zits. e - eric · ed 112 855 zits. e,institution. pub date. note. edrs price descriptors....
TRANSCRIPT
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***********************************************************************DocMments acquirok by ERIC include many informal unpublished *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.% ,
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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
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.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