoolAdministratidn

Groton PUblic SchoolsTrinity-Rensselaer Institute forCommunity Education

The Council forEducational Tel-evision Access of Danbury

Rev. Dr. John Gagnon, ClinicalCoordinator, Danbury HospitalDay Treatment Program

Gerald Robilotti, AssistantAd-ministrator for Education,Danbury Hospital

Gerald Dash, DarienKay Kohl, New' Rural Society,Windham County

Peter Goldmark, GoldmarkaCommuni-cations

Darien Cable Commission

22

26

Ni

Groton Board ofIducationDanbury Taxpayers AssociationDanbury Chamberof Commerce 1-

Equal Rights Commission, DanburyEdmond DeVoe, DanburyMayor CharlesiDucibella, DanburyMayor John Quine, MeridenStuart Pater, Danbury. PublicLibrary

Connecticut Cable CoalitionRussell Library, MiddletownRotary Club, East HartfordAmerican Association of Univer-sity Women, Greater Hartfordand Clinton-KillingworthChapters

1906,

NEEDS FOR STATE

SUPPORT. CITED

011

Bernard Z. Friedlander, Univei'sity of HartfordJosh Smith, Community Renewal Team, HartfordNew London Public Library BoardDanbury Public Schools, Dept. of Adult EducationDanbury Commission on the AgingThe Cable Television Education Planning Commit-

tee, New Haven -

Connecticut Council on Human ServicesMiddletown Ad Hoc Committee for Cable TVMiddletown Commission on the Arts and Cultural

ActivitiesLocal Advisory Council 'for Cable Television:

Hartford, West Hartford, East. Hartford,Simsbury, Bloomfield, Windsor

Sydney Rauchbach, Groton Public Library Board

Common to all presentations to the Commission is the call for

an unequivocal State policy to support_public use of public

channels. Cited as needs are training and equipment, technical

assistance, research and development, public information, and

assured access to channels, in short, formulation of a coordin-

\,atqd State strategy to develop the potential of cable in the

public interest. Affluent and less affluent communities alike

look to the State to develop public policy for public use of

cable. The consensus of informed opinion supports the .view

that the quality of life in Connecticut is at issue.

Some of the concern expressed.to the Commission stems from the

chronic state of flux of ,Federal regulations pertaining to

cable. In capsule, current FCC access rules require cable

systems operating in:the top-100 markets, which cover most of

23

FCC REDUCES REQUIRE-

MENTS FOR

LOCAL CHANNELS

CABINET REPORT TO

THE PRESIDENT ALSO

RECOMMENDS REDUCING

ACCESS CHANNELS

Connecticut, to make channels and simple studio facilities

available to education, government and the general public free

of charge for an experimental period of five years. If the

channels-are not well utilized, they can revert to the cable

operator for other uses. Similarly, leased channelsiinot

used, could revert to the cable system after five years. The

requirements for public access facilities, however, have been

progressively reduced by FCC in the hope of relieving the,cable

industry of burdensome investment in public access at a time

when capital for construction is scarce. The cutback is justi-

fied, says FCC, since public channels are mot being used. A

recent ruling also eliminates, the requirement for local origin-

ation in markets outside the so-called top-100. Local origina-

tion differs from public access in that the cable operator is

responsible for programming the channel and'is free to use

advertisements to cover his costs. This ruling affects only a

few towns in Connecticut. One is New London, where local orig-

ination was recently all but suspended.

Indications are, moreover, that FCC may reduce the three access

channels to one in the near future, at least in the case of

systems constructed before 1972. A Cabinet Report to the Pres-

ident from the Office of Telecommunications'Policy, recommend-

ing new legislation, already drafted, would'also reduce the

number of required access channels to. one. "'In the face of

these developments increasing numbers of Connecticut citizens

must look to the State for assurance that time and support will

be duly ,provided -to allow for adequate experimentation with

public uses of public channels.

24

FCC-PUC

RELATIONSHIPS

O

Because FCC has preempted, regulation of the access channels.-)

the. Public Utilities Commission has deferred to FCC in-access--

matters. In August 1972 PUC, which is the franchising2pthor=

ity in Connecticut, modified certain termsof franchises

issued before the. 1972 FCC Rulemaking. In making these changes

at that time, PUC stated its conviction that it was "in the

best interest of the'Connecticut citizenry that ConneCticut

CATV franchises iglt consistent with FCC rules and regulations

where practicable." On another occasion the. Chairman of the

PUC, reviewing the regulatory situation'in Connecticut, ob-

served that "the Congress and the FCC ... could have,preempted

CATV and left the,states no jurisdiction at all. They did not

)1

do that but they basically left to the states only the power

of franchisi g and rate setting."

In the face of mounting Federal restrictions on public access

channels, however, the question arises: What expedients and

incentives can Connecticut devise to assure the availability

and utilization of public channels?

Many advantages, however, mitigate the prevailing uncertain-

CONNECTICUT: ties over FOleral regulation. The Connecticut market for both

A GOOD MARKET conventional and innovative cable services is,favorable. The

FOR CABLE education; business and professional communities as well as

the cable, industry are interested in developi4g public use of.

public channels. Equipment and experti-se4re widely available

in schools and colleges. Technical assistance is available

from a number of StSte agencies and institutions. Construction

is proceeding apace, and the'technology is advan6d. Geography

is compact.

29 25

COMMISSION AND LOCAL

ADVISORY COUNCILS

CAN STIMULATE GROWTH

OF PUBLIC CHANNELS

STATE OF THE ART

REPORT IN PROCESS

STATE TWED AS

HIGHLY gLIGIBLE FOR

Connecticut has also created a number of institutions to en -.

courage innovation. Chief among theie-are the Commission on

the Educational and Informational Uses of Cable Telecommunica-

tions and the Local Advisory Councils, which can set into

motion a statewide dynamic for the development of useful and

interesting programming responsive to the interests of Connect-

icut people and the priorities of the State,

0P

The Commission is currently preparing a detailed report on the

state of the art in Connecticut. Included in the report will

be statements of what cable means to different organizations

and sectors in Connecticut, with facts and figures about con-

stituencies. The report will also,include projections of

programming likely to be developed for public channels in Con-

necticut. A later report will de 1 with alternative strategies

and incentives for develOping suc programming.

There are officials in the Federal Government, in the cable

industry;- in research orejanizations who feei'th t Connecticut

presents favorable characteristics for a major demo }rad"

in public service uses of cable4, A proposal

DEMONSTRATION FUNDS - st statewide educational demon trattorebsim I a tele-,

1 communications was presented to-theLegfslature late in 1973

by the Mitre Corporation, an acknowledged leader fnAhe field

of system design for interactive cable se ices. (The Mitre

proposal and testimony tb the Commission are appended to File

Copies of the FIRST REPORT.) The creation of the Commission on

the Educational and Informational Uses of Cable Telecommunica-

tions has heightened expectation's that Connecticut will con-

..., ceive a viable strategy to program designated access ehannels.

26

NEED TO CLARIFY HOW

CABLE

LATED

ADMIN

WILL BE REGU..

UNDER NEW

STRATION

CAN CAB E BE USED TO

,EQUALIZE EDUCA

,\

Successful implementation of-the Commission's charge can

attract talent and funds for cable research and development in

Connecticut that will benefit the citizens of our State and

serve as a much sought-after model elsewheie in the country.

To'carry out the charge, however, the Commission will need the

help of the Legislature in addressing importgtt related issues.

One of these is the impact of proposed changes in the Public

Utilities Commission on the regulation Of cable in Connecticut.

Another consideration is the opportunity to focus expeistise in

the statewide communications survey under way on the applica-

tions of cable technology to the educational and informational

needs of children and adults wherever they live in our State.

(The survey is discussed below.) The need to explore the use

of cable as a trade-off in energy and tran ortation is partiV

larly urgent in view of a request from the Sta Board of d

cation to the Commission to in

cable as a means of equalizing educational ity.

? text of Commissioner Shedd's request appears in a section o

education, below.

he feasi ility of using

Much needed is a concerted effort to canvass systematically

sources ofFederal funds for cable-related purposes. Substan-

tial amounts of funds applicable to the development of cable to

enhance local communication are available, for example, tinder

the new Federal Community Development Act. The Department of

CommunttyAffairs has applied for a $100,000 grant under the

Act tp, assist local governments in developing the municipal

chap el (see section on the Government Channel, below). Larger

a unts of such funds may be available to establish-community

'4information centers in branch libraries, for example; to cable-

31 27

MAJOR SEARCH SHOULD

BE MOUNTED TO

OBTAIN AND

COORDINATE GRANTS

PATTERNS OF USE

OF INFORMATION

SERVICES CAN

PROVIDE 'INPUT TO _-

SYSTEM DESIGN

cast community programs from state colleges and public librar-

ies; to fund public information projects and programs. Funds

for video equipment and iV production facilities are available

under a range of HEW Federal titles for schools, colleges,

libraries and public television. Funds are also available

from the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment

for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and

other sources. The Commission is currently investigating the

availability of assistance from the Federal Civil. Service Com-

mission and the U.S. Department Of Labor for the training of

intergovernmental personnel. With support from the legislators

and assistance from' exeCutive departments ofthe State the

Commission could develop a coherent statewide strategy for

seeking public and private grants and applying them to develop

public use of public cable channels throughout Connecticut.

High on ihe list-of the Commission"s priorities is the study of

patterns of use of information services such as Library-line,

the Governor's State Information Bureau, and certain "hotline"

telephone services. Evaluation of the use of these services./

will be of great help in making decisions about the design of

public cable programm<in Connecticut. These services are

valuable not only for the convenience and economy they offer

in and of themselves but also for what their use may reveal

about as yet unfilled information needs in Connecticut.

In this connection, it is of interest to note that an estimated

per cent of calls to Library-line could use a video dimen-

sion to good advantage. Calls to Library-line are cost-

effective in terms of conservation of manpower and material

resources. A video capability might well reduce expenditures

28 4-i 11'futito

further by cutting back the need for sending copies of docu-

ments. The opportunity for callers to scan the terminal of

the New York Times Data Bank at the Mate Library would greatly

enhance the value of this facility to State agencies, scholars

and other researchers in Connectic4t.

Communications needs for Connecticut State government and in-

terrelated regional and local systems are currently being

surveyed by the Applied Research Division of Booz, Allen and

Hamilton, Inc. under the'direction of the State Office of Civil

Preparedness and the Connecticut Communications Coordinating

Committee. The study will consider 'existing and alternate modes

.t`r" and levels of-communicatitnS, including interface with_communi-*

cations systems in adjacent states and regions. e six major

governmental areas to be studied are criminal justice and law

enforcement agencies; conservation and human resources; health

and emergency medical services; education; transportation; and

general government. The study is due to be completed by June.

SURVEY COULD YIELD Since any survey of communications needs in Connecticut would

DATA ON COST- not be complete without consideration of-cable, the Commission

EFFECTIVENESS urges, that the Booz, Allen -and itamilton study consider cable as

an alternative mode for delivering a range of educational and

informational services: Information from the study can be used

immediately-to facilitate planning and budgeting for the Board

for State Academic Awards, which administers the external deg

program, and for the State Board of Education. Both Boards are

actively interested in exploring the use of cable as a cost-

effective system for delivering educational services. Results

of the study would also be applicable readily to a number of

research, health and consumer services.

29 :33

PUBLIC INFORMATION

. RADIO PROPOSED

Not to be overlooked is the fact that cable can deliver dozens

of FM radio signals in addition to video. A proposal for regu-

lar statewide public information radio programs has been pre-

sented to the. Commission for study.

CONTINUING STUDY All these matters require informed decision-making, in which

ESSENTIAL the Commission can play an effective role. It will not be

enough, however, to list possible community uses of cable or

even to provide free channels. Leadership and coorOination

will be needed to mount the promotional effort, programing

effort, demonstration effort and-financing effort that must

accompany our good intentions. Continuing study is essential

for optimal use of cable in the public interest to assure:

access to educational opportunity and free flow of infor-. .

matiOn between citizens and government and among citizens

themselves.,

EXTENSION REQUIRED In view of the factors and considerations cited herein itis

TO MAKE PROPER recommended that the Legislature enact Bill 6708 proposed by

RECOMMENDATIONS , Rep. Howard Klebanoff as follows:

That the reporting date of the commissionestablished by special act 74-111 to studyand make recommendations regarding theimportance, development and future use ofcable telecommunications for educationaland informational purposes be changed fromFebruary 15. 1975 to February 15, 1976.

at4

PUC ESTABLISHES.

JAM:COUNCILS

TO DEVELOP

COMMUNITY CABLE

COUNCILS LACK

PRECEDENT AND

GUIDELINES,

DANBURY IS STATE'S

FIRST MODEL FOR

MUNICIPAL PROGRAM-

MING

-AOC& ADVISOR COUNCILS FOR CABLE TELEVISION./

In response to a 'etition and statements from a numb

groups and indfvf uals interested in effective use of designated

access channels, t e Public Utilities Commission4stablished

Local Advisory Cou cils for Cable Televipitinarels of the

State where franchi es have been granted. T ouncils were

established to encou age the development community program -

ming. A survey by th Commission ,shows that many appointments

have not yetbeen made a fewrCouncils have not held their

first meeting. Mem - f Local Advisory Councils are listed

below by town. Thus far the appointment of 164 LAC members has

been confirthed to PUC; many other appointments have actually

been made, possibly totalling nearer 200.

Lacking precedent and specific guidelines, some Councils are

finding it difficult todefine their role. Since the Councils

as such are constituted after the franchise has been granted,

the opportunities and problems they address are those concerned-

with the.construction and operation of the systems. In some

cases, such as Danbury-Bethel, the system was substantially

constructed before the PUC ruled that the Councils be estab=

lished. Problems there have been minimized because an edUca-

tional consortium was formed to produce community programs.

T consortium is active and the City Codncil recently appointed

a consortium member, the Danbury Public Library, tb cablecast

local programming:

',Some Councils face dilemmas if construction has been 'greatly

STOP IN. CONSTRUCTION delayed or has started and stopped. In the case of Middletown

SPURS MIDDLETOWN effective local leadership emerged on an ad hoc basis to chaT

TO ACTION lenge the franchise when construction stopped.

31 -It-coo

COUNCILS WANT

STATE LIBRARY TO

CIRCULATE LAC REPORTS

TO' SHAE INFORMATION

USE OF ACCESS CHANNELS

11AISESMANY,QUESTIONS'

A Commission survey confirms.the evident need among the

Councils and their communities for information about cable

and its uses. A proposed exchange of information among

Councils, viewed with favor and delegated by the PUC to

the .State Library, however, requires funds and staff which

the Library now lacks.

Questions raised by the Local Advisory Councils and other

groups interested in cable, as well as by the Commission

itself, include the,following:

1) Is the operator the appropriate supepisorc4/7:\---/

the'access channels?

2) Can responsibility forvervisidn be transferred

from the operator to the Lovil Advisory Council?

a) How can a Council be res'popive to the

total community?

b) How can the Council'be protected from

political pressure?

c) Can the Council be vested with the author-

ity to establish production facilities,'

create-a training program for thecommunity

for use of the access channels,.create pro-

grams, and schedule use of the access

channels?

3) What constitutes "minimal equipment and facilities"

for programproduction? How is it to be provided

and managed? Can the State require a cable operator

to install a time base corrector to facilitate the

cablecasting of community-produced programs?

32

37

4) Where are differences in judgment on access program.

ming settled? How is the public informed--ind by

whom--regarding access channel opportunities and

rights? Should the.o0eratorbe4equired to present.

announcements on local'otigination and access chan-

nels? Place notices in program guide? Place notices

in local newspaper?

-5) Can a reasonable percentage be provided on gross

receipts of the cable operation for administrationby

a local cable citizens board? Would such an invest-

ment enhance the value of the system and thus be of

value to the operator?

6) What other funding sources should be considered?

7) What is meant by "first-come" on a "non-discrimina-

tory" basis? How is this to be implemented? Can a

local controlling authority be established?

8) Can the State require more technical capability for

two-way communication than that required by the FCC?

For example, can the State require interconnection of

edUCationaf and other public institutions? -With two-

way video and voice audio'capability?

g) Do cable systems in Connecticut require authorization

.from the State to interconnect discrete regional

systems via microwave or other technology?

10) Does the cable operator need safeguards-from the

State in terms of unreasonable demands for production

assistance, equipment, staff? Do minimum and maximum

standards need to be established?

33

.These are only some of the questions that Local Advisory

Counc!ls in Connecticut are addressing as deeatirs,

citizens and cable cepany representatives meet in their

early sessions. Since the Federal Government preempts regu-

lation of the designated access channels, the Public Utilities ,

Commission did not issue guidelines for the Councils. Federal

rules for cable access issued in 1972, moveover, were general

in nature and are.in process '6f-modification.

/

The absence of specific guidelines for the Local Advisory

Councils, however, can work to the advantage of cable and

community programming in Connecticut. After assessing the

CONNECTICUT LOCAL needs and interests of their respective constituencies, the .

COUNCILS MAY DEVELOP Councils may well develop various models of modus operandi.

DIVERSE MODELS

.

The multi-town nature of the franchise areas will,foster the

early development of interconnected programming that may be of

interest to a larger audience. LAC reports and minutes

collected by the State Library will constitute valuable docu-

mentation of citizen opinion about cable.in the industry's

early stages of development in Connecticut.

34

,77./:016p. Le

Bridgeporto

.

z

ww

w-JcaS

CaMINISSION ON THE EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONALUSES OF CABLE TELECOANVNIC ORS 6

2/15/1975

?EMBERS OF LOWAISJO YCDRCIL .CATTNe.

Denis Lorenz

Milford

Robert W. Shields

Orange

Mrs. Myrtle (Roby,)

RaymondHoward W. Muschmeier

Stratford.

George PuglisiDennis'E. BroedlinEdmund A. DorneRichard P. Gilardi

Bozrah

Joseph J. Reardon

Franklin4

Anthony Carboni

Lisbon

Walter Mish

Norwich

Edward W. LeonardJames Quarto

PreSton

Fred Gale

Groton

Mrs. Elizabeth FastSidney Rauchbach,,Hilmar P. BurgessBernard Perry

Ledyard

Joseph M. Cardelle

Mystic,

Gerald SmithArchie C. Swindell

North Stonington

_Kenneth M. Shaw

Stonington

Alfred Wilcox

Branford

Ruth ClarkDiane MaguireMelvin Schlank

East Hayen

Vincent R. Gagliardi

Guilford

Mrs. James G. BaldwinRobert M. Norman

.StanleY G. BOmes

Madison

Robert G. HaleCarl A. UlferrsMs, Barbara Sousa

North Branford

Thomas DargeArnold Cestari

North Haven

Anthony P. Fermo

Wallingford

Rosario DiNoraJoseph KuczynskiMarion Rue

Killingworth

Mrs. Barbara Klein

old Saybrook

Thomas Shea

East Lyme

Milton HillianMrs. Loretta Bernier

DeMatteo

Griswold

Frank ZavistoskiJohn B. Wilcox

Killingly

Edward Allard, Jr.

Montville

Leonard Tyl

35

E

New London

Mrs. Dplores'SchargusNichMas GorraLouis MassadWayne Vendetto

Astrea Powers

Plainfield. ,

Edward Wiezhicki

Waterford

Rev. Kenneth.FltntGeorge-White. .

Dr. Evelyn Omwake

Glastonbury

Dennis WeirMs. Inez HemlockMrs. Lori JurenRobert Ford

Manchester

Robert B. WeissJames FrozerMrs. Harriet HandleyDr. Alfred TychsenRaymond R. Shea

Rocky Hill_ .

Mrs. Wilma FisherRichard J. ConwayMrs. Bertha M. Smith

Wethersfield

William J. MoriartyMrs. Barbara Molchan

(alternate)Ralph A: DeSantisRichard EigenThomas Lawton

Bloomfield

Edwin GittlemanMrs. Lee KelmerMrs. Carol CarlisleHerbert Chester

East Hartford

Ralph SecordMrs. Mary Tucker

(alternate)Sam Leone

319

4J0

5

tZ

9

9a Rev. A. Russell Ayreu.

Joseph Geyer5C Ira Meinhardtal Dr. Morris J. Rudner

Allyn MartinThoma4 StandishIvor HughScott McAlister #

Mrs. Barbara B. KennyWilbur CrimminCharles Griffen

(alternate)

Simsbury

Richard'Huot .

Mrss Thomas W'. SharplessHarley Park

West Hartford

Raymond A. PetowRev. Charles W. GelbachDr. George H. MurrayMrs. Alice M. DeLanaRobert SheaDr. Ira J. Singer

Windsor

Albert G. flgMrs. Ruth BudlongRobert PlattRobert MocarskyArnold McFalls

/M.

North-Canaan

Donald Severance

Salisbury

John K. Bodel

Litchfield

Joseph L. BerubeChester A. StoverPeter J. Gay

Torrington

Whitney L.-BrooksSamuel ByersAndrew QuinnEharles HayesJonathan Hutchinson

New Milford

Barkhamsted

Peter Bakker

New Hartford`

Mrs. Margot.KrimmelJames Whittemore

Winchester

Anthony S. KatonaRobert C. DiMortino

r

[

New Haven

E Stephen J. PapaMrs. Janice B. Rider()

V)

fi% 3CDILL!

o.4

)-

0LU

a.

)-

Danbury

John A. Wolfkeil '

Stuart T. Porter; Jr.Mrs. Kathie Calabrese.Rev. Robert. H. NaylorAtty. Jack D. GarmellaAntonio Seres

East Hampton

Larrif,,Selauka

William F. Smith, Jr.

Middlefield .,

Mrs. Edith Hoffman

Middletown

Charles SmithMs. Virginia PettirossRafidolph Ryan

Arlene Bielefiela

Portland

R. Richard Larke, Jr:_

Cheshire

Arthur FrechetteEdward R. 1.41ozas

Mrs. JudithFishman

MeHden

Arnold Posner

Southington'

,.Nicholas DeLuco-

Wolcott.

Frank Levanti.Albert Linden

±crFATWaterbury

g ¢ John Bakerco

I--cc,- Stanford WarshaskyLa

ct3C

Berlin

Dr. Rodger K. Nelson

Bristol

Henry Fitzgerald,Frank J. Longoi-Sr.Patrick J. McFaddenCarter ChamberlinVal B. McCormackMrs.,Marcella Finan

Farmington

Stephen A. FlisW,Page Wodell

New Britai

Dr. Howard RootDouglas 0. WardwellMs. Ruth BoyeaMs. Pauline MahEdward Sasso

Plainville

Charles A. Venturi

Bethany

JameS W. BaileyMrs. Madeline Rabino-

' witz

Oxford

THOmas IC CostelloEdmund Guy Senesac-

Seymour

John Kolinofsky'Joseph McWilliams

Shelton

David BrownWilliam BanfeStephen Zennick, Jr.Edward C. FinnStephen F. Donovan

36 40

TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT

State colleges, community colleges, state technical colleges

and the University of Connecticut equipped with audiovisual,

television reception andfor production facilities all provide

`MANYATATE COLLEGES a rich source of expertise in the educational television

HAVE EQUIPMENT

AND FACULTY

. MANY SCHOOL SYSTEMS

EQUIPPED FOR

VIDEO AND TV'

field. As shown by the accompanying chart, 21 state-owned

colleges provided 650 weekly hours oft, use of their TV studios,'

master TV antenna systems, video tape recorders and multimedia

auditoriums in 1973.

In addition, the facilities of Channels 24, 49, 53 and 71 of

the Connecticut Public Television Network are a rich resource.

A number of school systems in the State and several public

libraries are also equipped for video production. The Seymour

High School, the Danbury Public. Library, and a regional school

grant project, Cable-RAVE, in Meriden are currently cable-

casting.

INVENTORY OF PRIVATE An important task to be addressed immediately is an updated

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, inventory of TV equipment and expertise available not only in

BUSINESS AND State-owned schools and colleges but also in private lnstitur

INDUSTRY NEEDED tions, such as the Choate School, Yale University and Connect-.

icut College, The College was equipped and used as the local

origination studio by Eastern Connecticut Cable television in

New London until recently.

The inventory should also be extended to business and industry,

which have indicated interest in assisting the Commission in

its study.

37

TRAINING AVAILABLE

TO STUDENTS AT

COLLEGES, TO LIBRAR-

IANS AT STATE.

LIBRARY

MIDDLESEX COMMUNITY

COLLEGE ONE OF FEW

COLLEGES IN COUNTRY

TO OFFER CAREER

TRAINING IN CABLE

BUSINESS AND PRO-

FESSIONALS ARE

ASSISTING COMMISSION

STAFF

Lightweight portable television equipment is also becoming

available in Connecticut schools and colleges,a few public

libraries and the State Libuary, some cable TV,stations, and

several video training centers.

Training in the use of portable equipment is available to

enrolled students in schools and colleges. Training and loans

of equipment are available from the:Connecticut State Library

to all public libraries in the State. The Studio operated

by Norman Cohn in New Haven under a grant has trained many

people who ;Right not otherwise have access to video equipmer41

1

and expertise. More information is needed about the demand

for training and, the extent of resources

Particular note should be made of the fact that one of the

few two -year academic programs in cable television in the

country is offered at Middlesex Community College in Middlb-

town. The program, which includes training in cable installa-

tions as well as video production, has just been accredited.

The Connecticut Chapter of the American Society for Training

and Development has extended the expertise of its extensive mem-

bership to the Commission and lends its support'to the education-

al possibilities that the Commission will develop. The Society,

which has established a Cable TV Research Committee, has repre-

sentatives from a wide range of the professions, business and

industry in Connecticut. Commission staff has met with the

Committee and will develop, with the Committee's help', a list of

programming possibilities in Connecticut.

38

TELEVISION EQUIPMENT AT CONNECTICUT GOLLEGES ANDUNIVERSITIES'

Institutions

/TV

Studio

Weekly

Hours

in Use

Master

TV

Antenna

Weekly

Hours

in Use

Multi-

media

Auditoriums

Weekly

Hours

in Use

Class-

room

VTR's

Weekly

Hours

in Use

University of 'Conn.

including Health Center

114

11

13

34

(McCook Hospital)

,

State Colleges

473

138

,

870

45

104

idcluding Southern,

Central, Eastern,

and Western

Community Colleges

.

233

2.

5

.

018

83

including Hartford,

Housatonic, Manchester,

Mattatuck, Middlesex,

,.

.

Mohegan, Northwestern,

Norwalk, Quinebaug, South

Central and Tunxis

.

.

State Technical Colleges

.

including Hartford, Nor-

walk, Thames and Water-

bury

..

00

26

23

30

TOTAL: Ai

Zit,'

7120

9158

11

73

100

299

e

Source:

IMPROVEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION: ALTERNATIVE MODES FOREARNING U DERGRAD

DEGREES AND COLLEGE CREDIT, A Report to the. Governor and the GeneralAssembp from t

Connecticut Consnission for Higher Education, January 1973.

w

PUBLIC INFORMATION

,e?

Virtually every statement to the Commission emphasizes the

need for a major effort to educate thetitizens of Connecti-

cut and their elected and ap..int d officials about the

importance develo ent and future use of cable telecommuni-

cations..

COMMISSION'S STAFF A ,,major port'on of the Commission's executive officer's

- HEAVILY INVOLVED IN time has been voted to public information activities in-_ORIENTATION AND cluding speaking engagements, participation in or planning

CONSULTING SERVICES for workshops a seminars, personal and telephone consults,

tions and spondence with local, State and Federal

()frith s, members of the press, librarians, teachers, stu-

dents and community leaders; and publication of news-reieases

a d the weekly Cohnecticut Cable Mips. Briefings and

o ientatiOns, amounting in several cases to as much as three

four full days of time, have been:/requested by two depart-

ments of the State; a committee of the State Legislature;

four Federal "agencies; nine Local Advisory Councils; two

municipalities, a cable consultant to a municipality; a task

force of academicians; and a number of State and local

organizations, among th4111 the South Arsenal Neighborhood

Development Project in Hartford, Rotarians, American As.soci-

ation of University Women,. the Middletown Ad Hoc Committee

for Cable TV, Middletown Commission on the Arts, Middletown,

Public Library, Connecticut Cable Coalition, and the Connect-

icut chapter of the American Society for Training and Develop-

ment. Many of theseevents are scheduled for late February,

March and early April.

40 44

COMMISSION MEMBERS

GIVE LOCAL

PRESENTATIGNS

O

FUNDS: NEEDED TO

RESUME PUBLICATION

OF CONNECTICUT'

CABLE CLIPSA

STATE LIBRARY

o

Commissionef;/Robert Hale, Nolan Lushington, Virginia Pettiross,

Iraiinger,-and-former Commitsioners Ruth Clark and William

Churchill have made public presentations and/or are actively

engaged in developing video/cable activities in their communi-

ties. Ms, Pettirbss, Mrs. Clark, Mr.-Hale and Dr. Singer are

members of Local Advisory Councils.

Connecticut Cable CZips, assembled weekly by the Commission's

executive officer, was4aunched by the Connecticut State Library

in September to meet the growing'demand for current information

about cable in Connecticut. Cable Clips'has been the only ve-

hicle monitoring the statewide cable scene for the public,

(Because of budgetary restrictions, the State Library has' suspended publication of Cable Clips. .There is no fiscal provision'

for continuanCe of the Library's Cable Information Services un/OK

established by theLibrary to.support the Commission and to

respond -to the increasing demand for information. Prior to the

formation of CIS, the,Public Information Program for Connecticut

Libraries, an information ombudsman Federal grant project oper-

ated by the Library from 1972-74, 7rved as a statewide clear-

inghouse for cable information.

Cable Clips is distributed weekly to more than 2,000 readers,

including Connecticut and federal legislators, all Connecticut

news media, members of Local Advisory Councils, and all public,

academic and law libraries in the State. The State Library's

addressograph list has been greatly enlarged to accommodate

individual requests. In addition, bulk mailings are sent to

interested State agencies and to regional and statewide organi-

zations, such as the Connecticut Cable Coalition, foi. internal

distribution. Cable Clips has been commended by national cable

41' 451

0

SOME LOCAL. PAPERS

RELUCTANT TO COVER

JR

LOCAL CABLECASTING

Ipokesmen in government, industry and public interest groups for

its unique statewide coverage of cable.

A few local newspapers in Connecticut have been reluctant to

publicize cable television's involvement in community program-

ming. In some cases when stories about particular programs are

published, reference to cablecasting of the programis omitted.

Th1) policy can inhibit public awareness of the practice and

potential of public access. Ilep9rts on the Commission's opera-

tions.have been virtu lly ignored by Connecticut's metropolitan

newspapers, althou the liartfordeffartford Times

kitorialized'fav rably on the enabling legislation.

-4;,_INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC. To give Local Advisory Council members, local officials and 4;

/

T1V.W.E1r-500E civic leaders a better understanding of cable in Connecticut,

LIBRARY TO PRESENT the Institute.of Public Service, University of Connecticut, with

JOINT EDUCATIONAL the participation of *the Connecticut State Library and the Coll-

PROGRAM necticut cable systems, will present a program. of conferences,

workshops and field work from September, 1975- March, 1976.

The program will address (1) public interest policy analysis,

(2) the process and effects of applying cable research,

(3) methods and techniques for the effective use of cable tech-

nology. Multimedia resources used in the program will be news-

letters, videotapes, and other material emphasiiing the environ-

ment and operation of cable in Connecticut. Director for the

program is George Murray, a member of the staff at the Institute

of Public Service (and a West Hartford Local Advisory Council

member). The program's first bimonthly newsletter,' to. be pub-

lished late in June, will be widely disseminated, particularly

42 .46

PUC- SPONSORED BIBLI

OGRAPHY WILL FEATURE

INFORMATION ON

CONNECTICUT

in areas where cable franchises have been granted: articipa-

tion will also be open to interested Connecticut officials and

civic leaders in areas as yet unfranchised for cable TV service.

"Connecticut perspectives," a portion of a cable bibliography

to be published by the Public Utilities Commission in coopera-

tion with the State Library, reveals the growing store of Con-

necticut-generated information about cable. Efforts are being

made to obtain documentary videotapes of discussions, con -

ferences and meetings to deposit at the State Library for ref-.

0

LIBRARIES WILL

REQUEST COMMISSION

TO SET UP PUBLIC IN-

FORMATION COMMITTEE

erence. The Library has assembled a comprehensive collection of

books and hard4to-find reports about cable. The collection was

kept current until recently, when budget cuts curtailed the.

acquisition of all new books.

It should be noted that the Target '76--Libraries--Cable Task

Force has dealt extensively in its cable research and planning

with the development of public information services. The Task

Force intends to present a working paper to the Commission in

Marl.ch, with the request that a public information subcommittee

of the CoMmission be established, under the direction of library

representatives. The Task Force's working paper will also

address,for the first time within the Commission, operpting Con-

cepts of community information centers.

STATE BOARD OF

EDUCATIPN REQUESTS

COMMISSION TO EXPLORE

USE OF CABLE TO RE-

SOLVE "EQUALIZATION"

DILEMMA

CABLE AND THE SCHOOLS

Applications of cable technology to educational and informa-

tional services can bring significant advantages:

1) increased physical accessibility of services in tfie

home, at school, at libraries, and at work

2) provision of additional services

3) improved quality of services

4) decreased unit cost of services

Faced with escalating costs dnd a mandate to provide educa-

tional resources on amore equitable ba'is, the State Board.

of Education has directed an urgent request to the Commission

to investigate immediately the feasibility of using cable to

help equalize educational opportunity in Connecticut. The

request from Commissioner Shedd follows:

The State Board of Education strongly supportsthe exploration by the Commission on the Educationaland Informational Uses of Cable Telecommunicationsas to the feasibility of using cable telecommunica-tions as a means of equalizing educational opportu-nity in Connecticut.

The Board has Zong been interested and involved inthe use of educational television as a means of bring-

. ing increased educational opportunity to the childrenof Connecticut. It, in conjunction with its special

'Television Council, is intimately concerned with anumbar of areas ,involved with Telecommunication usesin Zducalion such as: suggesting objectives, sub-ject areas, and content for school and adult educa-tional broadcasts over broadcast and cable television;program production and evaluation; information trans-fer and computer access interconnections; and researchin and the improvement of the quality of education bymeans of instructional telecommunications whethercable, open circuit, closed circuit, 2500 megahertzfixed service, or other technological devices.

The State Board of Education therefore earnestlyrecommends that there be an immediate and concerted

44 48

effort on the part of the Commission on Educationaland Informational Uses of Cable Telecommunicationsin full cooperation with state and other educationalagencies to determine the ways in which this newaeriee can be best utilized to equalize educationalopportunity in Connecticut.

In parts of the country where cable service is available

EDUCATIONAL USE OF use of educational channels is growing. Uses include special

CABLE IS education programs for unskilled workers, housewives, senior

HIGHLY DIVERSIFIED citizens and the handicapped; home'instruction for homebound

students; adult education programs; computerized college

courses; bilingual instruction; video correspondence courses.

A 1974 survey of local origination conducted by the National

Cable Television Association revealed that over 300 colleges

and universities had produced programming for cable.

Planning for educational cablecasting and actual programming

CONNECTICUT SCHOOLS are under way in Connecticut. The Council for Educational

ARE BEGINNING Access in Danbury-Bethel has been cablecasting prograts for

TO CABLECAST over a year, including high school equivalency courses. A

ten -day, career education program will be cablecast in

March under the sponsorship of the Danbury Chamber of Corn

merce. The Seymour High School and the Cable-RAVE project

A

in Meriden are also cablecasting. Cable-RAVE, a Federally

funded regional project directed by Arnold Posner, has

trained many teachers in a five-town area in yideo and has

begun cablecasting from its own studio in downtown Meriden.

A computerized Educational Resources Center research project

operated by the Area Cooperative Educational Services in New

Haven has cablecast from the Seymour High School. More needs

to be known about,the possibil,itfes.these programs offer for

all of Connecticut.

49 45

Planning by the Danbury Educational Consortium and the Tar-

get '76--Libraries--Cable,Task Force is progressing.

The following schematic presentation of school use of cable

prepared by. Elizabeth Fast, for Target '76 shows how cable

can enable schools to receive and cablecast programming and

interact advantageously with other schools and the community.

Following the diagram is a summary survey of audiovisual

educators prepared by Robert Hale for the Commission.

TIMELY PROPOSAL Of particular interest to the Commission at this time is a

TO STIMULATE proposal by Edna NegrOn-Smith, a public memberof the Commis-

BILINGUAL PROGRAMMING sion, to stimulate bilingual programmingit4bugh the use of

cable. The Federal Government.bas admonished Connecticut for

non-compliance with requirements to provide bilingual in-

struction. The proposal will be circulated for comment to

Local Advisory Councils in areas of the State with substantial

numbers-of Spanish-speaking residents.

46 30

OutsidePrograms

CABLE TELEVISION AND THE SCHOOLS

PROGRAMS VIA CABLE

Network TVEducational TVLocal Programs

ProgramsProducedby theSchools

Instructidnal televisionStudent productionsIn-service programs

--AlternativesCareer education, etc.

---RYTTEinformationAdult educationHomebound programs .Pre-school educationParent, education

.SCHOOLS CAN GAIN

* Improved community understanding of the schools* Educational media potential for improving education

* Enhanced student self-image from productions

* Vocational education laboratory* Economy in energy saving (adult education)

COMPONENTS NECESSARY

TO RECEIVE PROGRAMS

* Cable drops to schools* Receivers in the schools* Wiring within the schools* Staff receptivity to TV use

Optional: '

lideotape equipment for added

useStorage and retrievalmecha-

nism for programs which arevideotaped

Overcome copyright problemson rebroadcasting

Homeviewing

TO PRODUCE PROGRAMS

SCHOOLS CAN OFFER --

* Equipment* Student help* Faculty participation* Facilities.* Program ideas to a com-

munity cable effort

* Cameras and other production equipment(Portable 1/2" video units can be used)

* Videotape equipment* Transmitting equipment* Cable origination point in the .school (or

tapes can be shipped to central point)

Staff time and expertise* Students trained to assist* Visual jraterials and program ideas* Staff receptivity to TV production

Optional:Storage and retrieval mechanism for programswhich are videotaped

Overcome copyright problems on media incor-

porated into programs

(Elisabeth Fast, Groton Public Schools, rorTarget '76LibrariesCable Task Force 10/16/76)

!A 47

A summary survey of Connecticut Audio Visual Educatidn Association membersfollows:

1. Please list your ideas for programming cable television for education in our schools and community.

The following is a list of activities mentioned by respondents to the area of the programming:

Adult Education

Cultural 'Programming

In-service Programs

School Activities

Homebound Instruction

Instructional Programs during the regular school day

Public Relations

Preschool Programming

Public Information

By Combining public relations,/public information, school activities, and cultural programming into o

category all based on a public relations approach a total of twelve people surveyed.idclude this in eir program

plans. The next most popular programming area is adult education with five people respondin homebound

instruction, and instructional programming during the regular school day arc tied with the in- rvice at tworespondents each.

2. Arc you currently involved with an active cable franchise?

There were six with a response who answered yes an gdication of three of them Ong a pdsitive relationship

and there were ,thirteen respondents who answered no they were not associated th an active cable franchise.

3. Please indicate any other recommendations you would like'considered by e Commission concerning

regulatioh, programming, and/or utilization of cable television in Conne, cut.'

The following concerns were most prevalent:

1. Concern for regulation of the educational channel.

2. Concern for program planning.

"3. Concern for finances.

The area of control of the educational channel appears to b, once the prime concerns of those surveyed with .

thelinancing and being a close second.

/,,.

a

Robert Ha for the Commission orthe Educational andInforma onal Uses of Cable Telecommunications, 2/15/75

48

(3.

LIBRARIES WANT TO

USE CABLE TO GIVE

PUBLIC GREATER ACCESS

TO INFORMATION

LIBRARIES ELIGIBLE

TO USE ALL TYPES

OF ACCESS CHANNELS

DANBURY PUBLICII-

BRARY CABLECASTS

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

LIBRARIES

The availability of new cable technology as a public and research

communications medium has generated lively interest among li-'

brarians in the educational and informational uses of cable tele-

communications. Perhaps the most cogent statement to-date of

0the library, position was voiced by the District of Columbia Pub-

.

lic Library in testimony before Congress:

If the connection between public libraries and cable tele-vision is not immediately apparent, Zet me just point outthat over a century ago when most information was con-tained in books and when books were very expensive, localgovernments in the United States established institutionsto provide every citizen with free and equal access toavailable information. These institutions were called

free public libraries. Today, when much information iscommunicated in newer and still more expensive media, itwould seem an appropriate governmental concern to continueto guarantee aZZ its citizens access to information in its

newer forms. And it would seem logical for the publiclibrary to continue to exercise leadership in providingthis information.

Public libraries are eligible tb use all three of the dedicated

channels set aside by Federal, regulation for elperimental edu-

cational, governmental and public access programming. An

increasing number of public libraries across the country are

involved in vito services and cablecasting.

Mention hasbeen'made above of the Dahbury Public Library's

producing and cablecasting municipal programming. It should be

noted that the Library also cablecasts educational programs

produced by members of the gducationol Consortium and trains

members of the community in videotaping production. The best

local videotapes will become part of the Library's permanent

collection.

5349

More than 30 public libraries in Connecticut interested in

MANY LIBRARIES ARE Wed services have received their first. training ikvideo pro-,

GEARING UP FOR-CABLE duction at the State Library. Some of these libraries intend

WHITE HOUSE CONFER-

ENCE WILL EMPHASIZE

NEW INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY,

CONNECTICUT STATE

LIBRARY HAS SPARKED

DEVELOPMENT OF

STATE POLICY FOR

PUBLIC USE OF CABLE

id cableCastrothers are planning to receive cablecast programs

offered by the Board for State. Academic Awards. Several have .-

been , approached by town officials'to'operate the local govern-

t.

ment channel. Many aspire to train the community in theouse of

video and serve as community access centers.

By combining data banks, computers and cable technology

libraries can deliver research and.reference services to the

general public and to special interest clientele. Some of the

more sophisticated new library services will require the pay-,

ment of user fees which can help supp rt other public use of -N

cable that are not marketable. 6olifer tion of data and auto,.

mated networks has led to the enactment oi "deral legislation

for a White House Conference on Libraries andgn ormation

Sciences,to develop plans for a national information services

network.

The Connecticut State Library has played a significant role

in the development of public information services about cable,

the research and development leading to the establtiNshment of

-the Commission, and the staffing and support of the-Commission.^ -

in its first months of existence.

50

GOVERNMENT IS THE

'LEAST USED OF THE

ACCESS CHANNELS

TIE GOVERMENT CHANNEL

Although the 1972 FCC rules set aside one of the three desig-

nated channels for government, little use has been made.of theme

government channel. A number of cities and towns, however,

including Danbury in Connecticut, are'operating municipal chap- -

MOST EXISTING GOVERN- nels through dity_or city-county libraries. In heavilyncabled

MENT CHANNELS OPERATED West Virginia the State Libra6 will operate a dedicated chan-- V

BY PUBLIC LIBRARIES nel when the new State Library/Cultural Center is inaugurated

in late 1976. The Natrona County Public Library in Wyoming is

operating two channels: one for library services and one for

community access.

DEPT. OF COMMUNITY

AFFAIRS SETS UP

CABLE UNIT

COLLEGES PROVIDE

ASSISTANCE WITH

FUNDS FROM CHE

COMMUNITY DEVELOP-

MENT FUNDS

AVAILABLE FROM HUD

The Connecticut State Department of Community Affairs has

established a cable unit to facilitate technical and financial

assistance to towns interested in operating a municipal'chan-

nel. Plans are to utilize programming and other technical

expertise available at.Central Connecticut State College in

New Britain, Southern Connecticut State College in New Haven,

Western Connecticut State College in Danbury and the Univer-

sity of Bridgeport with a grant from the Commission for Higher

Education.

Additionally, DCA has applied to the U.S. Departmentsof Hous-

ing and Urban Development for $100,000 in pass-through funds

under the new Federal Community Development Act to help towns

launch government channels.

Currently, DCA's cable unit is providing technical assistance

to the City of Meriden in assessing needs, implications and

51

MERIDEN TO OPERATE costs to operate a municipal cable channel. Contact has also

MUNICIPAL CHANNEL been made with the City of Manchester; which has done prelimi-

nary research on cable with the assistance of the State Li-

brary and the Commission's staff,.

'Another candidate for DCA assistancF the. City of Danbury,

which requires additional equipmen to cablecast government

programs from the Public Library.. he Library received a

DANBURY CITY COUNCIL start-up grant for basic equipment last year from the State

OPERATES CHANNEL Library after being designated by the City Council as the

THROUGH PUBLIC official municipal information, agency. The Library cable-

LIBRARY casts from its premises a weekly town report sponsored by

. UCONN'S INSTITUTE

OF PUBLIC SERVICE

ACTIVE IN CABLE

COUNSEL

the Mayor. Speakers for programs to date have been the Mayor

the Comptroller and the Town Clerk. The Library also operates

a 24-hour message wheel with municipal notices. A pilot pro-

gram on veterans' benefits produced by the State Library in

. cooperation with the Regional Director of the Veterans Adminis-.

tration has been cablecast. Scheduled for heavy April showing

are films from the Internal Revenue Service explaining huw to

fill out most frequently used tax forms. Films and emergency

information from the Office of Civil Preparedness will also

be cablecast. ,t

OrientatiOn, consulting and training services abcfut Video_and

cable are'also being provided to municipal staff and elected

officials by the Institute of Public Service at the Univer-

sity of Connecticut, which has worked extensively with towns

in matters of communications and automation. IPS will sharpen

its focus on effective communications for local government with

citizen participation in its Making Cable Work grant project

described above._

52

,9

MIDDLETOWN One city in Connecticut -- Middletown -- has appropriated

HIRES CONSULTAN; $15,00O to .obtain legal and technical consulting services

about cable. Middletown is partially wired for cable, but

construction was suspended last year:

- Possible government uses of cable, of .course, can be extended

to include video monitoring of trafftc, public safety -- pro-

viding emergency communication to fight crime, installation

of fire alarms, automatic gas, watet and electric meter read-

ings, rumor control, disaster and emergency warning systems,

computer access, staff training, access to City Hall for con-

sultation and video reference, and many others. Emergency.

systems can operate over the same cable that brings in video

signals.

BOARD FOR STATE

ACADEMIC AWARDS IS

PRIME CLIENT

FOR CABLE

a

HIGHER EDUCATION

As noted above, institutions of higher. education in Connecticut'

are becoming involved individually and through State agencies

in training_p.t../

and production for cable.

Principal among higher education clients for cable is the

Board for State-Academic Awards whiCh administers Connecticut's

new external degree program. Intensive work in the field has

stimulated great interest an4 produced an increasing volume of

inquiries and enrollments. A new upper division external de-

PLANNING, INCENTIVES,

COJRDINATION7ARE---1-

NEEDED TO MAKE EFFEC-

TIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY

BSAA AND PUBLIC LI-

BRARIES TO COOPERATE

gree program at the,University of Connecticut may well involve

the use of cable channels.

In commenting on theextensionjof higher education beyond the

campuethrough.the use of cable, Kas Kalba of Harvard Univer-

sity says that'higher education his found that "the real

issues, of using cable for higher learning have to do not so

much-with technology or even basiceconomics as with matters

-such as NI:lifting quality and distribution, institutional

cooperation, testing and accreditation, faculty incentives,

and so forth." Although this area of concern has not yet

been addressed, the Commission notes with favor that the

need for alternative post-secondary education has already

drawn the Board for State Academic Awards and the public li-

braries of Connecticut into a' cooperative relationship with

a view to utilizing cable. The Department of Community

Affairs, in cooperation with colleges, has undertaken to

UCONN INSTITUTE OF facilitate the use of municipal channels makinefunds and

PUBLIC SERVICE technical expertise available to towns, as noted above. In

TO OPERATE WORKSHOPS addition, the Institute of Public Service at the University

of Connecticut, the Connecticut State Library and the Commis-

sion for Higher Education have developed plans for cooperative

public information workshops and fielctwork4n the public use

of public channels. These spontaneous efforts to join forces

indicate directions to be pursuedin studying and makingo

recommendations on the'importance, development and future use.

ofcable. for educational-and informational purposes:

55

CABLE USEFUL FOR

PUBLICHEALTH

INFORMATION

COUNCIL ON

HUMAN SERVICES.

PLANS I & $ SYSTEM

HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE

OF COMMISSION,

CHAIRED BY DR. JAMES

LIEBERMAN, DRAFTS

WORKING PAPER

E.

IlEid_111 MD SOCIAL SERVICES

Cable is an ideal medium for the issemination of preventive

medical and dental informatfain, information programs on sani-

tation, garbage and rat control, and'interconnectiOn of medical

facilities to provide a range of consultation services to

patients'on an emergency and non-emergency basis -- especially

to those without means of transportation.

In the field of social services, Michigan State University is

testing the use of cable to recruit, screen and train foster

parents. A college in Illinois is using cable to train parents

of handicapped preschoolers to prepare their children for

entering school as regular students. In Connecticut, planning

by the Council on Human Services to integrate regional infor-

\'mation and referral services into a statewide system presents

a possible cost-effective use of cable. Cable may also be an

appropriate medium for new preventive services the Council

plans to develop.

A'commtttee on needs and opportunities in the health services

sector will begin a series of meetings starting the last week

in February. A working paper, Telecommunicatione in the Health

Field, has been prepared under the direction of

Commissioner Selma Markowitz, Executive Director of the Connect-

icut Institute for Health Manpower Resources, to serve as a

basis for discussions. The-Health Committee will be chaired

by Dr. James Lieberman, former director of the National Medical

Audio-Visual Center and member of the CIHMR Board.

56GO

COMMISSION TO VISIT

UCONN HEALTH CENTER

HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS

FOR HANDICAPPED

EXPRESS INTEREST

IN CABLE

NORTHEASTERN CON-

At a meeting in March the Commission will view a slide prese6-.

tation about video services and telecommunications.at the Uni-

versity of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington.

Statements have been made by or meetings held with a number of

health service agencies including the Hartford Hospital, the

Visiting Nurses-Association, Danbury Hospit'l Education Depart-

ment, Danbury Hospital Day treatment Program, and the Institute

for Living in Hartford.

The Commission has also received statements from the Oak Hill

School for the Blind in Hartford and the American School forO

the Deaf in West Hartford.

Northeastern Connecticut is being considered by the Mitre Cor-

NECTICUT POSSIBLE SITE poration as one of several locations for a demonstration project

FOR NATIONAL SCIENCE in the delivery of health services to sparsely settled areas

FOUNDATION-FUNDED via telecommunications. National Science Foundation grants

PROJECT will fund the Mitre health service demonstrations.

NO NEWS FROM

WINDHAM REGIONAL

PLANNING AGENCY

ABOUT CABLE

The New Rural Society telecommunications project, directed by,

Peter Goldmark in Windham County, also addresses the possibil-

ity of televised health services.

More information is needed about the implications of the

Federally-funded NRS project for Windham County and Connecti-

cut. Applications for cable franchises were suspended by the

Public Utilities Commission several years ago at the request

of the Windham Regional Planning Agency. .Nothing has been

heard from Windham about cable since.

A'

57

ant

INTERSTATE COOPERATION

, .

Many agencies and institutions in Connecticut, both ublic

and private, have telecommunications links to comput rs and

to agencies elsewhere in the country. The Area Cooperative

Educational Services in Hamden; computer links from the

Connecticut State Library, University of Connecticut, Trin-

ity College, University of Hartford, Connecticut College,

Fairfield University, Yale University, Wesleyan University,

public libraries in Hartford, Stamford, Old Greenwich and

Stratford to. the Ohio College Library Center; the. Four Li-

brary Research Group, which includes Yale University;'the

Capitol Region Drug Information Center's connection with

DRACON, the"National Computer Bank of Information on Drugs

in Washington, D. C., are examples of some of Connecticut's

educational and informational network linkages.

62

58

CABLE- SATELLITE NETWORKS

Connecticut's initiative in establishing the CoMmission on

the Educational and Informational Uses of Cable Teleco7muni-

cations is very timely in view of significant developmints'

for educational communications on the national scene. A

FEDERAL AGENCIES

ENCOURAGE FORMATION

OF PUBLIC SERVICE

SATELLITE CONSQRTIUM

COST-SHARING.

SERVICES FOR

CONSORTIUM MEMBERS.

Public Service Satellite Consortium has been established

.4

with the support of the U.S. Department of Health, Education

,& Welfare, the White House Office Df Telecommunications

Policy and the Office of Management & Budget. The'Consortium

-has. been forMed because of the scheduled repositioning to

IhdiainJune of the ATS-6 satellite, after only six months

'of educational experimentation in the Appalachian and Rocky

Mountain areas of the U.S. The functions of the Consortium

will include coordination of telecommunications activities

of public and private institutions and agencies concerned

with the delivery.of,educational, health and other public ,

services; identification Of potential users and/4gotiation

with potential providers of services to obtain communications

capabilities on a bulk basis; cost-sharing services to Con-

sortium members; development of practices to foster experi-

mental uses of telecommunications; provision of technical

assistance to potential participants. Not contemplated are

the production, distribution and marketing of programming by

the Consortiurh.

PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS A meeting of. the Consortium and other prospective4satellite

INVITED TO MEET users will be held in the spring to develop a coherent

strategy for a public-service satellite. The Ford Foundation,

59 63.

,

PLANS FOR

,TIVE GRANTS

CABLE-SATELL

EXPERIMENTS

W INCEN-

rreportedly will mil( arlast coh/ibuifon to public television

by exten ing g-tent interest lon to the PublicP

stem/.Consortium member, for purchase or con-

str on qua satellitend.50.earth'stations. legislation

r ad

has b p,drafted by the Office of Telecommunications Policy

OR4

/"to fun 5061e- satellite experiments throbgh" HEW. ThesatelL

tE I lite can be operational by 1977,, perhaps as early as late1 \

1976..

/

COMMISSION TO C

ABOUT CONNECTIC

PARTICIPATION

IN CONSORTIUM

The Commission intends to consult immediately with appropri,

NSULT/ ate fficials in COnnectidut, the New England region and

ngton about effective representation for Connectieut'at

//this satellite meeting with- a view.to membership in icon-

sortium.

The adv of iPublic-Service Satellite with Federally

sponiored incentives for cable-satellite experimentation re-

quires policy-making of the highest order to assure that

Connecticut people have a hand in the design of the communi-

cations scheme of things to comet

60 64

'APPIDICES

TO THE FIRST REPORT TO THE

GENERAL ASSEMBLYa

Commission onitho Edneatioial and InformationalUses of cable Telecommunications

M.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COM. IISSIONWASHINGTON. 0.C. MSC

April 5, 1974'

Ms. Margaret ClelandDir*Ctor, Public InformationConnecticut Statelibrary231 Capitol AvenueHartford,,Connecticut 061 5

Dear Ms. Cleland:

' ,

MOLT 11101,1 TOp

You have requested our comment on legislation (Education C itteeBill No. 5105) currefltly'pending in the Connecticut State, gislature.

Promoting public understanding of cable television any studying wadeto develop its educational and informational potent are worthy .'objectives which this Commission heartily endorse Furthermore,the goals stated in the proposed egislationar nsistent:withthe FCC's encouragement of innov tive uses Of aiional and governmentaccess channels during this exp

-AWe nnderstand.that the Public tilitieshad also piopoaed the istabli hment ofe ch franchise area. Since brariee represented on these cou cilsC

mutunl,objeCtives and avoid duplicprocedure.

With regard to your new publiC,iitincommendable that you and your co-edknOWledge-concerning cable televiai

tpII

4. .

If we ma be of further aaaistaft01 please

son .ii Connectidutal advisory councils in .

,I)o de of education are ton with the PDC.tO achieve,orta might be an 'effective'

e Libraries, we thiflicit.let y r e are working to inctsaaa public

Congratulations on the good. ,

I 4

SindareIY1

AgKinley

Chief,-Cab

contact us.

elevision Bureau-.

62

U.S. CABLE TELEVISION FACT SHEET FEBRUARY 1975

National Cable Television Assoc./918 Si;(teenth Street N.W./Washington, DC 20006,

SIZE OF INDUSTRY

,Number of CATV :systems: approximately 3,200'Nuriber of communities served: about 7,000Number of homes served: nearly 10 million,Miles of cable plant in place: 180,000 milesPenetration (homes served as a ratio of homes.

passed by cable): 55 percentSaturation (total CATV subscribers as a ratio of

. TV homes): 14 percentEstimated industry revenues, for'1974: More than $500

Employment: 25,900 people \

1 A

CAPITAL INVESTMENT

J

Total Capital Investment: $1 billion /

Construction costs: Range from $3,500 per mile,

'. populated, rural, areas to g3,000 per-Mile $AConstruction i& dense urban areas-4here cabl.under4to4nd goes as high as :$80,000"per mile

FEES

Average-monthly fes: $5.50 -7

Typical one -timeAnstallation fee: $10 to $15'

.

LOCATION A

All 50 states plu9'Virgin Islands, Pueito Rico, Guam/Penrisylyania.has the most systems: 300 aystems serve more than

950,000 subscribers '' s

California has most. sub'spribers:. 1,278,000.hoUseholds served

- by-285 systemsSix states hav'e. CATV saturation of more than 25.percent Inumber

of homes served byCATV as ratio of total TV households):

West Virginia, Wyoming (both haze more than 40 percent saturation),Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvanth and Vermont

,

million'

in sparbelyAirban'areaa.must be, laid

SLUVICES

Retransmission of local brOadcast signalsImportation of independent TV stations from

to. FCC regulations)

nearby cities (subject

Origination of local (community-oriented) programsNews ticker, stock reports, weather reports

;,Public Rccess, educational. prografimingc local severnment access,

pay, cable t`"Pay cable TV subscribers: 130,000 subscribers'Ray cable operations: About 60 systems.in'14 statesPay cabfe.fees: Installation -- about $10; monthly service: $6 to $8

63

Education Via Cable TV UrgedBy J. GREG ROBERTSON"Cable telear can become

a powerful force'fbr the ad-vancement, of education in, ourtime of it can be a completebust."

That is the conclusion of thet'

1616higration in pressing four. moreinfluence by educators in cableTV (CATV) decisions..

"CATV can bring the long-a-waited dream of continuing,life-long education closer toreality or it can perpetuatemuch of the mediocrity current-ly available via commercialTV,,".says a report prepared forthe schoo lc superintendents'group.

Ira J. Singer, assistant super-intendent in charge of instruc-tion and special .services for theWest Hartford school -system,prepared the-report.

Examples GivenSinger gives many examples

of cable television uses for edu-cation. These include dcrect for-mal instruction, i n -s ervi ceteacher training, community in-formation and education andtraining students in television,production, writing, and stationoperation.

The system could also be usedto produce short "experience"type programi by students forstudents, or, to transmit schoolsports events or dramatic pro-

p ductions."Schools without walls" locat-

ed in factories, schools, laundro-mats, supermarkets, and otherpdblic places- could be tied to-gether by cable television, hesays.

Programming could includesuch standard coursed' as typ-ing, sculpture or dance as wellas programs on "what to do" 'nvarious situationsif you arearrested, in an accident, aboutto buy or sell a house, buy in-surance, obtain medical care,'

shop 'iwisely, or seek legal ad-vice.

Other programs could explorecareer opportunities, housingavailability, or could featureparent and student opinions onvarious school and local issues.Cable television programs couldincorporate instructionfor homebound students, or pre-sent educational games andstimulation forstudents and thegeneral public.

With multiple channels avaiable for educational use, Singersuggests uses such as rebroad-

casting programs shown earlier. be .crucial to successful educa-Channels could also be set aside tional utilization of.CATV.'tifor high speed remote video To begin, he urges school su-tape duplication, -for computer- perintendents and boards ofged-ized information retrieval, and ucatien to start. "immediate"

transmating still pictures dialogues with franchise hold-and documents on demand. era, town officials, 'and other in-

A separate channel could be terested community groups."set aside for reading. instruction Where franchises have not

pre-school children and oth- been awarded, educators can in-ers in the community, he says. fluence the selection or a fran-High Stakes chise holder, says Singer.

But the report notes that high Public officials should pushstakes, are involved In develop- for no-cost or low-cost wiring ofing CATV nationally and in Con- low-income homes for cable tel-necticut. evision and for other poliCies

About 4,000 cable systems are such as establishment of train-expected to be in operation ing programs for minority youthby next year, and 5,000 by 1980, in the CATV fieldBut the cable audience will-in- To finance, public and* educa-crease tremendously by 1980 to tional programming, Singer pro-more than 25 million households using a portion of the pre-and revenue will soar from the v"current level of about ;300 mil- sent 8 percent state revenuelion a year to more Irian oil- tax on. CATV or chargingarging an-

lion. chise holders a flat fee.Currently, 16 franchises have School systems should at-

tempt to negotiate with fran-one is currently being consi-been awarded in Connecticut,

chise holders for free cable

dered, and three are Scheduled drops to all schools, f e inter-ior change with neighbor'labor' g cablefor hearings by the Ptiblicties Commission in September, systems, technical assi ce inthe report says. planning, and :programming, andPublic Utility free or low' cost vieviing sys-

Under Connecticut law, CATV toms for schools, the report pro-is treated as 4 public utility sub- I-I sject to the Public Utilities Com- A key to° insuring dialogmission (PUC) as well as theFederal Communications Com-,mission (FCC).

The Singer report points outthat FCC regulations requirethat each franchise holder pro-vide at least 20 channels inConnecticut's 100 most Opulousareas, with at least one .channelprovided for education use cost-free for a five-year period.

,"If the channel is used wiselyand well, the FCC may increasethe number of channels allocat-ed for- educational purposes,"Singer says.

The .franchise holder is re-quired;,to provide an additionaleducatibnal channel at no cost ifthe first channel is being used80 per cent of the availabletime; he says.

In larger areas, the franchiseholder must provide studios andproduction equipment and eachCATV system must be equippedfor t w o -w a y "communication,permitting clients to respond tovideo stimuli.'Urgent' Singer emphasizes"It is urgent that meetings bearranged with the franchise

oollder in order to insure-compli-ance with the FCC regulations,negotiate auxiliary provisionsand establish rapport which will

and cooperation is to' includeschool, community, and mindri-ty representatives on the advi:-rsory councils mandated by the,PUC for each franchiSe. Thepreliminary P U,.0 regUlationspecified municip aloiffciars andtheir appointees as members ofthe councils, but this is subjectto change.

A spokesman for the PUCsaid this week that the commis-sion will decide by the end ofAugust on whether to includeother groups in the advisorycouncils,

esentsitionsous groups, such as pub-

lic libraries. higher educationinstitutions, a n d communitygroups such as the UrbanLeague have pressed stongly forrepreselitation on the councils.

The e r report urgesschotadOitistrators, teachers,and;,,,,' Oda of education to in-fordellielnselve-s "immantely"aboutATV and join the fightfor 41thcational and publicgain.'

co neludes that, "Thegreateit danger is public igno-rance and apathy -- commonmaladies .which, in this case,!can et tate'inestimable daMageto the people's opportunity to

64 68

communicate their concerns,acquire new skills, transmit-their culture, share their' crea-tivity."

O.

A PROPOSAL TO THE COMMISSION ON THE 'EDUCATIONAL AND

.(2 LINFORMAtIONALUSES OF CABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

f g1-. TO STIMULATE BILINGUAL PROGRAMMING"IFOR THE pEDUCATIONAL USE OF CABLE TELEVISION

a . sr-

C

Puerto Ricans in the United States face .many problems thatprevent themffroM participating fully as American citizens, aright which they have by birth. The limitations of some peoplein learning a second language --,English'or Spanish as.the casemay bg so that-communication can flow.in both directions,particularly affects the.Puerto Rican population. Somewherealong the way a myth has been perpetuated that monolingUism isa disease that attacks or runs in tht.bloOd of Puerto Ricans,.exclusively: For this reason, citizens of Puerto Rican extractionare continuously subjected to negative stereotypes based in theinability of others to understand and communicate with them.

Mass 'communication. cannot solve all problems, but cable tele-.visionend cable libraries, concentrating in certain high - priority"areas, could go a long way ia'the right direction. 'Cable TV has-the potential to. help or hurt communities. It can help community:-.prganization get access to the media heretofore unprecedented andprovide Superior education facilities for mass education. It canhurt by reducing personal contacts between people to a minimumebypossible eliminatibn of half the postal jobs in this country,,indby restricting publieraccess, program' diversification and communityresponsiveness.

The second powibility is something the Puerto Rican communityis experiencing althOst daily. The first option offers hope"of'deal-ing,better with the reality of life among the Puerto Ricans onU.S. mainland, Cable television has the potential to help minoritypeople solve many problems and achieve a new plateau in Self-determination and self-fulfillment -- a most vital concern to theSpanish-speaking population.

There exists in the Puerto Rican community in Hartford -- andincreasingly in the State as well -- a solid core of individualswho have demonstrated abilities in the areas of education, drama,photography, film production, radio and TV programming and related-

fields, in both Spanish and, English. The individuals are currentlyinvolved in creating a cultural renaissance among the Spanish-speaking population in the State of Connecticut. It is realized,

however, that increased access to mass communication would not onlyproduce cultural gains-but improve edUcational, vocational andeconomic opportunities as well.

One key to the use of public access is quality programming,especially bilingual and in Spanish. It of little use to have

access to cable facilities and cable technology if there is nomeans to prOduce bilingual programming which is both dynahic and

relevant to the needs of the Puerto Rican population. This brief

proposal, Then, is written in the hopes of accomplishing the

following: 69 65

1. To establish bilingual programming as: a priortiy itemfor educational use of cable television, programmingwhich demonstrably accomplishes goals based on theneeds of Puerto.Ricans in the Hartford area.

Z. To explore the possibility of demonstration grants todetermine the most effective means of accomplishing

. the above.

For purposes of'description, we may divide the programming in-to two categories: "Spanish language" .(aimed at those who communi-cate primarily or 'exclusively., n Spanish) and "English language"(aimed at English-dominant individuals who could'benefit fromexposure to Puerto Ricaehistoryand culture, and the acquisitionof. Spanish). It is recognized that these are very narrow-defini-tions and that subsequent programming might be "bilingual" in a -

greater sense. For example, a novel'apprdach to second languagelearning might focus on two main characters who actually learn alanguage of the air a Spanish-dominant.individual in a totallyEnglish dominant setting and vice versa (such an experiment wouldteach more.than & second language,' of course!)

The proposaImoUld, be aimed at developing, two pilot serieswhich might, if they are successful, lead,to a bilingual produc-tion company. The first pilot would be in Spanish and would dealprimarily with education -- how it operates and parents' rightsand obligations, The program would focus on who Puertb Rican .

parents are -- what is their.common history and what common prob-lems do they face in mainland schools. It would then teach"survival techniques" to aid them in dealing with the situation --citizen awareness, legal and consumer education, 'health and safety.Lastly; it would teach English as a Second Language on threelevels: survival, intermediate and advanced.

The second pilot would be done primarily in English and wouldbe aimed at bringing out the highlights of Puerto Rican culturewhich would enable non-Puerto Ricans to understand Puerto Ricancustoms and heritage and thus communicate better. This pilotwould be a drama portriO.ng the problems facing a new arrival inHartford from Puerto Rido. Emerging from this pilot would be pro-gramming to accomplish the following:

Documentaries on modern Puerto RicoRelationship of the commonwealth of Puerto Rico to the

United StatesContributions of Puerto Ricans to the American way of lifeHistorical facts through dramas

On the language plane, Spanish as a second language would betaught -- not Castilian Spanish but South American Spanish withPuerto Rican' vocabulary and idioms. The aim would be to provideSpanish at several levels so that oral communication in the com-munity would be improved.

The proposal budget would be based primarily on the produC--:---tion costs for these two pil9N5

66

0.

STATE OF CONNECTICUTPUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

STATE OFFICE_ BUILDING HARTFORD. CONNECTICUT 06115

DOCKET NO. 11407 .

PROPOSED REGULATIONS' CONCERNING THEESTABLISHMENT OF ADVISORY COUNCILS'FOR CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE AREAS

Pursuant tothe CoMhission's finding and order in its Docket NO.

11366, it ordered a regulation making proceeding concerning the estab-

-liahment of advibory councils for community antenna television franch-ise areas. The Commission accordingly promulgated a notice of. hearing

'to adopt regulations in the Connecticut Law Journal of April 17, 1973,and thereafter conducted a public hearing at the Commission's officesin the State ;Office Building at Hartford on April 26; 1973.

Various municipalities, industry representatives and professionalorganizations attended the hearing to offer statements of position and

recommendations for such regulations. Some of these recommendationswere beyond.the'scope of the subject matter announced in the noticeof hearing.

The corporation counsel for the City of Hartford contended thatthe corporation owning the CATV franchise encompassing that municipal-ity should be required to'place a number of inhabitants of the City of

Hartford pn its board of directors as public representatived. The

corporation counsel expressly requested the Commission to withholdaction until May 16, 1973, so that he might have the opportunity tosubmit his written legal memorandum concerning the_Commission's legal

authority and power to issue such an order toll-ft-England Industries,..

Incorporated. No such memorandum was ever received from the corpora-

tion counsel:

Subsequent to the hearing the Commission reviewed the transcript

of the statements of position offered by the pariicipants and the'written statements filed before, during and .after the hearing. It has

arrived at the conclusions that follow.

An advisory council,is-desirable in the administration of CATV

statutes and, regulations. Such an advisory council'should include astrong representation from the various towns comprising the respectivefranchise areas.. Some consideration should be given to the Opulationdensity-of these towns in determining how many representatives each

should have:

The Commission further considered the value of. CATV as a device

assisting public education. It hai concluded that each board of edu-cation should be represented in the work of the advisory council."cation

the Commission notes another important public use of CATV

is related to the public's access to literature in various formsthrough the library systems located within each of the franchise areas,For this reason libraries should be represented in the advisory council.Finally, the Commission agrees that the operator of the CATV franchiseshould offer its expert advice and in that way help in the work of the

advisory council.

DOCKET NO.11407 Page 2

On the basis of all of the foregoing the Commission reconsideredand revised the proposed regulations it had originally published in itsnotice of hearing. The Cbmmission has conCluded that the regulationsto 'follow will be the most appropriate response to the public needs asdetermined from Commission experience in CATV franchise matters andfrom the representations made to the Commission in connection with thehearing on these regulations. Accordingly, the Commission has orderedthe adoption of the regulations hereinafter set forth, subject to suchfurther and additional proceedings as shall be required by law underChapter 54 of the General Statutes."

"Section 16-333-24,- ESTABLISHMENT OF CABLE TELEVISION'ADVISORY COUNCIL.

"There shall be established a cable television advisory council,hereinafter referred to as advisory council, consisting of representa-tives of the towns in each area where the Public Utilities Commissionhas granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity to acable television company 'as franchise holder under authority ofChapter 289 of the General-Statutes.

"SECTION 16-333-25 - APPOINTMENT OF ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS\.

"The members of each advisory councila'shall be appointee asfollows:

"(a) The chief elected official of each town in the franchisearea shall appoint. one or more members who are residentsof said town in accordance, with the,population of saidtown .as determined by the most recent United censusin the.following manner:

"(l) In towns having a population of less than 5,000 -.one member.'

"(2) In towns'having a population of at least 5,000 butless. than 20,000 - two members.

"(3) In towns having a population of at least 20000 butless than 50,000 - three members.

"(4) In towns having a population of 50,000 or morefour members.

"Insofar asis possible said appointments should reflect and berepresentative of the cultural, educational, ethnic and economic make-up of the population inhabiting said towns.

"(b) The board of education in each town in the franchise areashall appoint one member of the advisory council. Suchmember must reside in said town, but need not be a memberof said board of education.

"(c) One member shall be appointed to the advisory council ineach. franchise area to represent all of the libraries ofgenera], public use located in the towns within that franch-ise. In the town in the franchise area'having the largestpopulation therein, as determined by the most recent UnitedStates census, the public library board charged with over-

68

DOCKET NO. 11407 Page

sight and management of the town's public library as.definaby Section 11-24a(b) of the General Statutes shall appointthe advisory council member. In. the event there. is nopublic library board in charge of the public library in thatown, or if the library of general public use in that townis a -private eleemosynary library:' or if no library ineither category is located in that town, then said advisorycouncil member shall be appointed by the chief electedofficial of said town. The advisory council member appointed hereunder shall be an inhabitant of a town within thefranchise area who is either a library,board member or aprofessional library staff employee of a public library ora private eleemosynary library of general public use in atown within the franchise area.

'(d) The franchisee shall appoint one member, who shall possesssome expertise in the field of cable television and whoshall serve without vote on the advisory council.

"SECTION 16-333-26 - TERM OF ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

Each member of the advisory counciI.shall serve for a term oftwo (2) years from the first day of July in the year in which suchmember is appointed.

"SECTION 16-333-27 - VACANCIES OF ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

"Any vacancies for an unexpired-term may be filled by the respec-tive appointing authority in each instance to complete and serve outthe remainder of the current term for which the vacating member wasappointed.

"SECTION 16-333-28 COMPENSATION.

'Members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation

"SECTION 16-333-29 - ELECTION OF OFFICIALS AND MEETINGS.

"Each advisory council shall elect its own chairman, vic-chairmanand secretary. The council shall meet regularly at least bi-monthly.Special meetings may be called by the chairman or by the majority ofthe members upon due notice to all members of the advisory council.

"SECTION 16-333-30 - FUNCTION OF COUNCIL."4.

"Each advisory council may give advice to the management of triocable television company upon such matters affecting the public as itdeems necessary. Each advisory council shall annually on a date notlater than the first day of August, file a written report with thePUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION concerning its activities for the precedingtwelve month period ending June 30."

We hereby direct that notice of the foregoing be given by theSecretary of this Commission by forwarding true and correct copies ofthis:document toparties in interest, and due return make.

73 69

DOCKET No, 11407 Page 4

Dated at,Hartford, Connecticut, thig-13th day of.February, 1974.

Howard E. Hausman

-Raymond S. Thatcher ) PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

William L. Hadden, Jr.

State of Connecticut )) ss.

County of Hartford )

Hartford, February 13, 1974

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy ofproposed CATV regulations issued by the Public Utilities Commission,State of Connecticut.

Attest:

.11

Executive Secretary, Public Utilities Commission

70

Af

PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM FOR CONNECTICUT LIBRARIES

231 Capitol Avenue, Room 702, Hartford,, CT 06115

MEMORANDUM

To: PUBLIC UTILITIES tograssioN, STATE OF CONNECTICUT,

In re: REGULATION-MAKING PROCEEDING ON CABLE TELEVISION: Docket #11366

This statement is presented to the Public Utilities Commission by the Director ofthe PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM FOR CONNECTICUT LIBRARIES, a Federal grant project

....operated by the Connecticut State Library in cooperation with the Connecticut

.Library Foundation to disseminate information about library services available inConnecticut.

A particular charge to PIP is to help libraries in Connecticut develop. improved

services to meet the growing and diversified educational and cultural needs ofConnecticut's residents with Special attention to the needs of those residents andentities inadequately served at present by conventional library operations andfacilities centered on the print media.

This statement will comment in summary fashion on three of the proposed rules in

Docket #11366 that are germane to the delivery of improved library and.information-

al services in Connecticut: 5, 7 and 9.

5. LOCAL ORIGINATION FACILITIES FOR PUBLIC ACCESS

Libraries, particularly public libraries, can play a useful and importantrole in the development of public CATV services because libraries function-

ally straddle all the public access categories designated by the FederalCommunications Commission.

Public access channel: Public libraries traditionally have providedmeeting space and supportive Services to community-based groups withspecial interests such as day care, environment, local history, con-sumer protection, etc. Libraries also'frequently schedule a varietyof cultural events featuring local talent *n arts, crafts and music.

Educational channel: Libraries have always served as centers for Con-tinuing education for all age groups. With growing emphasis on

extended education, equivalency and individualized instruction at high

school and college levels, libraries will be called upon to stock and

. disseminate educational materials on a widely diffused basis.

Unlike schools library facilities are accessible to all the public.

Government channel: At the municipal level libraries can logicallyfunction as the local information center. Unlike municipal buildings

and schools, most libraries are open in the evening for the purposes

of the entire community.

71

At the state level, the State Library, which already plays an importantand supportive role.to government, libraries and the general public,could develop valuable information services geared to priority informa-tion needs.

Libraries in Connecticut are already linked by rudimentary technologyand cooperative agreements into regional and statewide networks. Withoptimal public access facilities assured, libraries could readily serveas common public access, vehicles for single communities and blocks ofcommunities and thereby contribute to effective utilization of CATVexpertise and equipment.

7. ADVISORY BOARDS

For the orderly implementation of FCC public access rules and for effectivedevelopment of local cablecasting, advisory bodies should be established re-flecting the interests of the people at the community and regional levels.An advisory commission at the state level should also be established withlinks to the local and regional levpls.

For effective coordination and use of available resources, libraries shouldbe represented on such advisory commissions at both the local and statelevels.

9. FUNDS FOR PUBLIC PROGRAMMING

Although some libraries in Connecticut offer modern audio-visual servicessuch as records, films, microfilm, cassettes, most librarieS are not evenremotely equipped and staffed to make effective use of cable television.

Withoutrregular funds for equipment and technical personnel, libraries, forall their versatility, will be unaLle to develop good CATV services. Ifcable television is to deVelop interesting and Useful public access program-ming in Connecticut it is esseptial that adequate revenues be providedforthwith and on a regular basis for the necessary training of personnel and,the purchase of equipment for all public access purposes, including thoseof libraries.

An appropriate state-levt1 entity or entities should administer such- publicaccess funds.

APPENDICES

(1) Report of 7-27-72 CATV meeting fOr librarians(2) Bibliography of CATV materials at the Connecticut State Library(3) Ken Dowlin'a 11-1-72 report of CATV services provided at Natrona CountyPublic Library

1-15-73 Signed

7?;,6

Margaret I. Cleland, PIP Director

a

NEWS AND COMMENT ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The nation's pilot program

Meriden cable TV assistanceVOLUME 5 ISSUE 2

September, October; November 1974

The Departrrient of CommunityAffairs has undertaken a unique pro-gram of State agency- assistance tomunicipalities in the fuller utilizationof government access channels oncable television systems.

In response to a request fromMayor John D. Quine of Meriden,Deputy Commissioner Patrick Sulli-van announced on October 8 thatDCA will provide direct technical assistance to the Meriden administration and will seek to aid the city inlocating further resources needed.

Hollis W., Huston, who has beennamed DCA's staff supervisor forthis program, has already assistedthe Mayor's office in the develop.meat of policies and rules for themanagement of the channel, in pre.paring an enabling ordinance and inprogram development. Similar assistance has been offered to otherConnecticut communities wherecable systems are being built.

In addition to the offthe.air sig.nals it carries, each cable systemis required by the FCC to make available three free channels, for localprogram origination. One of these isfor the use of the educational com-munity, one is devoted to public access, while the third is controlledby the local government and pro.vides access to State agencies aswell.

Through government grants andfoundation support, considerableuse has been made of the educe.tional channels on established cablesystems, and concerted effort hasbeen made in major population centers to achieve effective utilization

of the public access channel.In contrast, few local governments

have made any use of their than.nels, and even fewer have under-taken anything but the most super.ficial programming. This neglectdeprives the community of a po-tentially powerful resource whichshould be employed to improve in

formational and service delivery op-erations, Citizen involvement: andtraining.

For this reasetn, it is expectedthat the experience gained in Merl:den and other Connecticut communi-ties, as well as models developedin the process, will have regional oreven national

THE MORNING RECORD (MERIDEN-WALLINGFORD) - March 13, 1975

New TV programscoming for area

By JAMES P. COWMENIt may not be too long before

television viewers here havelhe optionof choosing between the Monday night"Game of Ihe Week" and city coun-cilmen arguing passionately over how torun the city dump.

And TV showing of "The Towering In-ferno" might soon be found running op-posite an explanation of a new sprinklerordinance by the fire chief.

All this and more will be posfriblewhen city officials begin using the gov-ernment access channel provided by thearea's franchise holder, Telesystems,Inc.

There are currently ID CA TV (cableantenna television) franchise holders inConnecticut, according to the stalePublic Utilities Commission. Eleven or

these (ranch' arc now in operation,according (9. PUC spokesman.

The Fed al COmmunications Com-mission has mandated that cabletelevision franchises in major televisionbroadcasting areas Vic/provide three

73 _

local access channels: government Ac-cess, education access and public ac-cess.

So far, hpweVer, use of the gov-ernmental access channel has beenminimal, according to state officials,who say that Municipal officials are notquite sure how to approach this newUnnmunicatiti:64 system

Questions over how much cableproductions will cost and what kinds ofprogramming should be offered are be-ing rinsed by municipal officials

The suite Deparfient of CommunityAffairs set up a Cable Teliweann As-.sistance Unit last fall to help cities

due the government aftess-chalinel,..,The unit was set up after the mayor ofMeriden asked the DCA for assistanceIn using the government access channel,according to Patrick J. Sullivan, foyerdeputy commissioner of DCA. Meridenis currently working with DCA Officraii-.

(cont. over)

HARTFORD COURANT - March 1975

Selectmen Get Cable TV PreviewKillingworth

By MAUREEN McGUIN-NESS

KILIANGYLORTHW. Huston, a representa-

tive from the state Depart-ment of Community Affairs(DCA), told the region's se-lectmen Thursday that the

I possibilities for cable TV"boggle the mind."

But, he added, "what is of-fered is much Jess than whatis ible."

Wston met with select-men and others from thenine-town region to discuss aMate program which. will_help communities use cabletelevision.

Huston said each cablesystem is required by theFederal CommunicationsCommission (FCC) to makeavailable three free channelsfor local programs. One isfor educational use, one isdevoted to public access andthe third is controlled by thelocal government.

He said 20 hours pey- weekis considered to poifill utili-zation of thegovernmentchann, el :Ace the channel is

he said, eachpartici ng town in the re-0011 I own a portion of thetime.Regional Approach

r:liever,- since so manytowns are involved, it proba-bly will be easier to fill thealloted tim if programs areproduced r onally, Hustosaid.

Huston said t at aftthe educatiopf ndment channelfree charmFCC, Thismentalin 1sai

was awarded the region'sfranchise last October.

This region may get DCAassistance, Huston said, inactually setting up the local

'channels. Also, as a result ofstate grants, several col-leges will be offering train-ing, personnel and equip-

ment to help towns developand produce programs.

Also, federal funds availa-ble for "innovative ap-proaches to communityvelopment" have been al):proved fbr local cable ITpurposes., -These funds, ,heSaid, will be used to buy

equipment in a variety ofstate localities.

TownsAnvOlved in the Con-necticutItiver cable systemare: Old SAYBROOK, VI/est-brook, Clinton, Killingworth,Deep River, Chester, Essex,Durham, and the portion ofHaddam west of .the Con-necticut River.

to study the potential of government ac-1.cess telecasts and to determine the bestmethods for'utilization of the channel.

Meridenpersanel and .city officials in

Meriden have begun a pilot project todevelopses for the government accesschannel: Sullivan sees Meriden's experi-ment with cable television as influenc-ing government access channel . usethroughout the nation.

According to Hollis Huston, supervisorof DCA's cable TV division, program-ming on the governmental access is"only limited--by ,Imagination andcreativity."

libth Huston and Sullivan saythat the government accesscbannel would attract .enoughviewers to Juspfy spending taxdollars for programming.

Th change.,in state ad-au/ rations, however, casts a

over the future of DCAtelevision assistance.

. James Rice of Meriden,he new DCA commissioner re-

Jecently appointed by Gov. EllaCr says .he is in favor of

intone ,the program. Butice pionr4 out that there is "a

strong possibility" the OA-gram will be ended by budgetcuts called for by the governor.Rice says he would meet soonwith Jay 0. Tepper, whose con-firmation as finance com-missioner is pending in theGeneral Assembly.' to discussthe DCA budget for next year.

A proposal for a grant to pro-vide a team of ;students fromWorcester PolytechnicInstitute to work out a govern-ment access channel programfor Meriden is currently underreview by DCA officials. Ar-rangements for the studentteam were made last year andthe students have already cbm-pieced some preliminary workon the program.

According to Francis S.Noonan. Meriden's city ad-ministrator, he students underthe supervision of a WP1 pro-fessor will establish policies

. 74

1

0, uatedA9/7, Huston-

ontinui,nce of frees probably, Will be

gent on whether theye beennsed, it, they have

Loynd to be 6f value tocommunities and it users askthe FCC'to retain ;them.,Woe Franchise 1.1

Huston said spNific in-formation on serOces of-fered and costs an onlycome from &maid Perry,owner of Connecti4ut River

e Television Ch., which

and determine the (unctionsand duties of a municipalboard which will oversee theoperations of the governmentaccess channel.

Noonan says that theintoteam will look inta the

technical needs of governmentaccess channel telecasts typesof programming, possibleabuses of the channel andtelecast costs.

The students have in-teryiewed various city officialsto get their views on cabletelevision, according toNoonan. The WPI team is nowawaiting ,word on the DCAgrant before any further workis done, Noonan says.

The concept of a municipalboard to regulate the govern-ment access channel wasdrawn up by Meriden officialswith the assistance of the DCA.The Federal CommunicationsCommission, which has re-gulatory authority over the ca-ble television industry, has notissued any speCific regulationsregarding the operation of thegovernment access channel.

The proposal for a govern-ment 'access governing boardhas been submitted toNeridep's Court .of CommonCouncil for its actron.

The Jost Or using the govern.ment access channel dependson how elaborate the program.'ming is, according to DCA of-

who estiMate that thesimplest programming willcost from $23 'to MO) an hour.New York City budgets exceed$590,000 a year for operation ofits overthe-air municipalchannel, DCA officials note.State officials have been ex-ploring the, possibility of ob-taining federal funds for 'gov-ernment access channel use.

State officials Ere also grop-ing in other ways to get ahandle on how to approachgovernment.access channel. In

1974 the General NWemestablished the ComMissi onthe Educational nd orma-tional Uses of ble Telecom-munications. carding to J.Jeffrey AI Uist, the com-.'mission ch irrnan, the grouphas not yet formulated any re-commendations for the govern.ment access channel.

Legislation to extend the lifeof the commission to February1976 has been submitted to the075 sssinn of the statelegislature. the commission isalso waiting for the allot-4[Wof a $50.000 budget approvedlast year before any furtherwork is done, according toAlmquist.

When the FCC mandated theestablishment of the govern-ment access channel in 1972, afive-year development periodwas set. In 1977 a review of thechannel will be. made' by theFCC td determine ifs success,The continuation of free accessto the channel depends on howwell cities make use of it, ac-cording to Sullivan.u Cable television operations in

.Meriden began last July. Themonthly fee for the service is$6.93 for the horde vieweNMayor 'John D. Quine sees .agreat potential in the channelfor enlightening citizens aboutcity government. "I thinkthere's a tremendous need toget people more interested inwhat's happening in our city,"

4 Quinesays.Programming could range

from telecasts of various c"board and commission meet-ings to a lectur on how the ci-

, Quine poolsty tax rateout.

es though, that restud. ha to be made before,the ch. 1 is actually used.

7

liattrofb Z1 fant.Eiliddished 1764 --TM Oldest Ness laps of Consists'

Published at 283 Broad Street, Hartford, Connecticut, 0611

Poilirallot ass Airegfe

Apill 19,1974

CAPIAT Plugs in Pe pie PowerConnecticut is In the unique position to get off

on the right foot whete cable television (CATV) is

concerned ensure that public access channels

will properly serve the public. The means to thatdesirable 3ind lie in legislation proposing to estab-

lish a pilot Commission onTrx..........ggtcatal

formatio

ion

nal strril , as elate Educa-

on mi ee um1With its passage a coordinating body of experts

would provide direction, advice and other services

requested by the local advisory counc113 required

, by the,..Federal Communications Commission ineach franchise area. It would also identify theneeds and costs of public acceso operations, era/n-*111e distribution of channel uses develop funding

policy to encourage educational flexibility, convent;

ence and experimentation and look into the feasi-bility of commupity information centers for non-cable subscribers.

For at least two years library and education

leaders in Connecticut "have combined their talentIn a TV subcommittee to review the experiences of

other states and communities reach conclu-sions on which to base a stn e operation. Bill5105 has been endorsed "h til " by David D.Kinley Whig chief of -the PCC's cable TV bureaufor its dual goal of pronfoling public understandingof CATV pad developing the public access poten-tial..

Harvard lecturer Kay Kalba added fils supportaging that his five years of focelni an public Mr-

vice plications of CATV emphasize that its po-tential will not be fullilled agomatically. "A sim-ple ii t of all the possible community uses" is not

enou h to make them comeAlrue, he said. Pro-

gra ming, demonstration,./promotion and financ-ing are vital accompanists to good intentionit.Le s ership and planning can make the differnee.

New York and Texas already know how waste-

the'fack or coordinated effort can-le and howfficult,it is to undo mistakes, Perhaps basing his

ew on those experiences,' Washington speakerthe state's Council of Mayors this spring said

public- access outlook is "gloomy" and a "fizzle."

Such need not be the case here, fortunately. As

Mr. Kalba obserVes, Connecticut's proposal mayhelp to mobilize other state institutions to partici-pate in developing this new communications re-source. I might well become a model for the na-

tioic°

,A.4 spelled out by Bill 5105 commission mein-o hership represents all levels of education, govern-

ment and i formation receptacles including librar-ies of all . It would mobilize an impressivearray of interested parties with equal representa-tion. Viewers should benefit from top quality pro-grams whose range is limited only by the creativeimaginations of plater..

Our state-wide Library Line,- library card andinterlibrary loaning aystemo provide a fciundationon which to &Md. The future for public accesscable IW will be brighter hi this state than anyether lf BM MS is passed.

ft.

7975

0

/ Norwich Bulletin, Sunday, August -18, 1114O

ograin Offers. College Creditfor Life, Work Experiences

,

Sty BOB MelLEANIMMEISPN -1 College creditiqr job

leaking?How about co:gdegree without

ever having attended college course?These are both possibilities under a

state sponsored program to get un-.,derway this fall.

The State Board for kcademieAwards has set October as thebeginning or, its first degree programsan Associate in the Arts. The decisioncams at a meeting Thursday. at theQuthebaug Valley bommunity College.

Established last year by the Con-necticut Legislature; the board seeks torecognize "life eiPeriences" and in-

. dependent study as valid methods ofA earning. A-major function of the boardwill be to conchrt proriciem tests toassess outside-of-the-classroom ex-perience and give college credit for it.

The board is a unit of the StateSystem of Higher Education and ex-pects to receive its accreditation beforethe beginning of its Brit program.

"This is a degree program for in»J dependebt learners," according to.Bernard Shea, executive director of theboard. "We we, in effect, a brand newcollege although we will hold nkdasses," he continued..

He emphinfted that the board would ..

deism all the regulations of a degreegranting institution.

"When people make the' effort toWady independently they are making asignificant commitment," be ex-plained.

A 12 member committee has alreadybeen established to oversee thi

Sodate degree. The members arefaculty, from public and privatecolleges throughout the state.

The Associate in the Arts Owes willrepresent the equivalent of 60 semestercredit hours: Credit toward the degreewill be earned by examination, transfercredit'and special assessment.

The 'degree will preresent work"among serifs] areas of knowledgeaccording to a formula that encouragesindividuality and uniqueness."

Shea slid, tharthe program will beparticularly useful for two-gra/his: the

/ urban community, and women andminorities.

The urban community, he explained,were people who hadibeen passed bythe educational system and had sincecome into positions of responsibility. Hesaid that the unity college systemin Come t

mrnrhad only begun 10 years.

ego some people missed the op-/ portunity for an edukation.

Women and-mborities, Shea said,would benefit,. by tire board becausethese groups were hesitant to accepttraditional classroom tandards.titShea admitted that "it's an area in

which a great deal of pioneering is'appropriate."

Comecticut is only the third state tobegin such a program. New York Statehas offered college proficiencyexaminations since 1963 and hasgranted Regents External Degreessince 1972. New Jersey also gives creditfor outside work.

Part.of the onnecticut program willbe to administer New York's annualCollege Proficiency ExaminationProgram of the Regents (CPEP) testand the College Level ExaminationProgram (CLEP) of the College En-trance Examination Board.

the five board members only heldtheir first meeting last'November butplans are already untie:Way toxpandthe offerings. The board emphasized atits meeting Thursday that theAssociatein the Arts degree Is only theirst of a

tIP

ts

to,76

variety of degrees to be eventuallyo

Mki

U e peCt of the board willbetooffer ii

foster the -development of newtechnology and media for the dis-semination of information. Already,Shea said, the board can act as an outletfor people who. have "attended" classestroadcast on public television by givingthem credit for their wort.

epresentitives of Quinehaug Valleymmunity College asked-'the board

ther..other college; Would recognizethe credit given by ;the board.

Shea cited figures from the New Yorkprogram to suggest that the board'sevaluation would be accepted He saidthat of the 1,203 people who havereceived associate degrees in NewYork; more than half of them went on tofurther their education. Of the peoplewho went on, he reported, 50 per centreceived full credit for their degree.

The board did say that each college oruniversity had the right to decide whatcredit to accept.

Tuition for the board may vary with .00, `,.each candidate as everyone proceeds attheir own pace. The enrollment lee is$50 with an annual records main-tenance fee of $25 and a graduation fee /of $10. This does , not includeexamination fees.

In the next several weeks; the boardwill be launching a publid informationrcogram which will include visits tocommunity associations and libraries.They also hope to establish. counselingcenters throughout the state.

There are no admission require-ments, no resident requirements and notime limits. The program is "open toanyone who feels able to demonstrate'college level achievement regardless ofhis age, sex, rags, creed, citizenship,residence or leverbf formal education."

Eastern Connecticut is representedon the board by Grace W. Linden ofNorth Franklin who is also its vicechairman.

Although' she ii available forquestions, she recommends thatinquiries be directed to the main Boardoffice, 340 Capitol Ave. Hartforl- Thetelephone number is 566-4319.-

Oilkalial*Pfiller al Castiarela PUblication Ia AdawriaaStreet, *Mord, Cameetliet; SePielaker 14, 114;14

Libraries. Become .aNow That the Board for State Academic.

Awards can confer associate degrees to persons who have never been to college, 'librariesassume an even greater importance in the

. community. Without a doubt, they will be oneof the Most 'efficient tools available to earningcreditequiyalent to one gained throOgh.'forMalclassroom study..Thus is-the.loore satisfy.;ing- to be able to report that Conneetie,ut:s -11;braries are ready. willing and able to fulfill ex-peelationA.

it w-ai but five years age that the CollegeLevel _N ;xaminatlon Program (CLEM first was .used in this state making it pinisible: for per-110M to earn, creditis by examination to,validateknowledge derived 'outside the. clasiroom. In1900 University of Bridgeport offered tests in.29 subjects' through: Its 'evening division Ofadult education. Today thereare_ more than 50exams in six academic areas available for..placement and credit administered at a dozencampuses with at least that many more partic-ipa b ng institutions .here.

CLEP is one of lour nonconventional ways.earn, cri;dits7 The. other dme are: by

transferred points- from an accredited school.by getting passing grades on applicable teststaken in military service. and by a team of ex: .

ports' evaluation of human experience ascriteria for academic credit in a subject.Applications may be made with the liSAA at 340Capitol Avenue. trartford. .

Libraries will become especially usefulwhen the degreeseeker takes the CLEP or hu-man experience pathway. For in studying forthe first or brushing up on'the specifics of the

I.

Campu-second. there is better place than amongthe slacks of a libr5rry. Persons with a Connee-Heard, available free of charge from public li-braries throughout 'the State, will benefit by re-sources in more than 140 'libraries. The ser-vice; authorized by the 1973 General Assem-bly., includes an intertown reciprocalborrow-ing program so that books, magazines and rec-ords located out of town- will be loaned to a lo-cal library for the patron requesting them;

Each library has a specialty -among itsmaterials providing. i'broad-diversifiCation ofreference material, indeed, something for ev-ery need. tinder the leadership of the Connec-lieut.' State Library: Connecticut is set up andready to-go. Furthermore, public-InformationDirector Margaret Clelarxl., for ConnecticutLibraries reports-. that BSAA plans regionalMeetings this fall with library,personnel to Mk

'cuss-how the external degree-program worksand equip librarians for counselling, testing andas readets' advisors.

. ,

ConnectieutLibrary Astociation offersimather resource in public television and thepublic access channels on _cable TV. The CLAhas beep deeply involved In planning, trainingand programming for at least two years tobring the classroom into the living roomsthrough that medium.

Connecticut is most tortoni-ale to have far-.

sighted people guiding its libraries to a profferand rightful place of leadership and,readinessin public education in a modern, up=dated waymaking the best use of all assets for the goodof everyone.

77 -

°

CABLE INFORMATION MOVES 0

Connotiout State. Library /Room 601:1231 Capitol Avenue. , ',

Hartford, CT 06115 ,,'

9/2074

.

MANNING FOR PUBLIC SERVICES ON CABLE

Given all tlee caveats, hniv can local officials, educators and citizens best use;

. .

. the education and local government access channels? Firati studygroupe should be

/-,Cabl'e Television: A Handbook Tor Decisionmaking, Walfer S.

U. S. Covernmc.nt Printing ffice,-Wao hingtonl-D.C.1973

established early in the planning phase, as recommended in Chapati. These groupeshould use published information, the experience of other communities, and expert':advice to assess'the community's needs and priorities. They should estimate thethnda available from local budgets, state aid,Tederal grants; and private and founds-tion sources. They may want to subject each .proposed application to a list of ques-,Lions-like the following: (

Checklist forPublic Seruicei on Cable

What is being done now?iwhi3 provides-the information or service?who uses it?

-- how is it delivered to users? .

is there feedback from users?how much is spent on service delivery and feedback?

. What are the present problems in providing theservice? °How might cable television' help? Would other media, such as broadcasttelevision, TITS channels, the telephone, or the mails be as effective? .

Can the service be provided on the free education or goVernment accesschannels?Will it requite other facilities or equipment?

additional. channels?private channels?,two-way response (data, audio, or video) frOm viewers?viewer-to-knewer communications?

How much will this cost?6. Who will do the programming or provide the service? How much will it

cost?7. How will the target a dience be identified and reached? How mush will

this cost?13.. What are the arrangements for audience feedback?

how will success or failure be assured?how Will leeilback modify the way the service is provided?

How much will it cost?

9. Overall, bow will' the cable television portion be paid for?from existing local budgets, as a result of cost savings?from additions to local budgets?from state or federal aid?,from foundations or private gins?by ta.xing'cable subscribers?

1'

Will a special showing to the FCC be necessary? biust any local, state, orA) federal laws or regulations be changed?

11. What will be the effect on existing local institutions that now provide theservice? Must new institutions be created?

12. What specific steps must be taken to implement the service on cable televi-sion? (

Answering these questions will help distinguish among feasible and infeasibleapplications, and those that are Worth trying experiMentally: Only by edtive ex-perimentation in the next few years will the potential of cable television tor _pro-

iiding public services be understood Ind eventually realized.78

(3,

Baer[

SUMMARY CHECKLISTti

If the community is not in a inajor market, will its franchise require freeuse of an education and a government access channel?

Has the franchising authority designated plari.ning groupkto recommendhow to use the education and government chimriels7

Has the fr.anchiaing authority or,planning group consideredivhether to set rules for -administering the education channel, sup-r--ported by a special showing to the FCC?

-- how the government channel will be administered?what construction schedule and rates are appropriate for wiringschools and other public facilities?

-- 1.what production facilities and equipment can be used?fl what rates for noncommercial use ofadditional leased channels will be

set? /'where funds for programming and serv)ce development will be ob-teined?,how audiences will be made aware of, and participate in public ser-, vices on cable? ,

What speci9c educational and municipal applications have been proposed?,Have questions like those listed on page 170 f. been asked for each poten-tial program or service? Which seem most feasible?

Has the cable system been designed to accommodate other public servicesat a later date?

What are the prospects fbr demonstrating new educational or municipalapplications on the community's cable system?

Reproduced and thistributed byCABLE INFORMATION SERVICESCONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY

'231 Capitol Avenue`.Hartford, CT. 06115Tel:: 566-7315

79

MIDDLETOWN PRESS - February 26, 1975

CATV Workshop Looks At Possible Local UsesResponse to Friday's .cable

television workshop at Middle-sex Community College hasbeen "moderately good," orga-nizers -say, but there is an un-derlying fear that local residentsare not aware of the importanceof the session.

The purpose of the workshopis to personally acquaint resi-dents with local videotaping pos-sibilities and to provide insights,into the often unknown and mis-understood expanse of cable TV.

The idea is not new. Otherworkshops have been conductedthroughout the state to providepersons with notions about cabletelevision's local possibilities.

But for the first time, theworkshop will be designed onthe local, not the state, levelwith the local audience in mind.

The gathering front 9 a.m. to 3p.m.'is co-sponsored by the Mildletown commission on the artsand cultural activities aficricyRussell Library. And it is spon-sored with the Middletown arearesident as a principal target.

MIDDLETOWN PRESSMarch 3, 1975

People are not are whatcable television has to - offerJoyce Kirkpatrick, of the com-mission on theurts and culturalactivities, raid.

MIDDLETOWN PRESSMarch 7, 1975

Cable TVFacts Sheets

. DistributedArea merchants will be served

cable television fact sheets thisweek, prior to being canvassedby Middlesex Community Col-lege (MCC) designed question-naires.

The fact sheets will providegeneral background into Con-necticut cable development and

CATV Advisory CouncilAwaits Call for Advice

By CLARK JUDGEQ: When is a council not a

council? A: When it's the Mid-dletown area cable advisorycouncil.

"The advisory council was es-tablished by the Public UtilitiesConimission (PUC) in 1974, andits stiembers appointed last sum-mer.

Under PUC regulations, it wasdesigned to "give advice to themanagement of the cable tele-vision company upon such mat-ters affecting the public as itdeems necessary."

Its members were appointedfor two-year terms, to servewithout compensation, and weresupposed to convene at least bi-monthly.

Since the council's inception,however, it has not met.once.fact, its members are not evenaware who most of their col-leagues are.

The problems can be traced towhat appears to be a commu-nications breakdown-between allparties concerning: the advisory

council, the PUC and the fran-chise operator.

General practice is that thefranchise operator (in Middle-town's case, TelePrompTer,Inc.) calls the first meeting ofthe,advisory group. After that,the council's presiding officer,elected by the group, shall con-vene the body.

Unfortunately, Middletown iscast in an almost unique role.The, franchise owner is activelytrying to sell its property here,and has thus lost track of theadvisory council.

Members have been appoint-ed, but no meeting has beencalled. Most persons on thecouncil thought the first gather-ing must be called by the oper-ator, or there would be no meet-ings at all.

Not so, said a PUC spokes-w o m a n. The- franchise wasasked to call the first one simplybecause it was one- of the fewsure parties. Most appointmentshave not been made, it was ex-

I

80

Persons could have an oppor-tunity to have access to public,municipal and educational channels. Either they use them,- asSybil Paton, of Russell Library,said, or they could lose them.

To use them, prior knowledgemust be gained. And it can whenthree rotating workshops Will beConducted Friday morning andafternoon.

Margaret Cleland, of the statecable commission. and BrianSperry, former programtor for Channel 13 in New Lon-

its relation to advertisingschemes of its subscribers. Datais based on calls made this pastWeek to some of the ten cablefranchise operators across thestate.

Both questionnaires and factsheets have been designed, andwill be served, by 33 MCC stu-dents. The campaign is part of amuch larger information surveycurrently being conducted byKalba-Bdwen Associates, Inc., aconsulting . firm hired by thecity.

The student inquiry seeks todiscover how viable a force mer-chants, particularly Main Streetbonne amen, will be in cableadv

plehred, when an advisory coun-cil is established.

This procedure is merely aconvenience, she said, not arule. It Ii not part of the PUCregulations, but was ocnveyedonly by letters to franthiseesand those making appointments.The message was then supposedto Alter to those appointed.

If, however, appointmentshave been made and -the fran-chise operator is reluctant tocall the first session, then theadvisory council can pull its ownstring. "I don't see anythingwrong in it," the PUC officialsaid.

It was said that. Middletown'spredicament is almost iiniq.because apparently line hasready happened in Connecticut.An advisory council that hadwaited for the franchise, ()Pr-ater to call the initial foruinti,tally ended up calling its own.

In other places where thefranchisee has been set to go,

'but appointments have not beencompleted, meetings have beenCalled anYwoY

don, will speak in two of theworkshops.

Ms. ,Cleland will address her-self -to programming possibi-lities,- while. Sperry will be con-cerned with contrasting ap-proaches, examples and ex-periences.-The third phase of the pro-

gram, entitled "Choose. It: UseIt," will focus on practice. Con-trasting subjects will test por-table equipment's ability td-con,vey likewise -contrasting actionsand approaches.

Sandwiched between will be ashort talk by Anne Branscomb,of Kalba-Bowen Associates.. Inc.on a 'glimpse into Middletcnvifsfuture." Kalba-Bowen is cur-rently conducting a survey inthe area to determine planningand uses of a cable televisionsystem.

Registration is $5. More in-formation is available fromRussell Library.

To do this, a 12-question 'flyerwas drawn Up and presented be-fore the Middletown ad hoc corn-mittee and Kris Kalba of Kalba-Bowen last .Monday night. Theobject *as to obtain reactionand input before the question-

. noire was put before merchants.The primary reaction was that

businessmen would be unable tocomplete the survey satisfac-torily without first knowingsomething about cable tele-en' ion. Aid to give them thatknowledge, it was decided thatfact sheets might be drawn upand issued.

So, the students adjusted their:timetable, worked on the factsheets and revised their ques-timulaires. Bath pieces of infor-mation are due on the streetsnext week, with fact sheets pre-ceding the, survey.

Virginia Pettiross, who is amember of the ad hoc cable

*ttee and is assisting thestu study, anticipates thework can be completed in timefor Kalba-Bowen's estimateddeadlirfe of March 15.

The studwents were expectedto begin a riviocl te'..phone sue-vey of 500 persons alter the business inquiry wa, completed. '3utbecause of theshortage of time",that investigatidn has already

initiated.

State Cable TV Board To Stage HearingNEW LONDON The APress,,Limt of Iscall

u

interest inConnecticut Commission on developing ,,_, grid areathe. Educational and Infor-1 rgraA stland servicesmationk., Uses of Cable sr .men' cable.Telecommunications *illconduct a public hearingatno;day at 7:30 p.m. inHill, Connecticut College, toreceive information and GOWon* concerning the use ofcable television for com-munity and public serviceprogramming.

The hearing will be thefirst of a senes of regionalmeetings scheduled by thecommission, to obtain ex-

.

The hearing will becablecast over cable Channel13, the local originationchannel operated by EasternConnecticut Cable TelevisionInc. at Connecticut Colleges

Considered the first of. itskind in the nation, the com-mission was established inthe last session of theGeneral Assembly to con-duct a study and make reco-mendations to the statelegislature.

Re,set Fiadiiipschools and colleges,

The commission was ex-pected to report its findingsto the General Assembly bynext February and recom-mend possible legislativeprograms concerning the useof cable' television foreducational, community andpublic service progranuning.

Invited to attend today'shearing and presentstatements to the commis-sion are area govennnent of-ficials, members of local ad-visory councils for cabletelevision, .spokesmen for

INSTITUTE OF 'PUBLIC SERVICE THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT.

The ConnecticutCable Coalition

Holds Its.Annual Meeting

The Valley Cablevision of Sheltonwas the site of the annual meetingof the Connecticut Cable Coalition,held December 7.

On the agenda was a discussion on"The State of Cable in Connect's-cut, an organizational and businessmeeting of the Coalition and threeworkshops covering:

The current state-of-the-art invideo production hardware.

DECEMBER, 1974

community programmingdealing with the practical realitiesof, producing and organizing pro-gramming which directly includecommunity members.

Political and legal aspects oflobbying and organizing efforts

'around future cable developmentin Connecticut.

On the rostrum of speakers andresource people were: Margaret Cle-land, Connecticut State Library; NormCohen of the Studio, New Haven;Bill lnderstrodt, Cable Coalition; rep-resentatives of the State Cable Com-mission, the Danbury Educationalproject, the cable industry, and the

Selectmen on CameraHy Maeve Slavin

(Helmet! story, Page 3)Subscribers to cable tele-

' vision in New Milford will beable to -tune in to Channel C (oneof two public access channelsmandated) or Friday March 14and watch a Board of Select-men's meeting which will bevideotaped at lava.m. and airedat a time later in the dayprobably In so-called "primetime,"

Last Friday's meeting ,wasvideotaped as a "dry' run."Equipment was provided byPaul Hancock owner of NewMilford Cablevision. However',the Selectmen will request a$9,000 propiration to pur-chase eq eat which will bekept at tpe New d Public

Library and which will be madeavailable to members of thepublic quplified to operate thevideotaping equipment. The$9,000 sum will include main-

airs for ayear:ected to

;.G,C00.

eotaPingdoled by

tenance and rcthe equipment is ccost in the region of

Workshops in vtechniques will be scthe Creative Arts Center" andwill be open to anyone in-terested In learning these

Federal CommunicationsComraission. re:pdations havemandated that cablevisioncompanieftitst/ provide twofree channels open for com-munity use, and unless, the

libraries and health agen-cies, communityorganization' and otherinterested persons.

Staternehts also may bemailed to the commission'sexecutive officer, MargaretCleland, at the. ConnecticutState Library until Dec. 31.

President at today's bear-ing will be commissionchairman .1. Jeffrey. Alm-quist. Reference materialabout the commission andabout cable television will beavailable at the bearing.

STORRS, CONNECTICUT 06268

institute of Public Service. The In-stitute was represented by Exten-sion Professor Myron 'Weiner (pastPresident of the Coalition),

UpdateUnder the guidelines of the Public

Utilities CoMmission, a large num-ber of Connecticut cities are in theprocess Of forMing cable TV advisorycommittees. Three quite largecable systems currently operating inthe state are: Danbury, NaugatuckValley, and New London.

For information about the Connect'-cut Cable Coalition, its activities andmembership, address the CCC at48 Howe Street, New Haven, Conn.0651 1.

The New Milford Times, New Milford, Conn.,

in the case of the New Milfordarea to Paul llancock

Hancock Is required toprovide the necessary wiring-upat town buildings, but is notrequired to provide equipmentor operators. Ile told The Times

'on Tuesday that he will operatethe equipment for the March 14taping, but that in the fut re thetown must find an operat

The New Milford CablevisAdvisory Committeepresently working. to 4c ppublic interest in the usi thechannels. The Creative ArtsCenter production of "A Doll's'House" was taped Monday forpresentation over publiechannels at a later date West'llased pro uction

Chapnele are VOTU (Voice of thetion by March 1977,itiey Unhezlpperating --on a-

will revert feder ant administered by

February 20, 1975

HEW provided the equipmentand technicians.

Federal funding may be, athand, according to Paul Han-cock, if a bill introduced bySen'ator Talmadge of Georgia ispassed. The bill would providefunding for rural cabelvision. A.Virginia legislator introduced abill in the House of Represen -'tatives which would providelong term low cost loans forrural areas with less than sixtyhouses per linear mile.

"That's us," Ilancoek said."Prospect for passage of thislegislation is not clear. But I'vebeen looking for something likethis. Only thirteen per cent ofthe country is wired for cable,but it is growing. And Con-necticut Is the orAlatate that is--ecally-actIveli cable."

Vol. 2, No .1 8 - Febuary 26 , 1975

NEWS AND COMMENTARY COMPILED AND EDITED BY THE CONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY

THE ,MIDDLETOWN (CORN.) PRESS. FEBRUARY 14, 1975.

Cable TV-Money Being Held.By CLARK JUDGE

HART FOI1DMoney bud g- Veted last year for the state Coin-gesioa On the lluational aadInformational Uses of CableTelecommunications "has not yetbeen released, it was learnedyesterday.,

The money, $50.000, was ap-propriated in February, 1974, bythe Connecticut General Assem-bly, and approved by the Com-mission October 29. Since thattime, however, not a penny ofthe $30.000 has been released byt h e Legislative ManagementCommittee.

And it probably won't he,Commission Chairman J. Jef-frey Alnirpast said, until' it is deltermined whether the Commis-.lion's February 15 reportingdeadline till be extended. TheCommission was scheduled toreview such things as cableneeds, technology, costs and,funding; propeels for interstatecable cooperation; and the needfor a permanent state comnlis-sion to support the innoyativeuse of public access channels.

It was due to report. its find-' ings to the legiglature February

15, but will present, instead, aninterim report and request formore tin

t report, quist said,twill probably be u lade nextTuesday. It could have been afinal study, rather than an in-terim one he added, but themembe4 of his Commissionfelt it was worth the time RIconduct a long -range investiga-.tion into cable television. Inthe' report's cover letter, AW1,-quist will ask the LegislativeManagement Committee to al-low the $50,000 to be expendedthrough the final, extendeddeadline, whatever that maybe.

Why Legislative Manage._Committee has waited

this long to release the moneyis not clear, but Almquistthinks it has to do with the re-cent turnover in state govern-ment. By the' time > budgetaryprocedures, had been clarified

and oral ideas put into writing.the -legislature "liaS ready forits bi-annual facelift. The mat-ter was subsequently tabled,and has not been acted uponsince.

"These things generally hap-pen at the beginning of eachyear." he said. Margaret Cle-land, an executive officer of theConuniskion. agreed. The Legis -lative Management Committeeunder Gov. Meskill may havefelt the decision to release fundsshould be made by the new leg-isliture, she said.

Why RelucBut what's hard to

She added, is the new legisl:committee's reluctance to dellwith the issue. Perhaps the re-lease of Commission funds isparticularly low on the com-mittee's list of priorities, shesuggested.

In any case, the only moneyavailable was three month andapproxiniately $3,000 worth of afederal grant put up by the StateLibrary. The money covered twopersons salaries and servicessuch as mailing and duplicatingcable newsletterS. It expiredDecember 31, but the State Li-

brary continues to offer its ser-vices and facilities. No money,however has meant no salarysince December 31 for Ms. Cle-land.

That situation might be re-solved, as Ms. Cleland put it,"with a little help from ourfriends." The'friends' in thiscase are Representatives How-ard Klebanoff (1).8th District)and Gerald F. Stevens (R-119District). Each has sponsored aproposed bill which is directlyconcerned with the Commis-sion's fate and currently beforelegislative committees.

Proposed BillKlebanoff's proposed bill (No.

6708) would extend the life of theConnecticut Commission anotheryear. Stevens' proposed mea-sure (No. 6588) would extend theCommission's reporting date(Feb. 1p) to allow additionaltime for the study's,completion.

Neither, however, explicitlyrefers to fuliding. So, the possibility of one of the bills being

passed and themoney not beingreleased is there. Almquist isconfident the $50,000 will be re-leased concurrently. when and ifone of the measures is passed,but admits that the other possi-bility 4s conceivable.

. Should neither bill be_passed,however, then the Commissionwould "be pretty much out ofbusiness." Almquist said. He isconfident that won't happen, andsaid the Commission has been"operating on the assumption

that we'll get past.The Connecticut Commission

was established by the GeneralAssembly in 1974, and ischarged with making fecom:mendations to the legislature toassure that effective use bemade of the access channels. Assuch, it protebts the public in-terest in seeing that educational,government and public access isassured to cable. Virginia Petti-.ross. a Middletown resident, is a.member of the Commission.

NOTICE

This will be the lastcut Cable CU,Con

11 futate Librar

lacks the fundg to continof the Commission on

d Informational Uses of Cions.

ue of Connectither notice. Theregrets that it'.

supporting ,the

he Educable Telec

IC

id

flepri

82

r8WASHINGTON (UPI)

Federal Communicationslicks(

common ownof cable and microwave tele-1Vision- systems keep million&of rural Americans from get-ting improved reception, theWhite House Office of Tele-Icommunications Policy(OTP) said Saturday.---

An UT? survey, conducted,by the liniversitmf Denver;said more tharrbne million, -rural households receiveadequate television serviceat all

Six million otherhouseholds, or about 9 per'cent of all home viewers,receive fewer than threechannels, the survey said,and.another 22 million mustchoose from among fewerthan five channels.

86

total invest;153 million. 1 t salchannel recept n would cost$272 to ;336 ml 'on.

Test studiesservice could benorth central T

wed betterprovided innessee for

an inves mena $7 per house o1. In

northwest'South t akota, theper-household co of im-proved 'reception is a com-biaation of cable and im-proved microwave' was $123to ;176.

"These figures comparefavorably with what somerural heruseholders are nowinvesting in elaborate towerand antenna arrangements .

for only marginally satisfac-tory reception," the reportsaid.

OW Director John Egersent copies of the report to -/FCC Chairman Richard E.Wiley and Sen. Howard H.Baker, R-Tenn. 49-

NEWS RELEASE DANBURY

Editor's Note: We are running, the following

news, releases from Danbury in lieu of news-

clips. Getting local coverage of communitycablecasting in some areas of the State is an

uphill job.

Danbury, Feb. 3, 1975

Mayor CharleS Ducibella is introducing a newSeries of video programs which will be cable-cast weekly on channel 6, the local accesschannel. "The Mayor's Report "will be shownat 12:3,0, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. each Mondaystarting February 3. The weekly program isbeing produced by Mr. William P. Morton, VideoProject Director of the Danbury Public Li-brary. Designated as the Official MunicipalInformation Agency of the city of Danbury, theLibrary is planning to inform residents aboutmunicipal activities, municipal agencies andtheir services.

For further in contact William P...Porter at the library.

WEEK AT THE LIBRARY: During

, while the message-ems 9E-information pertin-

ncSes and meetings, the audiocarry complete operas (average

ach operw'is about 21/2 hours).becomplete playings on each opera

a brief introduction to theto broadcast. The following is

schedule:

0 a.m. and 2 p.p:--AIDA by VERDI'e -Price, Eita Goir, Jon Vickersrt Merrill, conducted by Georgthe Rome Opera House Orchestra

eb. 10--w/Leontand Rob

of

I

Comm

Feb. 11-710 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.--THE MAGICFLUTE by MOZART w/Franz Crabs, Roberta 1Peters, ESelyn Lear, Fritz Wunderlich, con-ducted by Karl Bohn w/Berlin Philharmonic

Feb. 12--10 a.m. and 1:30 p.rii.--SAMSON (inEnglish) by HANDEL w/Jan Peerce, PhyllisCurtin, conducted by Maukice Abravanel w/Utah Symphony

Feb. 13-10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. PELLEAS ETMELISANDE by DEBUSSY w/Camille Maurane,Erna Spoorenberg, conducted by Ernest Anser-met w/Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

Feb. 14--10 a.m. only--MEDEA CHERUBINI w/Maria Callas, Mirto Picchi, conducted byTullio Serafin w/orchestra

CABLE TELEVISION, CHANNEL 6 LISTINGS

Feb. 7 9' a.m,-9 p.m. Municipal Information10 a.m. Aida by Verdi (audio only)12:30 p.m. Mayor's Report1:30 p.m. Mayor's Report2:00 p.m. Aida by Verdi (audio only)6:30 p.m. Mayor's Report

Feb. 8 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Municipal Information10 a.m. Magic Flute by Mozart (audio)1:30 p.m. Magic Flute, Mozart (audio)

Feb. 9 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Municipal Information10 a.m. Samson by Handel (audio only)1:30 p.m. Samson by Handel .(audio)

Feb. 10 9'a.m.-9 p.m. Municipal Information10 a.m. Pelleas et Melisande by

Debussy (audio only)1:30 p.m. Pelleas et Melisande by

Debussy' (audio only)

Feb. 11 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Municipal Information10 a.m. Medea by Cherubini (audio)3, p.m. Jr. High basketball--Broadview

.vs. Rogers Park

o eges ter Credit-by-TV CourseThe state's regional corn- 8:30.p.m. on Con ticut Public The 12 community colleges

munity colleges are offering Television. w' a repeat show- are tying in with the series byCredit by television starting ing, ay evenings at I. offering college credit for thosenext Tuesday in a 13-part public enrolling in, and completing, theTV series on the historhof map series explores such course.through his achievements torical events as the trial, of

science. Galileo for his pupport of-Coper-*....--...- Alien' theory that-the sun is the The schools willprovide a tex-

center of the universe and the tbdok and an' ,anthology for"The Ascent Mann," a $4 earth and other planets revolve 515.95, plus a study guide and,

million production, will begin et around it. ° . other supportive services.tGeared for Careers

CI P.r7Glastoubury High School Guidance Counselor Lawrence Sobolewski demonstrates

a &vice that kelps students match their interests with various careers. Looking on inthe high sciool'sCareir Resource Center is student Leal Heinz. She is among severalhundred students, ho have used the center to learn mot about, ture careers. In thebackground, s its use a microfilm viewer,that gives basic i ormation on careers,suck as salary r pges and where to had training for the jobs i the state. The center,Which is to have other materials such atdassette recorders and film strips, is fpnded byrefa PAM state-grant ' .

n.., , .

'p

Those interested should con-'tact their nearest communitycollege registrar or write or caUTV Community College, 1280

Asylum Ave., Hartford.

GREENWICH TINE,FEBRUARir 5, 1975

tibrat7 To ligidVideo WOrksliopThe Greenwich Library will conduct a

video workshop in the library's ColeAuditorium to instruct residents in theuse of video tape equipment.

Two camern systems will be available(luring the workshop to provideparticipants with . "hands-on"emwrivoce

4

2.

Ca

-a

411.11

Vol. 1, No. 17 '16 December 25, 19

NEWS AND COMMENTARY COMPILED AND EDITED BY THE CONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY

Ootair of CouttrairutGENERAL ASSEMULY

STATE CAPITOL

HARTFORD. CONNECTICUT 01111$

COMMISSION ON THE EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONA17\USES OF CABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS

231 Capitol Avenue/Room 601/Hartford, CT 06115Tel.: (203) 566-7315

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

THE COMMISSION ON THE EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL USES OF

CABLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ESTABLISHED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO

STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE USE OF CABLE TELE-

COMMUNICATIONS FOR. EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES, WILL

HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 AT 7:30 p.m: AT THEeg

DANBURY 12.8LIC LIBRARY.,

INVITED TO ATTEND AND-TO,,PRESENT RELEVANT INFORMATION AND

OPINION AkIE PUBLIC OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCILS

FOR'CABLE TELEVISION ESTABLISHED,. IN CABLE FRANCHISE AREAS BY THE'

PUBLIC UTILITTEVMMISSION OKESMEN FOR EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES,

CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AGENCIES, AND OTHER11,

INTERESTED PARTIES..

STATEMENTS MAY BE PRESENTED ORALLY AND IN WRITING. tiRITTEN

STATEMENTS MAY ALSO BE MAILED TO THE COMMISSION C/O THE C6NNECTICUT

STATE LIBRARY, ROOM 601, Al CAPIIIOL AVENUE,. HARTFORD, &DINECTICUT 06115.

December 23, 197484

From Connecticut Cable Clips , V 1, No. 14 (Dec. 4, 1974), p. 2.

Telepro- mpter Seen Throwing Towel in on AreaCable TV

I.

U)Oa.

U)

0fr/0

Teleprompter Inc. the NewYork-bined company whosesOkesmen predicted-two yearsago would be providing cabletelevision to the Bridgeport areaby this summer, has allwritten off the area for cabletelevision and Is attempting tosell Its franchise rights.

Teleprompter, the largestcable television firm in the na-tion, has been delayed in its ef-forts to wire Bridgeport, Strat-ford. Milford, Orange and Wood-bridge for -C A T V primarilybecause of a protracted legalbattle over the company's rightto locate a muter antenna hiShelton.

Now, with interest rates thehighest in recent memory andmoney for capital expansion inshort supply. Teleprompter ismoving to divest itself of un-developed "high risk" franchisessuch as the Bridgeport area, ac-cording to company officials.

Bridgeport is considered ahigh risk area because residentscan receive seven or more chan-nels independently.

This makes cable television,which offers up to V channels tosubscribers who pay a monthlyservice .charge, less attractivethan infareu when normal TVreception is marginal, accordingto John Raines, Xeleprompter'sNew England Regionalmanager.

"Teleprompter, as well as thoentire cable industry has run in-to financial difficulties," saidMr. Raines.

Shelton Sang Cited"We would have had an

operating system in Bridgeportif it)hadn't been for two things:the difficulty with the Sheltonantenna site and opposition froniestablished Connecticut"television systems," he said.

Shelton has opposed to theconstruttion of the master an-ima* since 1573, when the cityZoning commission denied Tele-promper's application to buildthe tower on a site of BlackHills road. The Zoning commis-sion's decision was overruled bythe state Public Utilities' com-mission, which: issues CATVfranchises. After series of ap-peals by the city, he matter isnow awaiting a hen thestate Supreme court. -

"We feel the tower will causeInterference with local television.reception and result in depre-ciation of local propertyvalues," said James Bracnaro, aShelton lawyer handling the casefor the city.

Mr. Raines said the Sheltonsite Is the only location in thearea where it would be feasibleto build an. antenna, primarilybecause of Its elevation. 'Welooked for years for an alternateantenna site," he said, "andthere Just doesn't appear to beany,"

"Blackest" on BuyersHe said Teleprompter Is

discussing the possibility ofselling the franchise with"several companies" but declin-ed to reveal their names. Therestill remains some possibilitythat Teleprompter would retainthe franchise, Mr. Raines saidbut, however, that the companywould like to see another firmlake over.Teleprompter owns a

franchise in the Middletownarea which has also been put upfor sale because of the tom,pany's efforts to cut back ancapital expenditures.

Before any franchises tan tietransferred from one companyto mother, both parties mustgain-approval from the PUC.

In the area adjacent toBridgeport. oilier weeatial cabletelevision hackers have been hitby the so-called tight moneyproblem.

Paul Hancock president ofNew Milford cablevisinn, hadapplied earlier this 'year to the::PUC for franchise rights to,thesix-town region that includesTrumbull, Monroe, Newtown,Brookfield, New Fairfield andSherman.

But In Se' ember, weekbefore a public hearing on thefranchise bad been set by thePUC' he withdrew the applies-/lion.

"Nobody wants. to put up anymoney for new franchises," saidMr. HincoCk, whose Company

just steamy began providingservice to residents urth. NewMilford- Bridgewater area at therate of $5.50 per month. Heestimated It would cost $7.5million to establish an operatingsystem In the Trumbull region.

"We'll reapply as soon assome money becomesavailable," he said.

Community TleviSyst ths B r n

sidiary ofd

eorgia-based Ro hadalso filed an a tioefor theTrumbull franchise. Butthe application was notsldsred by the PUCwas Incomple

More Telecommunications UrgedDr. Peter C. Goldmark

says the nation is failing to ,

use its communications .

technology properly andsuch a policy will result inthe same kind of mistakesthat have led to the energycrisis. - --

Goldmark, a communica-tions scientist who helpeddevelop the long-playingphonograph record and col-or television, is actively en-gaged in communicationswork in Connecticut.

His warning about com-munications technology is bra speech scheduled for de-llvery.this afternoon in SanDiego.

Goldmark will be address-ing government representa-tives, scientists and busi-nessmen at the National Te-lecommunications Confer-ence.

Goldmir ,lesitext says.:"We must lookraeconununi-%cations with a new set o(glasses. It is time for nation-al policy-makers tti take in.ventory-bf technological ad-vances, in communications-and reassess their real po-tential to facilitate solutionsto economic and, social prob-lem . "

Goldmark has long .saidthat there Is enough commu-nications technology avail-c

able to improve the human-condition.$1 million in Funds

Since 1972, he has re-ceivell, more than $1 millionfor hilt New Rural Society'project which is being dontwith Fairfield Universityand is being carried out inWigdham County. The mon-ey -has come from federalgrants.-

8'5 85

;Ile project seeks to bringsophisticated services avail-able in urban areas to ruraldistricts via television, com-munications satellite andthe computer,.

Goldmark saisSrptercentof the people in the U.S. arejammed into 10 per cent ofthe land and this results IA awaste of natural. resources.

Goldmark will tell his au-thence today that the na-tion's 1947 report on Nation.al Growtti, doe tn be deliv-ered to Congress, shouldrontdin al role for telecom-munications "so that wedon't repeat the mistake ofcomplacency - reward ournatural resources.

Goldmark is recommend-ing using two-way Cable TVand other' forms of broad-band communications forsuch public service as:

I

the firm's,, said Rollins thight-

ij another appll for'Trumbull f r chise.

However, he ated thatRollins had pursuingthe matt -since first ep-plIcat was ruled complete.

cordingt o the PVC, a totals15 cable franchises) have been

granted in Connecticu . Of these,only four are operati al.

Telecampuses to pro-vide university instructionin homes.

Teleclincis for medicaland.; public health informa-tion services via televisionin the home. .

Teleconferencing to con-serve ,energy by intercon-necting businesses), stateand local agencies so thatcommunications does thecommuting

Domestic. Fat ell i le' co m-m un ication- service to car-,ry major clatiiral eventsfrom metropolitan areasto rural.

Goldmark is president ofGoldmark CommunicationsInc. in Stamford. Pi' is atrustee of Northeast Utili-t

Or

From Connecticut Cable Clips, Vol. 2, No. 8 (Feb. 26, 1975), P. 5.

CATV to provide three channels : MatsonSkORE LINE TIMES

'Selectmen discuss local, moves February 20, 1975

Cable TV was discussed by theBoard of °Selectmen Mondaymorning background, somefinancial aspects and how, toestablish policies and rules for

__---nic of a municipal channel.' Carl Ulffers, a -former vice-president of communications ofAmerican Telephone andTelegraph Company andpresently, chairman of theAdvisory Council for Madison'sfranchise area, was present toanswerquestions.

Mr. Ulffers was appointed byFirst Sclectwoman Vera Dallas4) represent Madlsoa on thecouncil. The seven-town

111

fr 2 -chise area includes ison,Guilford, Branford. orth'Branford, East Ilav gel.NorthHaven and Wallingford.

The franchise jor this area isheldt y dmm fly TV Systems,to Aiiwholly owned subsidiaryof Mlanta, Georgia, based

ins, Inc.,Under law, Mr. Ulffers ex-

plained, CATV must furnishthree channels to the town:municipal, educational and"

Jibrary. channels. A public

channel services the entirefranchise system.

Cable TV subscribers wouldreceive all present commercialchannels as welt as the threecable television channels.'Reception would be receivedthrough telephone wires ratherthan the present antenna-method.

The Federal-CommunicationsCommission (FCC) has ultimateauthority over ea television,Mr. liners explain d, and will,he Wickes, establis some rules(probably, techn cal) for/operation.

However, the CC has

delegated authority o state orcommunities. The state ofConneoticut has passedlegislation giving autority tothe Public Utilities Co mission(PUC) to establish advisoryCouncils for each franchise areaThis council acts as a liaisonbetween the PUC and the

Mr. 1U1 ers also noted that theact pa ed by the Connecticutlegislature delegating authorityto the PU also established' e

Selectmen on CameraBy alneve Math'

(-Related story, Page 3)Subscribers to cable tele-

vision in New Milford will beable to tune in to Channel C (oneof two-public access channelsmandated) on Friday March 14and watch a oard of Select-men's =din! which will bevideotaped at r;. , and airedat a time later in the dayprobably in socalled "primetime."

Last Friday's meeting wasvideotaped as a "dry run."Equipment was provided byPaul Hancock owner of NewMilford Cablevision. However,the Selectmen will request a$9,000 appropiration to pur-chase equipment which will bekept at the New Milford Public

Library and which will be madeavailable to 'members of thepublic quolffied to operate thevideotaping equipment. The59,00 sum will include main-tenance and repairs for ayear:the equipment is expected tocost in the region of 0,001

Workshops in videotapingtechniques will be scheduled bythe Creative Arts Center lindwill be open to anyone in-terested in learning these skills.

Federal CommunicationsCommission regulations havemandated that Cablevisioncompanies must provide tviiofree channels open' for eonmunity use, and unless thchannels are in opera-tion by March 1977,theywill revert

86

gross receipts tax for the state,Which would enable the state 'tocollect approximately ;160,000per year.

Mrs. Dallas asked GordonDonley, assessor, to investigatepossible income to the town inlieu of taxes"if the gross receiptslax is levied instead of propertylax.

Mrs. Dallals asked Mr. Ulffersadvice on steps the ,Board of

Selectmen should take inpreparation for the advent ofcable television hi' Madisonanticipated by the end of 1975 orbeginning of 1976

Mr. Ulffors suggested that thetowfircheck with the schools as totheir 'plena; investigateplacement of the municipalchannel equipment (discusscooperation with the librarychannel); and discuss operationand management with othertowns whith have installed mibleteleviiion channels.

Expense to the town to tran-smit its channel, Mr. Uttersestimated, Is, "not less than510,000 minimum to get started,and this applies to the school."

The town can use its channg" 'at no charge; the cost involves

Initial expenditures for equip-ment and the cost to manage thechannel. The town is responsibleto determine access to thechannel, programming,providing equipment and"making the channel, work," Mr.Ulffers stated.

Community ITV Systems isurging more use oaf publicchannels as it enhances thevalue of its own product. Theywill therefore help as much asthey can, Mr. Offers noted.

Youth Center -Study Committee

Nancy Childress and Lisa.Parisce, Daniel Hand HighSchool students, were appointedto the Youth or Community

"Center Study CoMmittee. Mrs.Dallas noted that Mist Childresshad organized and was in-strumental in operating the -teencenter last summer and. "isdeserving of recognition for thatwork."

The New Milford Times, New Millard, Conn., February 20, 1975

In the case of the New Milfordarea to Paul Hancock.

Hancock Is .required 10provide the necessary wiring-upat town buildings, but is notrequired to provide equipmentor operators. Ile told The Timeson Tuesday that he will operatethe equipment for the March 14taping, but that in the future thetown must find an operator.

The New Milford CablevisionAdvisory Committee Ispresently working to devloppublic interest in the use of thechannels. The Creative ArtsCenter production of "A Doll's'Home" was taped Monday forpresentation over, publicchannels at a later date. A WestHartford based productioncompany VOTU (Voice of theUnheard) operating' on afederal grant administered /by

HEW provided the equipmentand technicians.

Federal funding may be, athand, according to Paul Han-cock, if a bill introduced bySenator Talmadge of Georgia-ispassed. The bill/would proyidcfunding for rural catielvisioh.Virginia legislator introduced a

,bill in the House of Represen-'tatives which would providelong term low cost loans forrural 'areas with less than sixtyhouses per linear mile.

"That's us," Hancock said."Prospect for passage of this ,legislation is not clear. But I'vebeen lookingjor somethinglikethis. Only Widen per cent ofthe country is wired for cable,but it is growing. And' Con-necticut is the only state That Isreally active in cable."

5.

4- aFrom Connectietifl Cable Clips, Vol . 1, No. 12 (Nov. go, 1974), p.

FCCL S STIONS EXTENT OF ACCESS CHANNEL USE

-0

CABLEL1SRAUESOctober, 1974

Ridgefield, CT 1.

The Federal Communications Comm ccording to Commissioner JamesQuello, is considering a survey of -public, governmental and educational

/access channels to determine how much they are being used. Quello, whochairs the FederatlStateALocal Advisory Committee as well as the cabletechnical advisory ,committee, feels that pres'ent access requirements oncable systems in the top 100 markets may be unwarranted it there islittle demaiid for access. The Cable Bureau, according to Quell°, needshard data to demonstrate that access channels are being /put to gooduse.

0

Cable TV Publi9Servicolioles.Outlined by propOnents"

By KAREN wnirterStaff RepOrter

BLOOMFIELD Imagineturning on your television setone evening and being able towatch the Bloomfield TownCouncil debate publi0 transport.tation. Or switch to anotherchannel and see the Bloomfield

Senior Citizens Music Makersswing Into .their rendition of"Ain't She Sweet."

Later in the evening a coin'.plete community calendar of up-coming events in town would bepresented so you could plan toattend some of the civic and

!social events-scheduled for thenext few days.

If you have never attended aBloomfield political caucus itmay be possible for yob towatch one in operation on yourown TV 'set.

Or if you or your neighborhave a burning issue you want tp:let tither citizens in town knowabout or a club to promote or acause to celebrate, you can

app4r on television and stateyour views.

These are just a few of ther possibilities for Bloomfield and

its citizens pow that cabletelevision is en its way into the!heal munities in Connec-ticut.

Edwin Gittleman,, one ofBloomfield's three represen-tatives on the Cable TV (CATV)

Advisory Council, explainedsome of the possibilities forBloomfield once CATV is es-tablished here.

Bloomfield is in a CATVregion with five other townsincluding Harlford, West Hart-ford, East Hartford, Windsorand Simsbury. 0 '

The cable television operationitself is being developed by aprivate company throughfranchises throughout-the state.It is possible cable television 'will be available sometime nextyear, Gittleman said. '

Cable television will provide5 channels to residents tv13P pay

for hook-up (roughly $15) And amonthly fee (roughly $7). Theset-up and payment is similar tothe way people currently pay forthpir telephone:'Television reception N'will

come through undergroundcdbles rather than over,airwaves.

"What people don't realize iscable TVs not just a better pic-ture but community service,"said C rol Carlisle, anothermem of the CATV AdvisoryCouncil. Ms. Carlisle is also themedia specialist for the Bloom-field schools.

"It wiFuld,Ve possible' for you. to call--'0e library for abibliography on a particularbook and within five minuteshave it come up on your TVscreen." Ms. Carlisle gave asanother example of what ispossible with cable television.

87

"I

THE HARTFORD' IMES, Thursday, November 14,1974

She cited the adult educationprogram at the high school asanother program that could betelevised to reach marfpeople.

Televised public healthprogrims is another kga beingexplored in some areas of thecountry, she added. t

Of the 35 channels, availableon cable television, three ofthem must be set aside for freeuse by the public. One station isfor education, another for townsgovernment and the third forpublic access.

The only expense to theorganization, group or townwould be the cost of the produc-tibn of the programs such ascamera eq,uipment,microphones andpossibly astudio and video tapeequipment.

The school system , alreadyowns five video ape camerasand recorders and several video

tape decksAut Ms. Cartistesaid the resources could 'bebroadened since manybusinesses and industries have

'equiprhent they might makeavailable to the public.

Cable television also willmake it possible to tune instations in New York and otherstates as cable television growsthroughout the country.

As a public service Gittlemansaid he thinks it "would unifythe town. It woultenable peopleto discuss things important tothe town. It would force town of-ficials to open meetings ,to thescrutiny of the public,"

Gittleman said "immediacy"is the key to what cable televi-sion will do for the community.

"It would be,right there in the

homes, live, so people can im-mediate'ly see :what ishappening," Gittleman said.

The advisory committee ThatGittlernan, Ms: Carlisle and LeeKellner represent the town onwas set up by the Public 'Utilities Commission as an ad./visory and regulatory body.

This committee will be involv-e{ in monitoring and advisingthe private a ble televisionfranchise abaft. programming /and reporting annually to thePUC.

Gittleman. said -the advisorycommittee' is interested in

getting _suggestions fromcitizens about what they would rlike to 'see broadcast on thecable television and what needsthe local channels could, fill.

O

a

CONNECTICUT C A B C SPECIAL 'SUPPLEMENT February 19, 1975Vol. 2, No. 9

WILL CONNECTICUT USE LABLE :TO HELP EQUALIZE EDUCATION

STATEMENT FROM COMMISSIONER SHEDD, 1/31/75

The State Board of Education strongly.

s.0. upporta the exploration by the Commission onthe Educational and Informational Uses ofCable Telecommunications aa to the feasibil-ity of using ,cable lecommtnications as a--wcri--

Plan ToEducation

PRIRTUNITY?

izeEqua

By DAVID MARZIALimeans -of equalizing e ucation'al opportuni A special state commis-in Connecticut. i NI / .

The -Board has; long been interested and in-°volved in the use of educational teleyisfionas a means of bringing _increased educationalopportunity- to the children of Connect icUt . , ....

It, in conjunction with its special Tele-visiOn Council, is intimately' concerned wita number' of areas inyolVed with, Telecommu °cation 'uses in Education such as: ,suggestin .1objectives, subject areas, and content florschool and adult educational broaelcasts over,'broadcast and cable television; program pro-duction and evasion; information transferand computer access interconnections; ant3,research in and the imprOvement of the qual-ity of education by means of instru&tional

:telecommunications .whether cable r open cir-cuit, closed circuit,. 2500 megahertz fixedservice, or other tectinolOgical devices.'The State Boar of Education therefore

earnestly recommends*that there be an im-mediate and concerted effort on the part of

he Commission on Educational and Information-, al.Uses of Cable Telecompunications in full

coopratiOn with state and other educationalagencies to d termine the ways in which thisnew service c n be best utilized to equalizeeducational pportunity in Connecticut.'

On Education:; Major Rulinggi Connecticut's system of

ptoviding financial aid topublic schools is uriconstitur

. tional. That was the ruling

I last wee* of Superior CourtJudge Jay E. Rubinow.

the opinion was an-nounced, Gov.-elect Ella T.Grasso said she would ap-peal the decision to thestate's Supreme Court.

IIn I d e Rub ow's deci-sion, he I at under thepresent ancing method,suppn mostly by local,property taxes,' amounts ofmoney spent fpr edbcationdepend largely upon whethertowns and cities are rich orpoor.

Thus, he concluded, thesystem yes not provideequal - ucational oppbrtuni-ti rbughout the state, ast state constitution re-uires.

M Atty. Gen. Robert K.Killian liter- commenter:This is a landmark cased

. think we will have to get aruling from the highest au-

; Ahority."

Judge Rubinow gave nonew plan for school financingand din not ask for one. Buthe retained jurisdiction inthe case uhtil he state or theSupreme Court moves it astep farther.

slon will recommend a new$113-million program ofstale aid to local public edu-cation that would compen-sate -three-fourths of Con-necticut's towns for their re-latively low amounts of tax-able property.

The proposal, approvedThursday by, the Commis-sion on School Finance and

ual Educational 'Opt ty, will be submitt to,the Generf -Assembly J15:

The reco'm dation fol.!'lows last day's Super oCourt d ision` that thestate's system of finarkinglocal educatIon is unebnsti-

, tutional.Under the current system.

D most of the cost of localschools is paid by kocat.property taxes. Theaddition, pays each tow

: Offer' ed, ,./.,$250 a year fa each of -itsstutlents;

The commission's propos/al, which' would be phasedin over a period of year's,-would guarantee the - state's125 poores o_wif the sameschool r antirig base thatthe 1 rest town 44th_rich to i has. ..'

1 poorest, towns -d hepaid thp difference

tweed, what; each mill oflax levy would produce inthe 44th richest town andwhat each mill produces intheir towns.

The 44 richest townsuld receive no propertyaid, but all of the state's

169 towns would continue toreceive the 5250-per pupilgrants each year.

Towns receiving the newaid could' use it in one ofthree ways: they could useall of it to increaie educa-tional expenditures, they 'could apply it all toward'lowering their tax rates or ,' ,',,'"'

they could use p,, to in-

crease school- ex 'nditures rand part to lower t xes.

In addition to the ropert5(tax reimbursement, thine%4..program would include thefollowing elerpeuts:

Quid assume

ti Vo Ed'CoursesSlashed

By DAVIlYbluvgn-Staff Reporter

Budget Cutbacks have forcedthe state's 16 regionalvocational-technical schools telniinate their supplemen I

adult evening courses, invol ngsorhe 7,500-students anirMorethan 400 part-time teachers, of-ficials said today.

The wh h will endFeb. 3, af(ecl onl those adultevening course which havebeen offered to he public Arnocnst. said A gelo Tedesco,. acorfsultant o the vocationaldivision a he state Departmentof Eilue

The statthree-four of the cost ofspecial ucation, ratherthan t e, two-thirds it nowpays The commission saidthi would be the first move.ti ard total state assump-ion of special education ex-

penses;The present $7-million

state appropriation for aidto disadvantaged pupils1:VThe

state WWI subsi-dize

be doubled;

dize Connecticut's sevenlargest cities for the specialexpenses their governmentshave because they aredensely populated The ci-ties receiving this .form ofaid would be Hartford,Bridgeport., 11`0y Haverf,Stamford, Waterbary. New,Britain and Norwalk.

. ... . fel)ort-Oitliiies Need:A .' .

..

SchoolTransitCosts TO Riseyor Bilingual Tea.ilierii

.e . ,,,....,

,, d ') . Only 42 per cent of the es- The largest group of non- "

to1... Costs of school transportation are expected to increase thitated 25,000 non-English- English-speaking residentscn by as much as '15 per. cent this year, state education of- speaking students in Cob- are Hispanic, bureau figures

necticut who need bilingual for the 1974-75 wheal Yearvi ficials say. but the extra burden inere.than $4 millioneducation are receiving it, show., The; report said 157.,..,,

ii.may have to be borne entirely hy mtOticipa"property taxes.

Rep. Howard M. Klebarmff, ''Grasso's stated determititionthe state Boardwf Education schools in 16 Connecticut

u.to

Year's political climate doesn'tD-Hartford, con-cotes, this 4'o resist expansion or state

spending wherever ponilble to

learned Tuesday,

urea from stateAccordinieto 1973-74 f

towns have Spanish-speakingPVlions of. 20 or more.,"thereport added, Ill

iis,--.. lend itself to much expansion'of I avoid lax increases. mint of Education's Bureau of these 157 schools haven°

'.)1:1a school busing. °o

the state's role in paying . for I."problem" stems priMarily

The school transportation f Elementary and Second- bilingual classes fir the His-

"I'm going,to try and work to . from a slate aid formula at least . alLEdura11011, an estined panic students.2;500 bilingual teachers The bureau consultant who

criimprove the whole system of 10 years old. It provides for 50

4:would be needed to provide presented the report, Dr.w state funding for transpor- per cent state financing, except.

, an adequate education to stu- ICeruieth Lester, said the fig-m nation," fluid Klebanoff, co- . that no town can receive more ).

'f= chairman. of the General' than $20per-pupil unless it's dents who don t speak Eng- ures are for bilingual pro-

1L-1 Assembly's Education Com- part of a regional school dis ish.t grams only and not for so-

ate-0 prediction would have 4 be that An added wrinkle in the issue bilingual teachers. fagrainsa i 11.geEthatn golirst

teachta:cti +is e esaptIf irrde

cc mittee.""Hut my political Wet ' r / state now has only 300

Despite the need docu-won't be able to accdinphsti. and one expected to be hotly . stildents for only one or two; 1 much." .

bated this legislative session by the' bureau andKlebanoff is one of the Pis the law passed last year ex- resentatives of two billn.: class periods a day.

Ui legislature's strongest-advocat funding municipal responsibill- Populations in two of thegual groups, the board ref -of massive changes in education ty for busing nonpublic used to support the idea of 16 towns, Hartford andxfinancing to shift the dominant school childrin.by 191546 at the mandatary bilingual educe- Bridgeport, account forrole from local property taxes latest. ion in Connecticut schools, more than half of all Hispan-

to the state lax system. Whereas town 'responsibility t felt therewasnomoney to is Children in the state, the

The state's present share of used to be Confined to say 1$ p,port it. bureau report said. Theytransportation expenses is about schools getting most of th it The board tabled discus- also account for half the,32 per cent of a total tatewide . students from that town, sion of proposedelegislation schools that do not offer a

cost estimated at well over $30 new law mandates public bus ng forcing schools to start bill!!- bilingual program to chill

,-, guru 'programs after it was L.

. miiii0,44, if a school has an enrollment dt-en who net one.

. Klebanoff's "political predic- majority from the state as / apparent the proposal wouldtion" it,based on Gbv. Ella T. v)hole. -., fail.

-/ THE HARTFORD C0i3RANTd No Relief from School Costs Febuary 1, 1975

But that would be more than eaten up by in-Even with declining enrolltnents, Connecti- Elation. The cost of running schools. are soar-

tut schools face the serious problem of costs int and Commissioner Shedd predicts thethat continue to grow. Education Commissioner' state's total bill will soon top $1 billion a year.Nark Shedd and the Connecticut Public Ex-penditure Council are in general agreement onthat point.

In its 'annual report on public school fi-nances,. the CPEC says P973-74 enrollment was655,962, down 1.1 pei cent from the previousyear. That is the largest decline since 1944.45.The' CPEC predicts the downward trend Willcontinue at least until 1960.

Commissioner Shedd goes further, predict-ing an enrollment .drop of nearly 25 per cent be-"fore i990' 42 result, he says, our 'schoolsmight be able : :e about $14 million a year.

The CPEC' statisticj,, show total costs ofabout $916 million in 1973 -74, up more than $44million from the previous year. That is morethan three times the amount we might savefrom decreased enrollments.

Meanwhile, the Connecticut Conference ofMayors and Municipalities raises another prob-lem: Basic state school aid is paid at a flat 5250per student. Under that formula, as enrollmentgoes down so will the total amount of aid.

None of this accounts for the'cost of schoolaid equalization, which is becoming a moral, if

not a legt(I, necessity. The Crr makes clearthe vast differences in the ounts varioustowns can spend on each student, ranging from$1,656 in affluent Darien to 5731 n rural Gris-wold. Yet the plan just offered to orrect these.differences would cost an extra $ 6 milijion peryear. That's money the state sir plY does nothave.

- might achieve some limited. an lessexpensive. degree of equalization by alteringthe flat per-student grant so more money goes'to tax-poor communities. But there seems littlechance of 'materially increasing the overalllevel of state aid, which now pays only 31 perce of local education costs. .

he hard fact remains that these costs willgrowand somehow or other we

must find a them.

Newsglips.of significance for the development of cable qoffmnuni-'cations in Connecticut solicite. Send Att: Margaret. Cleland/CabZ'e Information /CT State Li-brary/231 Capitol Ave./Hfd,' 013115. ,

1

HARTFORD TIMES FEBRUARY 10, 1974,eoe'

Editorial JTo make' the' mosi,of cable television

General Assembly leaders seemreceptive to a proposal before thecurrent session to establish a year-long study of Public and educationaluses of cable television..

It is a timely moment to set aboutestablishing long-telin policy fbr the"wired society." /lb

Gable (or other similar technolo-gies is hoseaend "product is the same)has already grown to serve 8 millionAmericans, including subscribers 'inparts of Connecticut. Cable is grow-ing at a'rate of more thin 10 per centa year; within five to ten years, morethan half the nation's homes will behooked up to clear reception of 20 ormore channels.

AT THE NATIONAL level, reviewis just beginning of a White Housestudy that proposes sweeping changesin tip laws that govern televisionwhen it is brought 0 a home by cable.

The niost dramatic of tipsechanges would abolish the restraintsoubjective journalism now placed

Lon -broadcasters.

Under the "fairness doc ine,"brOacicalters must offer eq I timefor retnonie by politic figuresand others whose viewpo t has beenchallenged or ignore. n in earlierbroadcast. Itwas and .r this doctrine,for instance, that Democrats weregiven air time for Senate MajorityLeader Mike Mansfield to answerPresident Nixon's "State of theUnion" message. ,

THE FAIRNESS doctrine and oche;\restraints ,have been Held necessarybecause the number of broadcastichannels in any cpmmunity is limiteBut with cable television, erof channels is, practically sp ing,unlimited: Most systern,v wil havemore circuits available thin can be-filled.

0

With the monopoly characteristicof program originators' ended, tele-vision can be afforded the same fullfreedom of the press that the printmedia have historically enjoyed--awelcome evolution.

The White House report releasedat the end of 1973 also envisionshandling cable television as a "com-mon carrier," available to anyonewho wants to lease time in much theway that a common-carrier truckingcompany must, for a uniform rate,deliver within its area any item thatanyone is willing to pay to have de-livered).

Bbth Those hasic approaches aresound, although their. ramificationsdeserve efriful planning.

' -,Other elgments in the WhiteHouse study will be more contro-versial: -A proposar for municipalfrapchising of cable systems, ratherjhab the regional franchises that Con:necticut has, pioneered; a pioposal totbandon. the iaePof setting asidechannels for public access; a proposalto abanderipubliC utility'ratesetting,despite the acknowledged monopolyeach franchise would have p its, area.

EVEN WERE these changes notlooming on the national horizon, itwould beinone too soon for the public'interest in cable television to be givencareful examination at the state level.

The potential for educational and.instructional use. of cable televisionis enormousand largely unexplored.It is appropriate that the Connecticut

-State Library is among those urgingstudy of the medium's potential; li-brary' services are among those, onowould logically think of as being im-proved by easy access to video displayin homes.

But that may. be only the begin.ning of the, cable revolution. Connecticut has a head start in planning themechanics and the technicalorules.forcable and in allocating franchises for

opographic and cultural regions. The.1/ext step is todeal with the substanceof how cable will be used.

90

.//

4.

.

ti'

°

HIGHWA6 ER THE MIND

The develollinent of highwaysfor the mind, for the transmissionand exchange of information,knowledge and recreative experiencethrough'the creative communication artsin the tatter quarter of the 20th Century'is viewed ,as essential and fundamentalas'was the provision of roads for thetranspAation.of goods, services andpeople in our coantry's past, As we

approach the maximum devdlofment ofour land resources ana their physicalinterconnection, the modern stateneeds to turn to the maximum deveof its human resources, the mindsand talents of its people,by developing an information and idda

communication system on a scope andscale to match its highway system.

.

It,is contended that an investment in a

stater telecommunications system

for the transport of ideas andinformation equivalent to that invesins our highway system could be,fi need

for the,iong haul' by the increasedproductivity of the state's population andthe reduction of dconomic waste and

losses. Some estimates of the reduciblecosts in the way we presently provide

and deliver educational and informationalvservices exceed fifth per cent of total

expenditures.

We have the 7;eano and the resources

at hand.i wb can gen rate the desire andthe wf,lt io achieve w t aZZ of) us

generally auire for ndividually, but

which ne 'of ua can r ZiLde withQut

°tate- upported coopc c cgort.

Ev tuany, ay, not; now?

9 ,

00

Excerpted from* article byMerbetAensen,aGreenwich, Connecticut

in CONNECTICUT AUDIOVISUAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION%

BULLETIN NO. 27.?

0

1974

cl

.

:.F.tarr of ComirdirutGENERAL ASSEMBLY

STATE CAPITOL

HARTFORD. CONNECTICUT 06115

Cmm s/ion on-the Educational and' InformationalUses of Cable TelecOmmillr cations

9 6