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REPORT OF THE
LEXINGTON CABLE TELEVISION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF
THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS
JUNE 23, 1980
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
PREFACE 1
BACKGROUND AND ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS FOR CABLE
TV IN LEXINGTON 1
DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
RELATIONSHIP WHICH LEXINGTON DESIRES BETWEEN
THE CABLE TV COMPANY AND THE TOWN 2
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS 2
A. AREA OR AREAS TO BE SERVED 3
B TYPES AND PATTERNS OF OWNERSHIP AND
} OPERATIONS 3
C DURATION OF LICENSE 3
1 D. CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE TO INCLUDE START
AND COMPLETION DATES, RATE OF CON-
STRUCTION, PROBLEMS INCIDENT TO
OBTAINING POLE PERMITS AND STREET,
WAY, DUCT AND OTHER RIGHTS NECESSARY
FOR CONSTRUCTION 4
E CAPABILITY OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
INCLUDING CHANNEL CAPACITY AND
RETURN CAPABILITY 6
F. PLAN FOR LOCAL ORIGINATION CAPABILITY
INCLUDING FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT,
STAFFING AND LOCATION OF FACILITIES 11
1. INTRODUCTION 11
2. LOCATION & ACCESSIBILITY 12
3. FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT 12
4 MAINTENANCE 13
5. STAFF 13
6. SERVICES 14
7. ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION 14
8 FUNDING 14
TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
PAGE
G CRITERIA TO BE EMPLOYED IN
ASSESSING THE CHARACTER, FINANCIAL,
TECHNICAL AND OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
OF APPLICANTS 15
H PLAN FOR MUNICIPAL COOPERATION WITH
PROSPECTIVE LICENSEE INCLUDING THE
AVAILABILITY OF MUNICIPAL FACILITIES
AND COORDINATION OF MUNICIPALLY-
SPONSORED ACTIVITY IN SUCH AREAS AS
EDUCATION, LIBRARIES, PUBLIC SAFETY,
AND SERVICE DELIVERY 16
I COORDINATION WITH CONTIGUOUS ISSUING
AUTHORITIES TO INVESTIGATE THE SHARING
OF FIXED COSTS AND/OR THE ADVISABILITY
OF REGIONALIZATION 17
J PLAN FOR LOCAL SUPERVISION OF THE CABLE
OPERATOR TO INCLUDE COMPLAINT AND
COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES 17
K PLAN FOR INSTITUTION EQUAL EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITY PRACTICES 20
L. CUSTOMER CONTRACTS, RULES, REGULATIONS
AND CHARGES 20
M. ACCESS CHANNELS AND TERMINAL EQUIPMENT 21
N. RIGHTS TO PRIVACY 22
0. RIGHTS TO INFORMATION 22
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LEXINGTON CABLE TELEVISION ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT
TO THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
PREFACE
This report is submitted in accordance with the Procedural
Regulations for Granting Community Antenna Television Licenses
promulgated by the Massachusetts Community Antenna Television
Commission ("Massachusetts Cable Commission") pursuant to
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 166A, Section 16 The
licensing regulations are now found in Section 3 00 of Title 207
of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (cited as "207 CMR 3 00")
BACKGROUND AND ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS FOR CABLE TV IN LEXINGTON
The Board of Selectmen appointed an Advisory Committee on
February 12, 1973, and instructed it a) to explore the options
for ownership and operation of a cable television system for
Lexington, b) to examine potential uses, and c) to make recommenda-
tions for ways by which the citizens of Lexington can get the most
value from this communication medium
This Committee made a comprehensive study of uses including
public access and local programming, education, library services ,
government and municipal services, health and other social services,
and services to the Lexington business community The Committee
also conducted a town-wide questionnaire on interest in cable
television for Lexington The questionnaire determined the amount
of television used by Lexington residents , their picture reception
quality, their degree of satisfaction with the present TV program-
ming, the things about TV that they didn't like, the interest in
program items relating to the public and library, town governance,
local news, local musical and drama events, activities of local
organizations, local sports, religious services, etc Strong
interest was found in most of these program subjects There was
also strong interest in using the cable system to tie in automatic
fire alarms and burglar alarms to the fire and police stations
The uses study and the questionnaire results are on file in
the Reference Section of Cary Library They provide a solid base
on which to start converting what has been, up until now, on the
• whole a violence prone, passifying medium into a participative,
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enhancing, two-way, audio-visual communication with the world
As with its schools , its library, and its town government, Lexington
will get out of cable television what is puts into it The
challenge is to nurture this new born baby technology, by tender
loving care, into its full potential for the good of the community
It won' t be easy, but it can be exciting and it can be fun
DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RELATIONSHIP WHICH LEXINGTON
DESIRES BETWEEN THE CABLE TELEVISION COMPANY AND THE TOWN1
1. A relationship that allows the cable company to earn an
adequate return on its investment. / g
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2 A relationship, wich the cable company provides the
Town with the opportunity for the services which achieve the full
potential of this communication medium, at the forefront of the
technology and its applications in the United States (In this
regard, the initiative and creativeness of the local access
director will be of crucial importance in catalyzing the programs
that the Town desires and supports ) A relationship in which the
cable company recognizes the desire of the Town to have services
which achieve the full potential of this communication medium,
and endeavors to provide such services commensurate with economic
viability
3 A continuously open and trusting relationship that
negotiates to the satisfaction of both the Town and the cable
company to assure that the above two characteristics are met at
all times during the contract.
4 A relationship which recognizes the partnership nature
{ of the task of achieving the full potential of this communication
medium. A relationship which also recognizes the need for the
cable company to supply adequate funding to rapidly catalyze the
development of the Town' s capability to use the medium at its full
potential and to continue to supply adequate funding throughout
the life of the license, consistent with the needs of the community.
Note 1 The Town defined to include Lexington Town Government,
The Lexington Public School system, the Town Libraries,
other Town services, volunteer organizations, and citizens
of the Town
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
The licensing regulations of the Massachusetts Cable
Commission require the Cable Advisory Committee to submit written
policy recommendations on each of the checklist items listed in
207 CMR 3 06 (3) The Committee submits the following recommendations
with respect to any cable television system which may be licensed
1 in Lexington
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(a) AREA OR AREAS TO BE SERVED
The Town of Lexington should be licensed as a single area
cable system to be contained within the Town boundaries
The licensee shall agree as a condition of the license that it
provide service to every dwelling and building requesting the service,
regardless of distance from the trunk line
Newly developed areas should be serviced as the dwellings
become occupied
(b) TYPES AND PATTERNS OF OWNERSHIP AND OPERATIONS
Ownership and operation of a cable television system may be
by private enterprise, the Town of Lexington, an independent
non-profit corporation, or a combination of these such as a joint
venture or the leasing of a publicly owned system to a private
operator
The Committee compared six alternative forms of ownership
and operations (the above options and combinations of them with
a non-profit community access center corporation) The Committee
came to the conclusion that, although municipal ownership and
contract operation would probable provide the lowest cost service
for Lexington subscribers, the key to successful use of cable tv
i by the community will be in the design of the organizational
structures for public access and local origination We are, there-
fore, concentrating our attention on this design and its evolution
over the first few years of the system operation The appropriate
design is obtainable under either municipal or private ownership
of the system. The disadvantages of municipal ownership (high
initial capital outlay necessitating bond issues; municipal
ownership would force all residents to assume financial respon-
sibility, whereas , under private ownership, payment is voluntary
and the liability is assumed by the cable company) are considered
to outweigh the prospect of lower subscriber fees
(c) DURATION OF LICENSE
A provisional license must initially be granted to assure
that the licensee can comply with the terms of the license and
with state regulations The Committee recommends that the
provisional license be for a maximum term of one year, but that
the final license be granted sooner if the licensee can demon-
strate substantial compliance with the requirements set forth
in regulations of the Massachusetts Cable Commission at 207 CMR
3 09 (1)
*The Hanscom Air Force Base evidently contains some housing units
within Lexington boundaries Interest in connecting these units
may be explored through official federal procedures
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J Every company applying for the license will seek the maximum
term allowed, which is fifteen years, in order to achieve maximum
profitability after recoupment of initial capital outlay
The licensing authority, however, should have leverage to
assure that the licensee' s service is adequate and meets the
expectations of the Town
The initial costs should be recovered after eight years
Therefore, the Committee recommends a license for ten years The
Selectmen should have the option to grant a fifteen year license
if the applicant is highly qualified and his proposal is
demonstrably superior
The license should contain provision for review atter the
First two years and thereafter every 3 years on at least the subjects
bf local origination, public access and programming in general
The license may be renewed at the Selectmen' s option for
additional periods after the initial license has expired There
should be no provision for automatic renewal
(d) CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE TO INCLUDE START AND COMPLETION
DATES, RATE OF CONSTRUCTION, PROBLEMS INCIDENT TO
OBTAINING POLE PERMITS AND STREET, WAY, DUCT AND
OTHER RIGHTS NECESSARY FOR _CONSTRUCTION
Since the town of Lexington is not large in area or street
miles (152 miles) , the licensee should be able to wire the Town
completely within twelve months The construction should begin
as soon as possible after the final license is granted The
license should require as a minimum 90% completion within twelve
months, and 100% completion within eighteen months from the
granting of the final license Completion of 100% within twelve
months is more desirable Failure to have the completed system
in operation by the specified date should be grounds for revoca-
tion of the license Exception may be made for delay due to
circumstances beyond the control of the licensee
)
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The licensee should submit to the Selectmen, upon award
and execution of the provisional license, a bond for the amount
of $100, 000 , or for an amount set by the Selectmen, with a
corporate surety satisfactory to the Selectmen Terms and
conditions of the bond are as follows
1 The substantial completion of installation and
operation of the system in the time so stated
2 The indemnity of the Town in accordance with
Chapter 166A, Section 5 (b) and (c) Additional liability
insurance is required by statute
3 The satisfactory removal or other disposition of
the system within three months from date of notice, upon
termination of the license
4 The restoration of pavements, sidewalks, and other
improvements as provided in Chapter 166A, Section 5 , with the
approval of the Director of Public Works
The licensee shall have all the permits required by the
Town before the start of the construction A true and accurate
map showing all existing and proposed installations, including
pole locations, shall be filed with the Selectmen prior to the
start of construction
The licensee shall have the right to trim trees to the
minimum extent necessary, upon obtaining written permission
from the Superintendent of Public Works This is to be done to
avoid damage and/or injury to the trees
The licensee shall negotiate with the owner for attachment
to poles and use of duct lines
The licensee shall install and maintain its wires, cable,
and all equipment in accordance with the requirements of the
State electrical code, wherever applicable
Upon written notice from the Town, if the licensee fails
to remedy the problem within three (3) months from the receipt
of notice of a general deficiency and one (1) week from a
safety deficiency, the Town may do the necessary repairs and
charge the licensee for this work
If the licensee must remove any pavement or sidewalk,
approval for such action must be granted by the Superintendent
of Public Works before any such work begins The replacement
must also be approved by the Superintendent If the licensee
fails to repair or replace any pavement or sidewalk within a
reasonable period of time, the Town may undertake the work and
charge the licensee for this work
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- The licensee shall indemnify and hold the Town harmless
at all times during the construction and for the time of the
license for all claims made against it for injury or damage
to persons or property, both real and personal
The licensee shall at all times after the license is
granted by the issuing authority, maintain the system to its
highest level of operation
The licensee shall comply with Chapter 166A and any
additional rules of regulations of Massachusetts Cable Commission
or the Town of Lexington
(e) CAPABILIjTY OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM INCLUDING
CHANNEL CAPACITY AND RETURN CAPABILITY
In the seven years that the Lexington Cable Advisory Committee
has been studying the question of acable television system for
Lexington, the capacity needs of institutional users have bulked
large in our thinking Modern channel-converter-based systems
seem to provide sufficient distribution channels (30 or more)
for home viewing on a single cable, and use of the 4-channel sub-
band (5-50MHz ) would also seem to provide sufficient up-stream
capacity for all anticipated two-way services to the home However,
any substantial needs for two-way video channels by town institutions
would, on a single cable, cut into these home allocations to the
extent that both would suffer
In the first report on August, 1974 , a hub configuration
with up to six independent trunks was suggested as a means of multi-
plying the scarcest commodity -- up-stream channels The report
also suggested a dual-cable system, both because channel converters
were at that time a less certain commodity, and because the cable
industry was at that time installing many dual-cable systems The
rationale was that a dual-cable system could provide 24 down-stream
channels without converters, and could be up-graded to 35 channels
on one cable with converters, and to 16 two-way channels on
the other cable This expansion capability seemed necessary as a
hedge against future needs The contemplated system was dual-cable
throughout
The situation now is not much different, except in two
{ regards
A. Converters are now the accepted practice in CATV, and
B New CATV equipment capable of up to 52 down-stream
channels on one cable is becoming available (with still only
four channels up-stream)
r
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It is also becoming clearer that home and institutional
services should not share the same cable, although channels can be
interconnected between them at the head end Separation of these
two types of services into different cables has several advantages
A Each cable can be channeled to provide the respective
services in an optimum manner, without mutual conflicts, and
B The institutional cable can be much shorter, perhaps
only 20% as long as the "home" cable, to reach the relatively small
number of institutions it would serve
RECOMMENDATIONS
In the light of foregoing, it would seem that a town the
size of Lexington can, as of 1980 , best be served by a two-cable
system; one for home two-way services, and one for institutional
two-way services The cables should have the following attributes
Home Cable
As near to 100% dwelling unit coverage as possible
35 (or more) down-stream viewing channels, some
of which can be premimum, pay-cable channels
(Interest in premimum channels seems high in
Lexington )
4- channel up-stream capability for implementation
of home two-way services of various types
(alarms, status monitoring, responsive terminals,
etc )
. A hub configuration (several trunks serving
different sections of Lexington) is to be
preferred over a single tree (one trunk) system
for purposes of flexibility in providing future
services
{ Institutional Cable
Coverage of specified sites (schools, municipal
buildings, private institutions, etc )
Balanced up-stream and down-stream capacities ,
with capability for at least 16 channels in
each direction
Ability to feed signals originating at any
institutional site (e g , a school) into a
viewing channel on the "home" cable
Nothing in the system design should make it
difficult (or prevent) , at some future time,
direct communication between a home terminal
and an institution For example, on-demand
viewing of certain library materials is seen
as desirable subscriber service when technology
and economics permit
1
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In addition to the interconnections outlined above, there is
also developing a strong interest in regional interconnections
between cable systems in adjoining towns For example, multi-town
viewing of local originations pertaining to regional issues may
have a significant audience, and spark interest both in cable
subscription and in support of local origination We also have
one strong regional institution -- the Minuteman Vocational
High School -- that would also like, at some appropriate time in
the future, to be able to transmit programs into all the towns
it serves
Such town-to-town interconnections could be made in many
ways -- by microwave, separate cables, or by interconnection of one
or more institutional cable channels at town borders Some
switching, probably manually controlled, would be necessary in
each head-end to set up paths according to a schedule Ideas and
suggestions on regional interconnections are solicited
According to the Town Engineer' s Office, as of February,
1980, there are 116 pole miles and 12 underground miles of the
electrical system; the total of accepted and unaccepted street
mileage in Lexington is about 152 miles (On many of the poles
in Lexington there is a town-owned fire alarm wire running about
one and a half feet above the telephone line, between the
telephone line and the electrical line )
Five of the seven bidders state that they will install
separate institutional cables, with various two-way Capacities
for non-home services None of the bidders have, however,
discussed the equipment (channel modulators and demodulators)
required for use of channels on these cables by town institutions,
or who would procure or pay for such equipment (These items
are over and above any video equipment -- cameras, receivers,
tape decks, etc -- needed at the institutional sites ) Nor
have any of the bidders discussed the operating procedures
for institutional channels -- assignment of channels, up-stream
to down-stream connections or switching, response time for
special connection needs , etc It is hoped that bidders, by
proposal amendment, will address the questions of equipment
requirements and operating procedures for institution-to-
institution communications, and how start-up and operating
costs will be allocated
There should be two-way interconnections between and among
all public and school libraries and media centers in the Town as
part of the institutional trunk This would make possible the
transmission of video and audio signals from any facility on the
trunk to any other Potential uses of this capability include
display of printed illustrations and text and facsimile trans-
mission, facilitating reference and interlibrary loan services
Additional information relating to this subject is contained in
both letters of Appendix A.
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Consideration should also be given to setting aside an
amount of money in escrow by the cable franchisee to up-date
the system from time to time as appropriate in the future
Pertinent to the subject of up-dating the system, the term
"two-way" comes up in many contexts in relation to CATV systems
First of all, in the transmission plant (cables, amplifiers, etc ) ,
it simply means that there is a physical capability for sending
signals in both directions , either at different frequencies on
one cable, or on two different cables Transmission from the
headend of the cable system to individual homes is called "down-
stream" , and transmission from individual homes to the headend
is called "upstream" , or "return" Standard CATV technology
provides transmission of up to four television-bandwidth signals
(6 megahertz each) from homes in the upstream direction All
seven systems proposed to Lexington have this capability Also,
all bidders propose additional "institutional" two-way channels
that would be connected only to certain locations specified by
the Town In this section we will ignore these institutional
channels and address only the return channel capability on the
main CATV cable serving homes
What the upstream transmission capability is sued for is
another matter Depending on the equipment provided at a terminal
location (e g. , a home) , the signals transmitted upstream can be
TV signals, voice signals, or data signals Transmission of TV
signals upstream can, for example, be used for remote origination
of programs to be viewed by all cable subscribers The connection
of the upstream to the downstream channel is such a case would
be made at the cable headend.
It is not likely that many, if any, TV transmissions will
originate in homes in Lexington, although any home with cable
service could become a "studio" by equipping it with the necessary
cameras and transmission hardware, either on a temporary or preman-
ent basis It is more likely that any remote TV originations on
the main CATV cable will come from organizational or business sites
not connected to the institutional transmission system.
The more interesting, and much more likely use of the two-way
capability in homes is for two-way data terminals, various types of
which have been experimented with since 1970. The Warner Cable
"Qube" system is a widely publicized example of such a terminal,
and the first to receive more than a token, trial installation
(there are 20, 000 or so Qube terminals installed in Columbus, Ohio) .
Qube provides serveral "response" buttons, in addition to channel
selection monitoring associated with the charging of viewing of
premimum (pay) channels According to the following recent newspaper
account, the Qube terminal and the Qube central processor are now
available for sale to any cable operator
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Market Console For 2-Way TV g `l61r
DALLAS — Warner Amex Cable programs they are watching.
Communications' Inc. and Pioneer The BT-1300 console will be
Communications of America have in- available to the cable TV industry for
troduced a new home console for use two-way interactive and data corn-
with two-way interactive cable televi- munications system application,
Sion. Pioneer said.
The Qube III home console,-called The system allows users to tie in
the Pioneer BT-1300, can accom- with the Qube III central computer
modate up to 110 program channels for applications including borne Finan-
and has the capacity to provide home cial management, teleshopping,
service, data information retrieval security information retrieval,
and video entertainment programm- Programming and other services.
Warner Amex Cable Communica-
The BT-1300, developed and lions, which operates Qube I and II
manufactured ,by Pioneer Corn- networks,has 147 systems in 29 states
-munications, offers subscribers the serving about 700,000 subscribers,the
ability to interact directly with the firm said. _ __a..�_ _•y...,.i_ _
Once two-way data transmission is available, any data
device can in theory be attached, not just a few response buttons
For example, full computer terminals, alarm systems, medical alert
systems, remote reading of utility meters, and so forth Each of
these, of course, requires the operator to provide proper computer
processing at the headend for the service Alarm and medical alert
systems are now in service in many CATV systems, and all Lexington
bidders cite plans to offer such services "eventually, whether or
not other response terminals (Qube, e g ) are provided.
Introduction of general-purpose home terminals which might be
used for banking, shopping, information retrieval, etc , will
depend on the interest of subscribers in having (and paying for)
such services, and on the interest of stores, banks, the library,
etc , in offering such services (note that considerable planning
and capital outlay are required on their part) Similarly, utility
meter reading requires installation of special electronics on each
meter, and the utilities must assess the cost of doing this against
that of their present reading methods
One technical note the data services that have been
described usually take only one downstream channel and one upstream
channel out of the total CATV transmission capability Up to
1-2 million data bits per second can be sent in the bandwidth of
one TV channel, and this is sufficient to provide data services
to up to 20, 000 or more homes Operators may choose, initially,
however, to install alarm and response systems on separate channels,
since in the trade they presently come as separate systems offered
by different vendors Most of the Lexington bidders plan, for
example, to offer the same alarm system, one made by TOCOM, Inc.
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__ Integrated multi-function two-way systems using only one channel
are not presently available at a price that makes them viable
for development of services at a reasonable subscriber fee For
example, if a home two-way terminal costs the operator $200, he
would have to charge at least $10 per month just to cover the
cost of the terminal (including maintenance) , plus fees for the
services accessed by the terminal
Technically, a wide variety of two-way data services is
possible on a CATV cable; economically, only alarm and simple
response systems have yet made the grade as services that people
will subscribe to Fuller services are in the offing, but when
is a question It should be noted that what happens is not entirely
under the control of the cable operator, since he is dependent
on 1 consumer interest
2 the availability of hardware at an affordable price
3 the interest of other organizations in providing the
new services (banks, shops, etc )
The Appendix contains a table of technical features as
proposed by the applicants
(f) PLAN FOR LOCAL ORIGINATION CAPABILITY INCLUDING
FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, STAFFING AND LOCATION OF
FACILITIES
1 INTRODUCTION
One of the advantages of having a cable television
system constructed in a town is the potential for seeing locally
produced programs on the home tv set and the opportunity to
participate in the production of those programs Such program-
ming potential cannot be realized, however, without broad support
among local residents, town officials and community organizations,
even if the local cable operator is cooperative and helpful
To facilitate community access to the cable television
system, the Access Center Task Force recommends the establishment
of a Community Access Television Production Center supported and
operated through the joint efforts of the cable licensee and the
community In order to survive and flourish such a Center needs
a firm commitment by the cable operator to furnish facilities,
equipment and personnel and a clear prospect of strong support
from the community for sustained programming momentum.
What follows is a description of those features
which the Task Force feels should be incorporated into the design
of the Center The areas for which the cable operator would by
responsible should be specifidd in detail in the license issued
by the Board of Selectmen These areas should be subject to
review by the Town after 2 years and, thereafter, every 3 years
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2 LOCATION AND ACCESSIBILITY
The Center should be located in Lexington on a site
which is convenient for the majority of the residents of the Town
to reach by car or by public transportation and housed in a
facility which is accessible to the handicapped and the elderly
The Center should be open some morning, afternoon
and evening hours to accommodate the broad spectrum of Lexington' s
population
3 FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
The studio facility provided by the cable operator
should have the capacity for live cablecasting of color programs
over the system, videotaping and editing of such programs for
later airing or playback Live coverage of programs vis remote
hook-up and video-tape recording in the field should also be
possible
The recording equipment listed below utilizes the
3/4" videocassette format primarily There is talk in the video
industry that this format will be replaced by the 1/2" VHS cassette
format in the near future and that development efforts are being
made toward that end At this time, however, appropriate 1/2"
cassette equipment which can produce tapes of sufficient quality
for cablecasting has not been developed Should equivalent
equipment in the 1/2" format become available between the
appearance of this report and the equipping of the Center, it
is recommended that such equipment be seriously considered and
a final decision made at the time of purchase
Equipment Required By The Center
Studio and Control Room
Multipurpose Set
3 Color Cameras with Tripods (1 with dolly)
4 3/4" Vidoecassette Recorders
1 Time Base Corrector
2 1/2" VHS Videocassette Recorders
1 Video Switcher/Special Effects Generator
1 Character Generator
2 Editing Consoles (3/4" cassette)
_ 6 Color Monitor/Receivers
1 Waveform Monitor
1 Vector Scope
Test Charts Resolution Chart
Chip Chart
Log Gray Scale Chart
2 Spot Lights hung on a grid suspended from ceiling
3 Flood Lights
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Microphones 10 Lapel Microphones
6 Hand-held Microphones with Table Stands
1 Microphone with Floor Stand
2 Dolby Audiocassette Recorders
1 Audio Mixer Console
1 Film Chain/Multiplexer
Intercom with 8 Head Sets
Miscellaneous Video Cables
Audio Cables
Electrical Extension Cords
Batteries
Spare Bulbs
Blank Videotape Cassettes
Blank Audiotape Cassettes
Graphics Production Equipment & Supplies
For Use In The Field
4 Portable color Camera - 3/4" Cassette Recorder Units
5 Auxiliary Battery Packs
4 Color Monitor/Receivers
2 Dolby Audiocassette Recorders
Additional equipment needs are stated in the two
letters of Appendix A
4 MAINTENANCE
The cable operator should be responsible for maintaining
all equipment in good condition and for providing routine preventive
maintenance on a regular schedule and adjusting the equipment as
needed
When repairs make it necessary to withdraw equipment
from use comparable equipment should be provided by the cable
operator on a "loaner" basis until the original equipment is returned
so that service will not be interrupted
{ As the equipment wears out or becomes no longer useful
it should be replaced by the cable operator with comparable
equipment
5 STAFF
Two full-time positions should be furnished by the
cable operator It is recommended that an Access Director be hired
to oversee the operation of the studio and work with the community
to develop programming A full-time Television Production Tech-
nician should be hired to help train and assist local citizens in
production.
In addition, a program of internships and apprentice-
_ ) ships should be undertaken to provide a pool of well-trained
production personnel as a resource for town agencies and community
organizations which produce programs for distribution over the
cable system.
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6 SERVICES
Studio facilities and equipment should be made available
at no charge to all local residents, town departments and organization
representatives who have been trained in its proper use
Training in the use of the studio and in television
production and post-production techniques should be provided by the
cable operator free of charge
Equipment for loan to town agencies and local organiza-
tions should be made available free of charge
7 ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION
The Access Director should manage the day-to-day
operation of the Center and be answerable to the cable operator
It is recommended that a Citizen Advisory Board monitor the
activities of the Center and confer with the Director on a regular
basis to assist in the formation of policy and interpretation
of the access provisions of the franchise agreement
The promotion of the Center in the community and
the encouragement of its use by local residents should be the
joint responsibility of the Director and the Board Adequate
funds for promotion activities should be provided by the cable
operator as part of the operating budget for the Center
8. FUNDING
It is expected that the cable operator will supply
the facilities, equipment, personnel and supplies for the Center
and cover expenses generated by its maintenance and use The
equipment and facilities provided should remain the property of
the licensee (except in those cases that are consistent with
paragraphs 14-17 of the April 11, 1980, Massachusetts CATV
Commission advisory notice number 1) All paid staff should be
employees of the cable company whose salaries are paid entirely
by the company (except as may be negotiated as indicated in the
latter part of section J of this report)
Revenue raised from advertising carried on local channels
and from fees charged to commercial users should be spent in full
or large part to support the Access Center and its activities
The Town of Lexington should furnish the Citizen Advisory
Board with a place to hold its meetings and conduct its business
These provisions of the license should be reviewed after
the first two years and thereafter every three years and renego-
tiated if appropriate, at the discretion of the Board of Selectmen.
- 15 -
(g) CRITERIA TO BE EMPLOYED IN ASSESSING THE CHARACTER,
FINANCIAL, TECHNICAL AND OTHER QUALIFICATIONS OF
APPLICANTS
The Selectmen must assess each applicant' s qualifications,
utilizing the standard application form #100, and information
derived from the public hearings
The criteria for such assessment should include the follow-
ing, not necessarily in order of importance
1 Past record, including rates of construction
of other systems, service to customers, cooperation
with governmental agencies, and fulfillment of promised
commitments
2 Technical expertise
3 Technical quality of proposed plant
4 Thoroughness of preparation evidenced by applicant
5 Rates of proposed service
6 Adequacy of proposed service
7 Plans to keep cable system abreast of technical
developments
8 Plans to keep programming and service responsive
to needs and wishes of subscribers and the Town
9 Plans for utilization of local personnel in
various capacities
10 Financial responsibility (see details following)
Under the Massachusetts statute, any successful applicant
must submit a bond to the Selectmen, assuring, among other things,
satisfactory construction as required by the license The Select-
men should assess the applicants ' financial qualifications according
to these guidelines (and others they may deem pertinent)
1 Current availability of funds
2 Disclosure of expected method of financing
(equity vs debt)
3 Method of generating subsequent working
capital
4 Current certified financial statement with
full explanation of all items for a period of three to
five years, or since inception if that is shorter
5 Projections concerning anticipated operating
results, cash flow and market saturation should be
provided
6 Disclosure of all liabilities
-- -- 7 Any other information requested
- 16 -
(h) PLAN FOR MUNICIPAL COOPERATION WITH PROSPECTIVE
LICENSEE INCLUDING THE AVAILABILITY OF MUNICIPAL
FACILITIES AND COORDINATION OF MUNICIPALLY-SPONSORED
ACTIVITY IN SUCH AREAS AS EDUCATION, LIBRARIES,
PUBLIC SAFETY, AND SERVICE DELIVERY
Members of the Local Programming Sub-Committee of the
Cable Advisory Committee met with representatives of the library,
school system, Council on Aging, Board of Health, Board of
Selectmen and Town Manager' s Office to discuss possible useful
applications of cable television of their areas In general,
the reports in CABLE COMMUNICATIONS (CATV) FOR LEXINGTON? , compiled
in August, 1974, by the Advisory Committee, were reaffirmed In
addition, ideas for specific programming or services, on health,
government, elderly related, and recreation related subjects, are
suggested These are contained in the Appendix and are not
necessarily endorsed by the Advisory Committee nor the Town
The ability to use the cable system as a daily means of
checking the health of elderly or infirmed residents of the Town
still living in their private homes is an important service to
include
The uses that the Lexington Public Schools would like to
make of the cable system are stated in the Appendix (two letters
in Appendix A) The Appendix also contains a letter from the
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cary Memorial Library stating
library uses
The Appendix also contains a list of organizations to be
contacted regarding their interest in cable tv, and a list of
free installations which will probably be requested (to be
negotiated in each case with the appropriate individual and/or
organization)
LOCAL ORIGINATION PROGRAMMING
Consistent with the description of the characteristics of
the relationship which Lexington desires between the cable television
company and the Town, the franchiser shall operate one local
origination channel which shall, as a minimum, produce weekly
A 30-minute childrens ' program (for ages 4-11) This
program could be produced in cooperation with the library or public
school system.
A 30-minute local sports magazine to include all age
levels and all sports including ice shows at Hayden Recreation
Center, school-sponsored teams, recreation department events and
other town-wide teams such as Lexington Youth Hockey, soccer,
baseball and softball
A 30-minute program for and by the elderly
A 30-minute program for and by junior and senior high
school students
A one-hour program including local news, social concerns
and features spotlighting local people and organizations
Flexible length programming should be encouraged
Each program should be replayed at least three times in various
time slots per week
- 17 -
(i) COORDINATION WITH CONTIGUOUS ISSUING AUTHORITIES TO
INVESTIGATE THE SHARING OF FIXED COSTS AND/OR THE
ADVISABILITY OF REGIONALIZATION
The Superintendent of the Minuteman Vocational Technical
School district, with permission of the Minuteman School Committee,
has offered the use of the television studio facilities at the
Minuteman School This offer is described in the Appendix The
offer should be taken into account by both the Lexington Public
Schools and the cable companies applying for the Lexington franchaise
It is assumed that two-way use of the Lexington system in,
at least with the capability of that being used in the Qube System
by Warner-Amex in Columbus, Ohio, will be incorporated in the
Lexington system in the future The computer facilities and
operating personnel for this system will probably be shared with
adjacent towns
Our Committee has studies, the Columbus, Ohio, experiment
with two-way television in such uses as opinion surveys, voting,
interactive lectures, shopping by tv, etc The Committee has met
with educational consultants who have helped to develop it. In
this two-way mode, cable tv is regarded as a "wholly different
medium" than one-way, and a "much more democratic form "
It seems appropriate at this stage to allow for future
use by Lexington of this mode The cable wiring which has been
proposed by the applicants will have this capability What will
be required to convert to this mode is a relatively modest invest-
ment in additional equipment at the home tv sets and the addition
of a computer and other auxiliary equipment at the Cable company
"headend" and/or studio At the present time, this additional
investment possibly can only be justified if Lexington were to share
the "headend" equipment with a larger community such as Waltham.
It will be in Lexington' s best interest to investigate this possibility
during the next few months preceeding the Board' s decision about
the franchaise The possibility of including conversion to this
two-way mode as a time/event gated section of the contract should
be considered by the applicants and the Board
(j) PLAN FOR LOCAL SUPERVISION OF THE CABLE OPERATOR TO
INCLUDE COMPLAINT AND COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES
The Access Director should manage the day-to-day operation
of the Center and be answerable to the cable operator It is
recommended that a Citizen Advisory Board monitor the activities
of the Center and confer with the Director on a regular basis
to assist in the formation of policy and interpretation of the
access provisions of the franchise agreement
The promotion of the Center in the community and the
encouragement of its use by local residents should be the joint
responsibility of the Director and the Board Adequate funds
for promotion activities should be provided by the cable operator
as part of the operating budget for the Center
- 18 -
The Committee recommends the establishment of a permanent
Cable Television Committee, appointed by the Board of Selectmen
This committee would oversee the operations of the licensee to
ensure that the licensee has fulfilled its obligations under the
following FCC regulations, Massachusetts statutes and regulations
of the Massachusetts Cable Commission, and terms of the license
granted by the Board of Selectmen
The committee should monitor the construction of the system
to ensure that it is constructed in compliance with the license
It should also ensure that the licensee maintains the system
adequately and delivers the promised service It could also advise
the licensee on matters relating to local origination, public
access and general programming
The license should authorize the committee to advise and
make recommendations to the Selectmen on any complaints which
cannot be resolved between the subscriber and the licensee The
committee should oversee the complaint procedures covered in
Chapter 166A and the Massachusetts Cable Commission' s rules and
regulations All complaints should be correctly logged and made
available to the Board of Selectmen upon request
As the Cable Committee indicated to the Board of Selectmen
in its appearance before the Board on May 12, the most important
key issues for Lexington on cable tv appear to be how should
Lexington organize to make effective local use of CATV, and how
can there be adequate financial support for local use of CATV?
Our Report addresses this subject at several places
(page 3, section (b) , Non-Profit Community Access Center Corporation;
page 14, paragraph 7, Citizens Advisory Board; page 17, section (j) ,
Cable TV Committee, page 21, section (m) , Public Access Advisory
Committee; Appendix Q, Access Advisory Council) Our purpose in
mentioning the "organizational interface" between Lexington and
the cable company in these several forms and statements of function,
is to show that they are all options at this stage An essential
task, between now and the time of your decision about whether or
not to grant a license, is to develop these options further and
select between them. We recommend that this task be one that
includes broad participation by the Lexington community and its
organizations (organizations of the type listed in Appendix E
of our report)
The bottom paragraph on page 1 and top of page 2 of our
report addresses the need for tender loving care, and the excitment
and fun that can be there in bringing this communication medium
to its full potential We see cases, in other towns, where the
communities have failed to fill this need; we see cases where
the need is being filled gloriously There is a common denominator
in the cases where it is working well it has taken several years
to accomplish, and it has been evolutionary both in the community
uses of cable and in the "organizational interface" with the
cable company and with the community What this says to Lexington
1 is build slowly, build well, and build with commitment to a worth-
while goal
- 19 -
The contract with the cable company should take this
evolutionary process into account, especially as regards the
financial aspects and the contract review aspects
Under the heading of building well, an option which
could be explored is an "organizational interface" (cable tv
council, committee, or, however, it gets labeled) with func-
tional reporting ties not only to the Board of Selectmen but
also to the Cary Memorial Library Board of Trustees and the
School Committee (It could report administratively to the
Town Manager ) There would appear to be two advantages to this
multi-organizational reporting mode A) the "Lexington Cable
Council" needs to serve as the integrator of library, educational
and governmental uses of cable tv; (the Library Trustees have
representation from the Lexington clergy as well) and B) the
infant (community use of CATV) needs some strong, permanently
institutionalized, parents to nurture it in its formative years
The formation of a cable council, as a By-law Committee, with
these types of reporting relationships could appropriately be
a matter for Town Meeting consideration, in the Spring of 1981
On the matter of multi-year evolution, the elements of the
evolution will include a) the gaining of experience, by several
of the organizations listed in Appendix E, in the uses of Cable TV,
b) the training of local people in TV equipment technology, c) the
creation of financial support, in addition to income from subscribers'
fees, for community uses, d) the gaining of experience at the "Lexington
Cable Council' s" "organization interface" with the cable company, with
the overseeing Town Boards, and with the total Lexington community
The contract should be written up to allow for the possibility of
this "organizational interface" evolving into two or more distinct
interfaces, one of which would be a non-profit community access
center of the Madison, Wisconsin type, with substantial independence,
but with continuing financial support by the subscribers' fees, from
the cable company
With regard to the formation of a non-profit Community Access
Center, the Massachusetts State Cable Television Commissioner has
pointed out in his advisory opinion dated May 2 , 1980 , in
paragraph 25 Establishment of non-profit entities do not present
problems as long as their purposes are consistent with State policy
The manner in which the service related offerings are administered is
discretionary
It would be appropriate for any of the applicants to amend
their proposals to provide for this form of administration even
at the very beginning of the system operation in Lexington, at
least as one option
- 20 -
(k) PLAN FOR INSTITUTION OF EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
PRACTICES
Hiring and employment practices must comply with applicable
state and federal laws including the FCC' s antidiscrimination
rules The cable operator is obliged not only to avoid discrimina-
tion, but to take affirmative steps, to the extent practicable, to
encourage training and employment of disadvantaged or minority
group personnel
(1) CUSTOMER CONTRACTS, RULES, REGULATIONS AND CHARGES1
Customer conteacts vary from company to company with some
requiring the subscriber to sign a form contract assuming
responsibility for equipment placed in a subscriber' s home Any
form of contract between the licensee and subscriber should be
approved by the Selectmen
Certain obligations of the cable operator to the subscriber
are set forth in the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 166A
The Selectmen should establish the initial rates and charges
to subscribers as a provision of the license The license should
require approval of the Selectmen for rate increases The
Massachusetts Cable Commission presently has regulatory authority
over rate increases, but may suspend rate regulation in any cable
system upon a finding that adequate competitive alternatives exist
Due to the wide variety of types of service packages
suggested in the original proposals by prospective franchisers ,
setting even specified ranges of charges could be detrimental to
this creativity However, during the final selection process,
consideration must be given so that rates are neither set too low
for the franchiser to be financial viable nor too high giving
the franchiser exorbitant profits
Charges will be allowed for installation, second set
installation, monthly service, additional sets monthly, reconnection,
various movie packages and home security system tie-ins
In addition, subscribers wishing to use their own antenna
system, at times, should be provided with a switching device at
a nominal one-time charge which may be refunded upon return of
the device
Note 1 Proposals for services and charges, as submitted by
the applicants are summarized in four tables of the
Appendix
- 21 -
(m) ACCESS CHANNELS AND TERMINAL EQUIPMENT
In addition to one local origination channel, the licensee
should provide for access channels which, in some cases, may be
used by the licensee if not needed for public access The access
channels should be available for government and educational uses
and public access at no cost to the town The cable operator
should provide free studio and production facilities for these
purposes and should permit free use to individual members of
the public for live studio presentation (excluding advertising)
to local organizations listed in the Appendix, or others added
to the list by the Public Access Advisory Committee The cable
operator may not censor the content of any programming on the
access channels other than to prohibit the cablecasting of
obscene material as required by FCC regulations
A program guide should be prepared by the operator on a
weekly basis and made available to the subscribers , either by
publishing in a local newspaper or by cablecasting at set times
on the access channel Both would be preferable
The operator shall provide training programs to members
of the public, governmental agencies, school system and organiza-
tions at no cost This training will include how to plan 'and
develop interesting programs and how to run equipment
The licensee should provide at its own cost a network of
two-way access channels to various municipal and community loca-
tions including, but not limited to, the following policy station,
both fire stations, all public schools, both public library
I locations, senior citizens center, Cary Hall and other municipal
1 buildings as needed.
The operator should have the ability to preempt regular
programming on the system with messages of an emergency nature
This would be used only with proper authorization and only in the
interest of public health and/or safety The preferable method
would not interrupt programming, but would superimpose moving
print on the picture containing information as to the nature of
the emergency and what cable channel to tune to for further
information
The Appendix contains a table showing provisions for
Lexington' s local use of CATV, as proposed by applicants The
Appendix also contains a description of an Access Advisory Council
This has been extracted from the Adams-Russell proposal
- 22 -
(n) RIGHTS OF PRIVACY
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has taken measures to
protect subscriber privacy by enacting Section 21 of Chapter 166A
This statute makes it a criminal act for any unauthorized person
to attach a wire, cable, or other device to the transmitting units
of a cable system. The punishment is a fine or imprisonment or
both The cable operator should be required to report to the
Selectmen any tapping or monitoring of the system which they have
knowledge, whether authorized or not
FCC regulations require that any transmitting device in a
subscriber' s set be subject to deactivation by the subscriber
Any license granted by the Town of Lexington should further
stipulate that in order for a transmission of any sort to emanate
from a subscriber' s set, the subscriber must first take some
positive action, such as the closing of a transmission switch
Each subscriber should be notified in advance of any monitoring
of his cable system.
Information regarding the viewing habits of individual
subscribers will eventually be available to the operator The
license should state that such information must remain confidential
and not be made available to investigators of any sort or to
advertisers for mailing lists, etc This statement should apply
both to individuals and collectively
Finally, it should be expressly understood that the cable
operator will do nothing to infringe upon a subscriber' s rights
to privacy unless written authorization is procured from the
subscriber
(o) RIGHTS TO INFORMATION
Any license issued by the Selectmen to a cable operator
in Lexington should have explicit safeguards against the misuse
of information gathered on individual subscribers The operator
should inform the Selectmen of the nature of any information it
will obtain on subscribers and the manner in which such informa-
tion will be used. The Selectmen have an obligation to
subscribers to set guidelines as to what information may be
gathered, how the information will be made available, and for
what purposes For example, the issuing authority should prohibit
distribution of a list which contains information such as which
subscribers have burglar alarms
The right to information also applies to the subscriber' s
right to know what type of records are being kept on his cable
television use, as well as the right to review his account with
the cable operator to see if there any any billing errors
- 23
The Selectmen should require the cable operator to disclose
any known misuse of information gathered on subscribers by the
operator' s own employees or by other persons who might gain
access to his records
Lastly, while it is possible to ascertain certain informa-
tion through electronic procedures, it should be clearly stated
in any license granted that any such information will be kept
confidential and will not be divulged to any other party without
first securing the subscriber' s written permission
Under both Sections (n) and (o) , there should be constant
monitoring for possible privacy abuse This monitoring should
be one of the functions of the Citizen Advisory Board
J
- 18 -
APPENDIX
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
LETTERS FROM M. S ANGEVINE, LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ON POTENTIAL EDUCATIONAL USES FOR CABLE
TELEVISION A
LETTER FROM F C BAILEY, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
OF TRUSTEES OF CARY MEMORIAL LIBRARY ON LIBRARY
USES FOR CABLE TELEVISION B
SUGGESTIONS FOR PROGRAMS FOR THE LEXINGTON ELDERLY
INTERVIEW AT COUNCIL ON AGING -
HANNAH MOLLO-CHRISTENSEN, CCLPS C
SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS BY JOAN HALVORSEN - RECREATION
DEPARTMENT RE LOCAL CABLE TV PROGRAMMING D
ORGANIZATIONS TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING INTEREST IN
CABLE TELEVISION E
POSSIBLE LOCATION OF FREE INSTALLATIONS OF CABLE AND
SERVICES WHICH MAY BE REQUIRED (TO BE
NEGOTIATED IN EACH CASE WITH THE APPROPRIATE
INDIVIDUAL AND/OR ORGANIZATION) F
SOME OF THE POSSIBILITIES POR FREE INSTITUTIONAL
CABLE TV CONNECTIONS (DROPS) F-1
MINUTEMAN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL - "TV STUDIO USE FOR
CABLE TELEVISION BY DR RON FITZGERALD,
SUPERINTENDENT-DIRECTOR G
EXTRACTS FROM THE COMMITTEE'S AUGUST, 1974, REPORT
COVERING LIBRARY SERVICES, GOVERNMENT AND
MUNICIPAL SERVICES, HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES,
AND SERVICES TO THE LEXINGTON BUSINESS
COMMUNITY H
SUPPLEMENTS TO INFORMATION ON LOCAL USES CONTAINED IN
THE AUGUST, 1974, REPORT CABLE COMMUNICATIONS
FOR LEXINGTON I
SUMMARY OF COMPARISON INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
PROPOSALS FROM THE CABLE COMPANIES:
A. TECHNICAL FEATURES OF LEXINGTON CATV
PROPOSALS (REVISION OF 4/8/80 DRAFT) J
B. FIRST DRAFT OF PROVISIONS FOR LEXINGTON'S
LOCAL USE OF THE PROPOSED CATV SYSTEMS
4/9/80 (EXTRACTED FROM THE SEVEN
PROPOSALS) K
1
APPENDIX CONTINUED
PAGE
C COMPARISONS OF MONTHLY RATES IN LEXINGTON
CATV PROPOSALS (EXCEPT PAY CHANNELS)
6/1/80 L
D PREMIMUM (PAY CABLE) OFFERINGS IN
LEXINGTON CATV PROPOSALS (6/1/80) M
E. INSTALLATION AND OTHER ONE-TIME CHARGES
(EXCEPT SPECIAL DROPS) - LEXINGTON
CATV PROPOSALS 6/1/80 N
F EXTENSION POLICIES IN LEXINGTON CATV
PROPOSALS (UNUSUAL SERVICE DROPS)
6/1/80 0
FACILITIES USE PROFILE 1/1/79 - 12/31/79
(FROM MADISON COMMUNITY ACCESS CENTER REPORT) P
AN OUTLINE FOR ACCESS; ACCESS ADVISORY COUNCIL
(EXTRACTED FROM THE ADAMS-RUSSELL PROPOSAL) Q
J
APPENDIX A
LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Curriculum Resource Center • 9 Philip Road • Lexington,MA 02173 • Telephone 617/862-7500 X247
May 22, 1980
Mr William R. Page, Chairman
Advisory Committee to the
Lexington Board of Selectmen
On Cable Television and Cable Communications
Town of Lexington
1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington, MA 02173
Dear Mr Page,
The potential educational uses of cable television in Lexington are numerous
and exciting The medium could provide excellent resources for use in daytime
and evening classes, homebound tutoring and enrichment, and in-service education
for teachers, administrators and specialists. Broadcasting facilities could be
made available for student initiated programs, for communication between the
school administration, the School Committee and the public and for Parent
Teacher Association programs
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, members of your Committee
and Task Forces for the time, energy and thought you have contributed to
bringing cable television to Lexington. Members of the Lexington Public Schools
staff are most appreciative of your efforts
Sincerely,
AA I .
Martha S Angevine, Coordinator
Instructional Materials 6 Services
MSA/mlh
Enclosure
1
LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Cable television could make a considerable contribution to educational excellence
in Lexington. Some potential applications are outlined below.
I) INSTRUCTIONAL
A) Daytime Classes (Pre-school - 12)
1) Teacher Created Program
2) Basic and/or Enrichment Programs
Massachusetts Educational Television Programs, Films, Panels,
Interviews (Current Events, Artists--) , Field Trips, Community
Resources, Political Views, Broadcast of Town Meetings
B) Evening Classes
Basic and/or Enrichment Programs, Town Meetings, Political
Views
C) Homebound
Tutoring, Basic and/or Enrichment Programs
II) IN-SERVICE EDUCATION
A) Teacher Program
Curriculum Areas, Guest Speakers, Artists, Etc. , Sharing Programs
B) Administrator Program
University Program, Private Consultant, Executive Training, Leadership
Workshops
C) Specialists Program
Guidance, Art Education, Music Education--, Collaborative (College,
Hospitals--)
III) STUDENT INITIATED
A) Career Objectives
Train for Role of Producer, Director--
B) Sharing of Programs
Current Events, Basic Curriculum Areas, Enrichment Areas, Video and
Broadcast Plays (live), Sports
IV) OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING
A) Collaborative (Industry, Hospital,--), Inter/Intra Professional
(Psychologists, Therapists,--); Teacher Training (Chapter 766)
V) ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS
A) Central Office
} Teacher Orientation Program, Superintendent-Faculty Discussions,
Superintendent-Student Discussions, Special Topics, Superintendent/
-Administrator-Public, Registration
VI) SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEEDS
Meetings, Special Topics, Public Dialogue Sessions r
VII) PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION PROGRAMS
TWO-WAY SERVICES
Many of the above can or must be operated with a two-way contact
in order to be most effective
Lexington Public Schools, continued Page two
,) The convenient accessibility to Massachusetts Educational Television programs
would be of particular value. We strongly recommend that the successful
cable proposal include as extensive a library of MET tapes as copyright law
allows We also urge that there be sufficient drops in each school to
ensure convenient access in the various classrooms and that a drop be
located in the video area of the new High School Media Center The use
of the cable for inter—school computer connections should be investigated
In summary, cable television could have significant educational value for
Lexington We shall welcome the opportunity to implement the programs it
will make possible.
MSA/mlh
5/22/80
{ ) i 1
I
APPENDIX A continued
LEXINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
lurriculum Resource Center • 9 Philip Road • Lexington,MA 02173 • Telephone 617/862 7500 X247
NI%a in Si ‘s i0' \l.i Coon/ma/or of instructional Alntruals o Srmurs
June 11, 1980
Mr William R. Page, Chairman,
Advisory Committee to the
Lexington Board of Selectmen
On Cable Television and Cable Communications
Town of Lexington
1652 Massachusetts Avenue
' Lexington, MA 02173
Dear Bill
Following the June 3rd meeting of the Advisory Committee on Cable Television
I spoke with John LeBaron, Director of Research and Development for Massachusetts
Educational Television and Ernest DeMartinis, Director of Multimedia Services for
the Burlington Public Schools Our conversations reaffirmed my thinking about
educational applications of cable television.
We need access to the outstanding educational programming
that exists, particularly MET tapes (much of Burlington's
pLuyramming, cited at Tuesday's meeting, evolves around
{ these) and
Our production facilities need are limited if those at
11 Minuteman are upgraded and made available
In addition to the general recommendations in my letter of May 22, I offer the
following specific suggestions as we negotiate to award the cable franchise.
The cable company should provide
1) Two public access channels for schools to give sufficient
capacity for in-house programs and MET tapes
2) Adequate drops per school, including 1 in each Instructional
Materials Center, the Professional Library and the Curriculum
Resource Center
3) Blank tapes for copying MET programs and payment of duplication
costs as allowed by copyright law; video kits from the Agency
for Instructional Television where appropriate.
Page 2
June 11, 1980
Mr William R. Page
4) Connections to nearby school systems, regardless of
who holds cable franchise in these communities.
5) Connections between the Central Administrative Office,
school Instructional Materials Centers, the Professional
Library, the Curriculum Resource Center, Cary T711-rary
and its East Lexington Branch. These connections should
be capable of broadcasting, receiving information, and
carrying interactive computer lines.
6) A production facility at the high school including
two color cameras (switchable) , several portable VTR
decks, one larger unit, editing devices and inter-school
transmission capacity and television monitors
7) An upgraded production facility at Minuteman for more
sophisticated programming, and an agreement that
Lexington Public Schools will have access to it.
Several comanies are suggesting a sophisticated color studio at Lexington
High School This would be most useful for in-house production of learning
resources, a function MET and its suppliers can perform better than we In
my opinion companies will try to sell this studio as it appears impressive.
The provision of items 1-7 above would be of more practical benefit to the
Lexington Public Schools
r
Sections of this request need to
be reviewed by Town Council for
consistency with paragraphs 14-17
c Dr Lawson of the April 11 , 1980 , Massachusetts
Dr Pierson CATV Commission advisory notice
Dr. Clune number 1
Sandra Small WRP
Martha Wood 6/23/80
J
I
MSA/bas
I
E M CARY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
0
of \ 9/ 13 APPENDIX B
LEXINGTON,
1� MASSACHUSETTS 02173
k A R (617) 862-6288
December 3, 1974
Mr Allan F Kenney, Chairman
Board of Selectmen
Town of Lexington
Lexington, Massachusetts
In response to your request for a formal statement of interest in
Cable Television in Lexington the Trustees of Cary Memorial Library submit
the following
Continuing education is a central concern of the public library
in any community The Trustees of Cary Memorial Library recognize
the potential which CATV has in this area and in the dissemination
of information We welcome the opportunity to serve the citizens of
Lexington through this new medium in any way consistent with the
goals of the Library
During the period of study which culminated in the Advisory
Committee report and the preparation of a draft warrant article,
the Library served as a repository for documents and information
about cable The Library could continue this function in response
to the needs and wishes of a permanent Cable Commission, should one
be formed
Whether or not CATV comes to Lexington in the near future, the
Library would like to build a collection of locally made videotapes
of community interest for viewing in the Library and, eventually,
for possible circulation for playback in the home Any equipment
acquired for this purpose would also be used to record story hours,
book reviews and library events Thus, with the coming of cable,
the Library would already have an established collection of program
materials for use in local origination
Since video equipment and materials are expensive, cooperation
between the Lexington Public Schools, the Minute-man Regional Voca-
tional Technical High School and Cary Library would be a most efficient
use of available resources This cooperation could include sharing
equipment and program materials, as well as technical expertise We
would like to remain flexible on the question of whose proper function
it is to train individual citizens in production techniques, bearing
in mind that the Library, unlike the schools, is accessible to all
J
AEM CARY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
LEXINGTON,
t� I A MASSACHUSETTS 02173
a R AC" (617) 862-6288
Lexingtonians seventy-three hours per week. Access to studio facilities
at the Minute-man School would, of course, be a factor in the planning
of any training program. However such arrangements are finally worked
out, the Library could still serve as a catalyst in the training pro-
cess, facilitating the availability of instruction to local citizens
The loaning of equipment for tape production is another possibility
for Cary Library
Two-way cable capability in Lexington will not be a reality for
quite some time When it does come, it will enable the Library to
provide reference and reader services more efficiently to a greater
number of people than is now possible Some adjustments in facilities
and operating budget would be required before this service could
begin.
The Trustees thank you for this opportunity to respond to the report and
provide feedback at this stage in the planning process We support recommen-
dation #1 (Section III, p 3, of the report) Bringing the question of a
permanent Cable Commission before the 1975 Annual Town Meeting is the appro-
priate next step in that process
Sincerely yours,
Fred C Bailey, Chairman
Board of Trustees
FCB:mg
APPENDIX C
CABLE TV - LOCAL PROGRAMMING TASK FORCE
Suggestions for programs for the Lexington elderly - interview at
Council on Aging
One-way•
Nutrition, cooking for one Step by step meal preparation instruction;
giving the elderly person a sense of participation Loneliness while
cooking and eating quite a problem
Lectures on health Adult education programs on health in Lexington
undersubscribed, partially due to the difficulty of getting to the
lectures
Education on home security, simple (and cheap) weatherizing, showing
step-by-step how to
Interest in forming a group to listen to opera together and having a
group discussion afterwards under the leadership of a "host" on TV
Legal information, real estate , taxes etc
Possibility of showing elderly new stores and their "wares" on TV
Elderly like to shop in town, but are not always aware of the existence
of new stores (Legal conflict? Advertising?)
Human interest programs on Lexington citizens
Services available at Council on Aging, e g explain Telecare program
Program on Lexington conservation land "walks" - for those who cannot
personally participate
Exercise programs geared to the elderly - Ti-chi, arobic dancing
(Joy of Movement Center in Cambridge has a great range of programs )
Two-way.
Possibility of elderly checking in daily via TV
Dialogue between elderly and Town Boards
G:+v...-.o✓`� LIQQAa411-4...1/4
Hannah. Mollo-Christensen
Citizens ' Committee for the Lexin :ton
5`/,7 Public Schools (CCLPS)
/
APPENDIX D
Suggestions and comments by Joan Halvorsen - Recreation Department
re local. Cable TV programming
1 . Chance for (additional) communication about available programs -
in addition to notices in newspapers , posters etc
2 . Performances - programs ( drama e g ) put on by adults and children
3. Educational programs - workshops, courses - possibly put on in
cooperation with other organizations (conservation commission )
HOWEVER, Joan stressed that the Recreation Department did not have
staff or money available for such programs (The same
comments were made by the Council on Aging )
May 1980 Hannah Mollo-Christensen
APPENDIX E
ORGANIZATIONS TO BE CONTACTED RE INTEREST IN CABLE TV
Mystic Valley Mental Health Association
Minute-Man Home Care Center
PTA Council and individual PTA ' s
American Association of Retired Persons - Hancock Church
American Association of University Women - Bedford - Lexington branch
AFS
American Legion
American Red Cross
Lexington Arts And Crafts
Association of Children with Learning Disabilities
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
Bicentennial Band
Individual churches and their affiliated organizations
Board of Selectmen and other town boards , committees and commissions
Cary Lecture Series
Chamber of Commerce
Central Middlesex Association for Ret Citizens (retired or retarded?)
Chamber. of Commerce
Citizens for Lexington Conservation
Nursery Schools
Council on Aging
DAR
Political Committees
De Molay, Eastern Star
Elderly Referral Service
Lexington Emblem Club
Lex Field and Garden Club
Historic Districts Comm
Lexington Historical Society
Florence Crittenton League
Fish of Lexington
Friends of Children in Special Education
Hayden Recreation Center
N E Home for Little Wanderers
Lexington Housing for the Elderly
Lexington-Bedford Kiwannis Club
Knights of Columbus
Lexington League of Women Voters
Lions Club
Masterworks Chorale
Metco Community Committee
Middlesex County Extension Service
Lexington Minute Men Inc
Lexington Music Club
Newcomers Club
NOW Lexington Chapter
Minuteman Chapter 56 N A 'Pam Campers Assoc
Order of the Eastern Star
Lexington Outlook Club
Parents Without Partners Visiting Nurse & Community Health Inc
Int Order of the Rainbow Girls Women's American ORT
RePlace
Rotary Club
Lexington Unit Salvation Army
Simons W Robinson Lodge
Freemasons
Lexington Tennis Association
Lexington Theatre Company
VFW Lexington Post
APPENDIX F
POSSIBLE LOCATION OF FREE INSTALLATIONS OF CABLE AND SERVICES*
WHICH MAY BE REQUIRED (TO BE NEGOTIATED IN EACH CASE WITH THE
APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUAL AND/OR ORGANIZATION)
The franchiser should provide a minimum of three free
outlets to each public school building in Lexington, including
Minuteman Regional Vocational High School and a minimum of
one free outlet to the school administration building, private
schools, town buildings and other buildings listed below
(Exact number of outlets to be determined by the franchiser
and the person in charge of that facility with the approval
of the Board of Selectmen )
OTHER BUILDINGS
HUMAN SERVICES
Cooperative Elder Services, 20A Pelham Road
Mystic Valley Mental Health Association, 186 Bedford Street
RePlace, Hancock Church, 1912 Massachusetts Avenue
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
John F. Kennedy School of Religion, 1997 Massachusetts Avenue
Krebs School, 453 Concord Avenue
Lexington Christian Academy, 48 Bartlett Avenue
Westbridge School, 10 Pelham Road
TOWN BUILDINGS :
Town Office Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Cary Memorial Hall, Massachusetts Avenue
Cary Memorial Library, 1874 Massachusetts Avenue
East Lexington Branch Library, 735 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington Police Department, 1575 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington Fire Department, 45 Bedford Street
East Lexington Fire Station 1006 Massachusetts Avenue
Department of Public Works, 201 Bedford Street
Greeley Village, Shirley Street
Vynebrook Village, off Waltham Street
Lexington Visitors' Center 1875 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington Council on Aging (address to be identified
at a later date)
*for entertainment channels
APPENDIX F-1
SOME OF THE POSSIBILITIES FOR FREE INSTITUTIONAL CABLE TV CONNECTIONS (DROPS)
" PUBLIC SCHOOLS* - Lexington Public Schools, Administrative Offices,
1557 Massachusetts Avenue
Elementary - Bowman, Philip Road
Bridge, 55 Middleby Road
Estabrook, 117 Grove Street
Fiske, 34A Colony Road
Franklin, 7 Stedman Road
Harrington, 146 Maple Street
Hastings, 2618 Massachusetts Avenue
Jr H S - Clarke, Stedman Road
Diamond, 99 Hancock Street
Sr H S - Lexington High School, 251 Waltham Street
Regional - Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School,
758 Marrett Road
*Only schools expected to be in operation in the fall of 1981 are listed
PRIVATE SCHOOLS - John F Kennedy School of Religion, 1997 Massachusetts Avenu
Krebs School, 453 Concord Avenue
Lexington Christian Academy, 48 Bartlett Avenue
Westbridge School, 10 Pelham Road
TOWN BUILDINGS - Town Office Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue
Cary Memorial Hall, Massachusetts Avenue
Cary Memorial Library, 1874 Massachusetts Avenue
East Lexington Branch Library, 735 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington Police Department, 1575 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington Fire Department, 45 Bedford Street
East Lexington Fire Station, 1006 Massachusetts Avenue
Department of Public Works , 201 Bedford Street
Greeley Village, Shirley Street
Vynebrook Village, Shirley Street
Lexington Visitors' Center, 1875 Massachusetts Avenue
Lexington Council on Aging (address to be identified later)
OTHER LOCATION POSSIBILITIES
CULTURAL AND - Hyden Recreational Centre, 24 Lincoln Street
RECREATIONAL Lexington Arts & Crafts Society, 130 Waltham Street
Lexington Racquet & Swin Club, 475 Bedford Street
Minuteman National Historical Park, Marrett Road
Museum of Our National Heritage, 33 Marrett Road
HUMAN SERVICES - Cooperative Elder Services, 20A Pelham Road
Mystic Valley Mental Health Association, 186 Bedford Street
RePlace, Hancock Church, 1912 Massachusetts Avenue
MISCELLANEOUS - Hanscom Air Force Base
U S. National Guard Armory, 458 Bedford Street
The above list of
possibilities is only partial. A more complete list
might include nursery schools, nursing homes, churches and synogogues, as
well as other types of institutional facilities.
The sub-committee of the Cable TV Advisory Committee is being formed to
make additional plans for local origination and public access
The Lexington Cable Television Advisory Committ
Minuteman 'Tech APPENDIX G
September 18 1979
Reviewed by MM School Committee
TV STUDIO USE
FOR CABLE TELEVISION
Minuteman would be pleased to allow use of its studio for cable programs in its
member towns subject to the following conditions
1 Costs of additional equipment and connections must be absorbed by either
the cable companies and/or using communities except in those instances
where the Minuteman Committee may wish to provide equipment for its
educational programs
2 No one town can be given exclusive use of the studio Rather, the Minuteman
Committee will annually allocate use periods on the basis of each member
towns readiness to provide programs The Committee will also reserve the
right to cooperate with activities of the Massachusetts Executive Committee
for Educational Television and any non-member towns or organizations that
can provide programming useful to the educational interests of the region
For example, it appears that Arlington, Belmont, and Lexington are our most
active member towns in considering the award of cable franchises Thus, one
can envision a July through June year in which time allocations are assigned
as follows
a. Minuteman -- 20% of our time, concentrated in the school day
b Arlington -- 20% of our time
c. Belmont -- 20% our time
d. Lexington -- 20% of our time
e. Other -- 20% of our time, perhaps including a time-news-temperature
machine supplied by a cable company and/or use for MECET
distribution
Allocations could change significantly based on capabilities of individual
towns or organizations
NOTE An important suggestion here is that each community specify in its
cable contract that the company must cooperate with MECET, Minuteman, and
other companies serving one or more towns in the Minuteman region
Minuteman and MECET representatives would be pleased to help translate
this general suggestion into specific contract language.
3 Maintenance or replacement costs for cable
P production equipment would be
paid by the organization installing the equipment (Minuteman's contribution
being space, some equipment already in place, and limited utilities)
4 Minuteman would provide a use scheduling coordinator from its present staff
School rules on security would have to be strictly observed by all parties
-- over --
i
hropttal ! or S, tluul ( gmmlt tee Review
Page 2
5 In some instance. , Minuteman would provide cost-tree labor to assist with
programming Nowrver, particularly in non-school hours, a labor charge
would be as. igned for services of Minuteman students or technical staff
members
6 Each using community would provide Minuteman students with opportunities for
involvement in programming for
a Town meetings
b Candidate interviews
c News programs and athletic events
d Other public service programs
.Minuteman would encourage similar involvement of students tram local high
schools
7 Public access would be controlled by guidelines promoting reasonable
regulation by
a Local boards of selectmen or a committee appointed by same
b School committee or a committee appointed by same
c Service organizations accepted by the Minuteman Committee or a local
board of selectmen (League of Women Voters, Rotary, etc )
A program could not be originated at Minuteman unless cleared first through one
of these groups to ensure observance of community standards and avoidance
of unfair political or personal advantage
NOTE Again, Minuteman representatives would be pleased to participate
in suggesting local guidelines based upon the experience of some staff
members with previous cable operations
8 The Minuteman Committee would reserve the right to expand on withdraw
involvement of its facilities but would withdraw from any cable cooperative
only after providing involved parties with a minimum of of six months
of advance notice (twelve months notice being more likely)
yt Ct.,.A A ater
Ron Fitzgerald l�
Superintendent-Director
RF/ch
APPENDIX H
The following pages have been extracted from the
{ Committee' s August, 1974, report They cover
library services, government and municipal services,
health and social services, and services to the
Lexington business community
Section IV - 10
3 LIBRARY SERVICES
by Robert E. Ca i n
Combining a rich source of informational and recreational materials
with a medium of mass communication increases the effectiveness and use
of both Today more than two-thirds of Lexington families use Cary
Library With cable television, the library can reach out to serve even
more people who support it with their taxes
Libraries in other communities already have experience working with
cable television In Mobile, Alabama, a city of 190,000, the public
library has been designated as the administrator of public television
and cable communications The Mobile Library offers a variety of library-
originated programming as well as visual reference service In Casper,
Wyoming, the Natrona County Public Library (serving 54,000) originates
both programming and visual reference service Cable has not yet come to
the Huntington Public Library (population 12,000) on Long Island, but the
library is preparing for its advent with an active program for training
people in the use of video equipment and the production of community
information on video-cassettes Are any of these activities appropriate
for Lexington, and, if so, which?
Several legal requirements affect the way that cable television could
be used at Cary Memorial Library State regulations require thEt the
cable dperator provide the library with a free cable drop end oitlet
Federal regulations dictate that a cable system in one of the tcp 100
markets (such as Lexington) provide a public access channel , an educational
channel , and a channel for local government uses Thus the library will
have the capability of broadcasting video signals as well as several
channels on which to display its transmission
The Cable Advisory Committee' s survey showed that almost 60% of
the respondents had a high interest in additional adult or children's
educational courses shown on television Over 75% of the respondents
expressed at least some interest in these offerings 29% of the respon-
dents made trips in Lexington at least once a week for extracurricular
education ( including libraries) Another 29% did so less than once a
week. These figures indicate a strong interest in programming that either
schools or libraries might generate as well as a willingness to exert
some effort to take advantage of courses and services offered
How will the library use cable television to meet the needs thus
expressed? The library plans to build a collection of video-cassettes
which can be viewed in the library or broadcast over a cable television
system. Eventually, individual cassettes may be circulated to those
with playback facilities in their homes The library may also tape
and broadcast its story hours and other events or produce regularly a
program describing new books and services
a
Section IV - II
LIBRARY SERVICES (CONTINUED)
Visual reference service would be still another way of extending library
service Library users could view on their television screens the answers
to reference questions requiring visual presentation -- graphs, illustrations,
wiring diagrams, recipes, maps, forumlae and other materials The reference
questions would be initiated over the phone and voice contact would be
maintained until the question was completed The service could be offered
at selected hours of the day or whenever the library is open While the
number of visual reference questions asked in Mobile, Alabama, has been
low, the service has effectively publicized the library's Information
potential and resulted in a tripling of regular reference questions
But the library's primary role will be as a catalyst for programming,
utilizing the talents of Lexington's citizens When the library addition
opens in 1975, it is hoped that video equipment and a small viewing room
will be available at the library for use by those interested in producing
their own tapes Tapes of events of histroical and continuing community
interest will become part of the library's collection Library personnel
will be available to train people in the use of the equipment When, and
if, Lexington does decide to have cable television, the library will have
a bank of video materials to be used in programming and will have developed
among interested patrons a facility with video technology which will make
public access to and expression on cable television a living reality
If two-way applications of cable television come to Lexington, the
library will be able to offer additional services Inter-library loan
may be improved if Cary Library can broadcast its requests to many other
libraries at one time Print-outs of magazine articles from other libraries
could be available at Cary Library and in homes within minutes after a
request is made. Shut- ins may benefit too, as library materials could be
transmitted directly to the home, where a print-out device would make a
hard copy And library service might be more scientifically determined if
the library were able to use the cable system to poll the community about
its desires
Several policy questions must be decided as Lexington moves toward
cable television What kind of studio facilities will Lexington have and
where will they be available? To what extent will community agencies
coordinate the purchase and use of video equipment and the production of
community programming? Where will video tapes on Lexington subjects be
collected so that they may be utilized to best advantage by all the
community?
The Reference Section at Cary Library has a collection of cable TV
literature and information available
Section IV - 12
4. GOVERNMENT AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES
by Fred C. Bailey
4 I Introduction
The potential of cable when applied to the full gamut of government
and municipal services is in many respects a direct function of the size
of the community being served and/or the number of subscribers connected
to the system The comments to follow will be directed at Lexington and
are not intended to describe the potential for, say New York City Three
major areas will be covered the application of cable to town government;
police, fire and public safety services;and other municipal services
4.2 Application to Town Government
The use of a cable system in town government can commence with
installation of the basic one-way system and would probably occur in
three principal forms
a Municipal (or state or other governmental unit) news
At the local level , this could include no-school announcements,
disaster warnings, streets-closed or water shut-offs, changes
in landfill hours, public health announcements, etc
b. "Specials" on specific Lexington town (county, state,
etc. ) departments. These would be designed to acquaint the
viewer with the personnel , operations, and special problems
faced by the unit Regular programming might be utilized in
the case of output from, for instance, the Town Manager's office
c. Live (or delayed) transmission of town meetings or of
the meetings of major town boards (selectmen, planning, appeals ,
etc. ), either on a regular basis or on a special basis
As the level of sophistication of the system increase:; and two-way
capability is installed, it is conceivable that expressions of opinion
could be solicited under items b and c above, and the "yes" or "iio" vote
transmitted from the subscriber to the source rather simply Generally
speaking, however, the principal function of this segment would, for the
time being, consist of transmission of information from the municipality,
or other unit, to the subscriber
4 3 Public Safety Police and Fire Service
With a simple downstream cable system, use of the system in the
public safety sector is limited to the following three areas
a Public safety education, either system-wide, or limited
to selected groups, such as certain professionals or elementary
' school children, for instance.
b Intra/Inter-agency communication. With the basic cable
system this would be limited to one-way communication Possible
uses are dispacthing on police or fire or centralized public
safety calls
Section IV - 13
11) 4 GOVERNMENTAL AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES (CONTINUED)
4 3 Public Safety Police and Fire Service (continued)
c. Alerting systems to call back off-duty emergency personnel
The potential for the system in public safety application rises
tremendously when two-way capability is added The most elementary
two-way system would permit the installation of digital street alarm
systems for summoning police and fire departments or ambulance An
alarm box could be provided at any location on the cable route With
increasing sophistication of the upstream portion of the system, voice
communication from the boxes will be possible, and three further --
and powerful -- uses become possible
d Home and business, fire or burglar alarm system, in which
the appropriate sensors are scanned by a computer at the system head-
end at a very h gh rate. In the course of this interrogation, any
sensor that has been activated triggers the computer to sound the
alarm and identify the location of the sensor
e. Video surveillance of critical intersections, parking lots
or specific trouble spots
f Complete inter-agency communications
In summary, the cable can provide a number of services not now
available in the public safety sector, and can augment - or provide at
less cost - a number that are now being used
4`4 Other Municipal Services
In general , application to any other municipal services would require
two-way systems of varying degrees of sophistication All utility meters -
water, electric and gas - could be read by a suitable cable connected
computer, after appropriate meters were installed In Lexington, the
municipal distribution system (water and sewer) could be monitored and
controlled using the cable system as the communication link and eliminating
leased telephone lines now used for monitoring
At the highest level of system sophistication and with a suitably
large municipal base, cable could be used in criminal justice administration,
environmental monitoring and control , health care, social services, and
regional communication
1
Section IV - 14
5 HEALTH AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES
by Martha C Wood
Most health and social service agencies In Lexington preferred not
to commit themselves to specific uses of cable until cable for Lexington
comes closer to reality However, most of these agencies certainly could
use local channels for educational programming This would include both
public education and educating agency volunteers for specific jobs The
public education programs could be locally produced or films made by
national or state organizations of these service agencies These could
nclude disease recognition and prevention, mental health support films
and programs on nutrition -- such as wholesome and inexpensive meals for
elderly citizens living alone Lexington FISH feels it could benefit
from training programs for its volunteers and undoubtedly this could
potentially be the case for Red Cross, mental health volunteer case
assistants such as the Metropolitan State or the Visiting Nurses
Association homemakers The Board of Health could use local channels
to announce clinics for free vaccinations, dog rabies shots and similar
services. The "well elderly clinics" could also be publicized and gain
greater visibility Potential health danger warnings could, of course,
also be broadcast with recommendations for local precautions to be taken
Another service aspect would be requests for volunteers for local programs
or requests for donations of furniture and similar needs such as the
recent requests for furnishings for the Committee of Aging Crop-in Center
or. the Mystic Valley Mental Health Association's adolescent residence.
Services available locally could gain wider public awareness so
those who need, deserve and are eligible for those services are aware of
them.
Volunteer training programs might benefit from the two-way potential
of cable since it would allow questions and answers on the spot
Another great benefit of two-way cable could be an emergency button
to call for medical help Another could be an arrangement by which
elderly, living alone, could check In with a central agency at a specified
time daily to say they are all right If the button wasn't activated, an
attempt could be made to contact them by phone and if this failed, .someone
could be sent to the home to check to make sure all was well
I'�
Section IV - 15
6 SERVICES TO THE LEXINGTON BUSINESS COMMUNITY
by Nancy Hoff Anschuetz
6 I Definition (see footnote at the end of this section)
For the purpose of this section, the "business community" is
considered to include industrial organizations (headquarters or
branch offices of organizations with major components or major clientele
out-of-town); retail merchants; service-oriented businesses; professionals;
and professional , community and business organizations
6 2 Character of the Lexington Business Community *
The Lexington business community contains a cross-section of
businesses excluding only heavy- industry It is important to take this
nearly full spectrum into account when considering the variety of services
that may be of interest either in the short term or long term. A
representative sample of Lexington businesses and professions, as
extracted from the Chamber of Commerce membership list and from The Town
Book, is given in this section The list is known to be incomplete,
since many businesses and professionals are not members of the Chamber
of Commerce, but it indicates the types of business which could be served
by cable TV in one or more ways
Industrial organizations ( 17) Service oriented Businesses (28)
-Headquarters (Raytheon) ( I ) Real estate offices
Electronics or science related ( 11 ) Printers
Publishing ( 2) Movers
Other ( insurance, financial , Electricians)
leasing) ( 3) Insurance agents
Retail merchants (40) Travel agents2
Food, stores Builders
Pharmacies) Funeral homes
Jewelers Beauty shops
Fuel oil dealers1 Cleaners
Gasoline stations/garages 1/2
Secretarial services
Package stores Professional (approx 75 professionals)3
Florists2• Doctors'
Clothing stores Dentists1
Hardware/paint/lumber suppliers Lawyers
Restaurants Architects
Stationers Surveyors
Nurseries Other Businesses ( 13)4
Furniture shops
Shoe shops Nursing homes (2+)
Automobile dealers Private schools (2+)
Camera shops Banks ( 6)
Variety stores 'Motels ( 3)
Gift shops
See next page for footnotes.
* Appendix E of Volume 2 of this report provides more recent information on
the character of the Lexington business community
Section IV - 16
} 6. SERVICES TO THE LEXINGTON BUSINESS COMMUNITY (CONTINUED)
6 2 Character of the Lexington Community (continued)
Note I These establishments have special communication needs in
responding to emergencies
Note 2 These establishments have special communication needs in
responding to reservations for service
Note 3 The Chamber of Commerce lists only 7 professionals; the
Town Book lists 58 doctors, dentists and osteopaths; we estimate the total
to be about 75
1 Note 4 Several other businesses in Lexington are of special interest
with respect to cable applications because of their needs as subscribers
or because of the special transactions they conduct
6.3 Possible Initial Services
The following is a list of possible services which could be provided
initially if the demand for them were sufficient These services presume
the availability of only one-way broadcast cable. They require, however,
enough channel space to handle both specialized dedicated channels and
channels shared by different businesses (and therefore may require what
we have defined elsewhere as the Level II system)
L. Low cost advertising - specialized local advertising by local
businesses to residents, added to locally originated entertainment
programming Examples retail commercials, business announcements
2. Shopper information channel - continuous announcement of bargins
and specials for shoppers, using an all-advertising channel or channels
Example hours scheduled on a channel for specific categories of
merchandise (e.g , food, advertising, clothing advertising)
3. Rented communications - rental of spare channel capacity to
businesses and industry for their dedicated use. The organization in
question would provide its own terminals Example inter-company video,
computer data connection, etc
4 Special business programming - special television programs
produced by or for local businesses, intended for specialized local
audiences Examples business news reports, news of Chamber of Commerce
activities
6.4 Potential Later Services
Later, more sophisticated services could be provided as more
{ sophisticated capability is added to the terminal system The list from
items 5 through 8 presumes the availability of two-way cable with a
minimal terminal at the subscriber location - a touch-tone pad for
instance - to communicate options or selections Inbound information
(from subscriber to cable head-end) would be identified by origin, but
outbound information would be broadcast
Section IV - 17
6. SERVICES TO THE LEXINGTON BUSINESS COMMUNITY (CONTINUED)
6.4 Potential Later Services (continued)
5 Catalog shopping - an additional capability to I or 2 above;
shoppers could select or reserve items shown In commercials or on
advertising channels
6 Security alarms - fire and break-in alarms could be transmitted
over the cable from business locations to the police or fire departments
The business would require a special terminal
7 Business surveys - In response to broadcast survey questions,
subscribers could respond to queries The technique could be used for
inexpensive market research
8. Travel and recreation reservations - in response to broadcast
travel and recreation announcements, which would Include fees and
schedules, shoppers could review schedules or reserve seats or tickets
In the case of restaurants, menus could be studied and tabl€s reserved
6.5 Services in the Far Future
The following list of business services to Lexington presumes the
availability of full two-way cable, with video, audio, and data origina-
tion terminals available to any subscriber willing to pay for them
(Level IV) Hard copy output would be available to subscribers
Transmissions would be selectively addressed both from subscriber to
cable head-end and from head-end to individual subscriber Computer
services would be available over the cable.
9 Cashless financial transactions - transfer of funds from one
business or bank to another and bill paying from the home as well as
bank services to the home, electronically
10 Specialized newspapers - newspapers printed on a terminal in
the home which contain only the types of information requested by the
subcriber, who, if not interested in sports, for example, would not
have the sports section printed In his home Output could alternatively
be made available as video
11 Request catalog shopping - similar to 5 above, this service
provides for individual requests for catalog information with personalized
response to the requestor (over a shared channel ), with follow-on selection
and purchase
12 Work at home - secretarial services and managerial services
performed in the home with the aid of video, audio and data communication
with the office or customer/client Examples dictation; typing by
part-time employees working at home; access to company files by employees
at home, both for retrieval and for storing new file information
13. Message recording and answering services - recorded messages
and answers would be stored and retrieved by businesses and professionals
as well as by their customers and clients Examples doctors and patients,
realtors and clients
I I
1
Section IV - 18
1
6. SERVICES TO THE LEXINGTON BUSINESS COMMUNITY (CONTINUED)
6.5 Services in the Far Future (continued)
14 Direct mail - advertising, either hard-copy or video, to
selected audiences, perhaps those who had registered an interest in a
particular product Ilne, for instance, hardware. The cable could also
transmit feedback from the audience as a form of electronic business
reply card Could be used by grocery stores, department stores (even
if they are external to Lexington, but serving Lexington customers)
15 Sales information - an additional capability to I , 2, and 5
above, interactive programs, possibly video-assisted, would describe
or show goods as requested by consumer and advise him, if requested, of
the price, location, delivery time, etc. In addition to retail goods,
sales services such as real estate listings could be displayed The
buyer could make rapid comparisons of prices, determine nearest store
that stocks the products, etc
16. Credit cards - in addition of item 8 and 15, credit card
verification services could be performed, and credit card transactions
recorded and billed
17 Rental computer services - the cable could be used as a medium
for transmission of data to and from rented computer services
18. Private business video - photos, video-tapes, and closed
circuit television could be transmitted from one business location to
another ever private channel capacity An example might be video
conferences for business groups
6 6 Further Information.
The business community itself should provide information to
augment the brief review presented here and aid in defining the future
course of cable services in Lexington What is the actual interest of
the business community in cable in Lexington? What services other than
those presented here might businessmen and professionals desire or
suggest? What would their commitment to cable in Lexington be?
Presentations of the capabilities of proposed or envisioned
Lexington cable systems should be made to the business and professional
community The presentations should include the services listed here
Questionnaires directed specifically to business services should be
prepared and answers solicited using them.
Parenthetically , the Chamber of Commerce might be interested in
preparing a more complete directory of Lexington businesses and professional
services One of the values of such a directory would be as an aid in the
collection of this data about interest in cable. Such a directory would
aid in more comprehensive data collection
i 1
APPENDIX I
THIS PART OF THE APPENDIX SUPPLEMENTS THE INFORMATION ON LOCAL
USES CONTAINED IN THE AUGUST, 1974 , REPORT CABLE COMMUNICATIONS
FOR LEXINGTON
HEALTH Health programming will naturally and justifiably
occur on the government, education, public access and local
origination channels These programs could include CRP training
through the fire department, films owned by the school system
or programs arranged for by the franchiser from organizations
preparing health programs specifically for cable
GOVERNMENT USES The Town might sponsor an on-going
show introducing various Town departments or carry out informa-
tion campaigns such as voter registration or dog licensing as
well as coverage of Town Meeting, Board of Selectmen, Planning
Board or other boards as appropriate either on a government channel
or as part of local origination programming
LIBRARY Library programming should be part of the
government channel The children' s library would like to
have a story hour This would provide the opportunity for child-
) ren to hear a story plus see themselves on television Similarly,
the children' s library has sponsored a summer puppet theater
contest in which children make the puppets and write and produce
the play The finalists in this project would have their
program taped for television, providing a special reward for
participating plus providing an alternative to Saturday morning
cartoons
A number of programs could be video taped with a porta-pack
such as interviewing people from various countries to learn about
their culture for children or the library' s on-going concert series
for adults
The library would like to offer a televised two-session
adult education on how to use a library It is also interested
in developing a live call-in reference program which it feels
could be especially good for shut-ins
J
TRCHNLCAL FEATURES OF LEXINGTON CATV PROPOSALS (Revision of 4/8/'80 draft)
Lexington CATV
Adams-Russell Bay State Continental , Greater Boston (Acton Corp.) Rollins Sammons
52 52 52 52 ( 42
Nome g lO4 expandable
channel el caprapacity (extondable to 50)
to 50) _
Home return 8 4 4 4 4 4 4
channels
Type of cable Hub Bub Tree/Hub Hub Single Hub Hub
Layout (4 trunk legs) 5 trunk legs) (4 trunk legs) Tree (4.trunk legs ?) (3 trunk legs)
Antenna in ? Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Lexington ? Yes I (Woburn)
Headend In Yes y Yes W Now ) Yes Yes Yes
Lexington
--
Local studio Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes I Yes
in Lexington ? _ 1
-- - - - None 1 1
Separate 2 i 2 None (36 channels i (24 chanvels.
Institutional (40 channels (20 channels 35 channels down, 8 up) I down, 18 up)
cable(s) each way) each way) each way) i } 1j
1
FM Radio Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes i Yes
on cable ?
Will offer Yes Yes Yes Not Yes Future 1 Yes
alarm services ? initially (2nd year) (inc. energy
management) I
- -
Yes (Ragional Prepared to Yes (Regional Capable of Yes Prepared to
Regional Yes s tem it other interconnect system with lob., interconnect (list. Natick, interconnect
interconnections'? '(shared hoadend) franchises won) with other sys. Burl. Bill. Wil.) Marl. with other sys
I Two-way Yes No initiallyNot f 5 Noinitially Not suture 1 No
terminals ? (Opinion pallI
in 2nd yPa.)
Completion of 12 no.
10 mo. 10 mo. 18 so. i5 mo. 11 ma. I 9 mo,
distrbution -
system I Li
Service startup by Not stated BY section Entire town By section (?) By Section (?) Not stated I By Section H
section or entire at once H
teen at once ?
C4
I
FIRST DRAFT OF PROVISIOIIS FOR LEXINGTON'S LOCAL USE OF THE PROPOSED CATV SYSTEMS 'i'g,20
CATEGORY OF SERVICE ADAMS-
FO LEXINGTON RUSSELL BAY STATE CONTINENTAL GREATER BOSTON LEXINGTON CATV ROLLINS SAI.I. NS
1 DEDICATE STUDIO 8 EQUIPMENT YES, INC. MAIN- FULLY EQUIPPED YES, $100,000 YES, 575,000 YES, 580,000
STUDIO FOR LOCAL PROGRAMMING TEIIANCE; 5225,000; LEXINGTON SOLELY FOR LEXINGTON STUDIO; LEXINGTON STUDIO I�� YES,
8 COMMITMENT, MOBILE VAN; MOBILE VAN; POLICE/ STUDIO TOWN/RESIDENTS MOBILE VAN LEX. STUDIO)
EQUIPMENT FOR POLICE/FIRE FIRE TV EQUIPMENT USE MOBILE VAN
DEPIS USE
2. DEDICATED EQUIPMENT A STUDIO SOME OF ABOVE $; LOCAL STUDIO SOME OF ABOVE S WILL PROVIDE WILL PROVIDE FULL STUDIO
FOR EDUCATIONAL USE; COLLAB- JOINT PROGRAM WITH AVAILABLE ALSO JOINT PROGRAM $35,000 BROADCAST TECHNICAL AT HIGH SCHOOL
ORATION WITH LEXINGTON SCHOOL SYSTEM; TUFTS TO STUDENTS WITH SCHOOL STUDIO ASSISTANCE
SCI IOJLJ TV .;YSTEM
3. PAY FOR CO1-IIJNI FY ORIGINATION YES. 550,000/YR YES 5100,000/YR YES. WILL PROVIDE YES, ACCESS AND YES, WILL YES, WILL ASSIST YES, WILL
AND ACCESS COORDINATOR OR BUDGET, ACCESS OPERATING BUDGET NECESSARY FINAN- PRODUCTION PROVIDE PERSONNEL
SUPPORT
DIRECTOR; STAFF DOLLAR DIRECTOR (MAY CHARGE COM- CIAL TECHNICAL COORDINATOR; 2 TO ASSIST
C@.:4ITMCNT MUNITY A FEE SUPPORT FULL TIME;
LATER) $41,000 BUDGET
4. NUMBER S I,'PES OF ACCESS 5 COMMUNITY ACCESS/ 3 - CITIZEN ACCES:4+ - SENIORS 3 GOVERNMENT/ 4 - EDUCATIONAL/
2 - EDUCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL./
CHANNELS; ALL OR PARTLY UNDER GOVERNMENT/EDUCATION- EDUCATIONAL/ CHANNEL FAMILY EDUCATIONAL/PUBLIC GOVERNMENT/LIBRAR' CHANNEL/ GOVERtY4ENT/
1 COMMUNITY CONTROL AL/RELIGIOUS/MEDICAL GOVERNMENT HEALTH EDUCATION ACCESS PART TIME ACCESS/PUBLIC GOVERNMENT PUBLIC ACCESS
GOVERNMENT ACCESS ACCESS CHANNEL
5. PRODUCTION AND CONTROL OF BY A-R BY BAY STATE EITHER TOWN BY GREATER BY LEXINGTON BY ROLLINS, WITH BY SAPPERS, WITH
LOCAL ORIGINATION PROGRAMMING MGMT OR CONTINENTAL BOSTON CATV ADVERTISING CaT1UNITY ASSISTANC
6. PRODUCTION 8 CONTROL OF COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY MCAT OF FACILITY BY COMMUNITY BY LEX CATV; NO FREE ACCESS FREE ACCESS
ACCESS PROGRAMA II IIG CHARGE FOR ACCESS FOR EDUCATIONAL
8 GOVT USES
7 HOURS OF LOCAL PROGRAMMING, HR/WK 25 TO 40 HRS/WK
B. HOURS OF PUBLIC ACCESS PROGRAMING 25+
15 HRS/WK
COOPERATION WITH COMMUNITY ADVISORVNIICLEUS OF RESIDENT' TOAVJIPMLE PHI
9. COOPERATION WITH LEXINGTONAO M
CGI.4.IUNI TY ACCESS COUNCIL ADVISORY COUNCIL BOARD WHO PROGRAM THE COM-
MUNITY CHANNEL YES
10. TRAINING OF LEXINGTON RESIDENTS IN INTERNSHIPS; TRAINEES WORKSHOPS/SCHOOL EMERSON COURSE YES, TV COURSE
CAN USE COURSES FREE YES
II. FEES FOR COMMERCIAL USE OF ACCESS YES, RATES TO BE 7 MAY CHARGE FOR 550/HOUR YES 1
CHANNELS 7 NEGOTIATED PUBLIC ACCESS
12. PROVISION FOR LEASED CHANNELS 575/HOUR (MINUS) YES YES, RATES TO BE YES
DETERMINED 525/HOUR 575-800/HOUR
CAN ADVERTISE '
id
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COMPARISON OF MULE RATES IN LEXINGTON CAN PROPOSALS (E➢CEPT PAY CRANRELS) — Figures in parentheses are per month for each additional set.
# of Lexington CATV
} channels Adams-Russell Bay State Continental Greater Boston (Acton Corp.) Rollins Sammons
3 $2•95 i LOCAL
($2.00)
o I 5 $3.50 4 urAl
($2.50)
g f 6 11—- -- — 1 Free 4 LOCAL
ro{ IF I SERVICE INCLUDE (y2.00)—
aF. FOUR LOCAL LE%- I 1
10 I I ($z.00) 4 ILICAL 1NGTON CHANNELS//
z I _ - - - 1
j 12 1
I $2.95 4 LOCAL, +
_ ._. _ - ($2.50) 8 SAT 1
12 I2'
I
($1.00) (no Local)
14 ($1500) 4 LOCAL ; I (
1I
$5.95 I
20II($3.00) t as
I
23 I I
$5.95* 4A �I $6.00
+0A
_ ($1.50) ($3.50)
IH 28 I Ys
$7.00 ,n Ifo
u, I I I ($3.50)
($3.50) SAT
a.
o 34 I $7 95* i4 DO,
,
( 9 ($2.00) 7 SAT I
($2.50) SAT t[1, tlI
H $7 50 39 k ($3.50) SATAm.
40 $8.75 t9 ED, I
($3.00) 12 SAT
I I.
41
$9.95 +3 LOCAL, 5 DO.
($4.95) 14 OA, 14 SAT
a
I4r50 hi
($2.50) 31 SAT _ �—.I z(11
4 FM $1.50 Cl
11 Radio ($1.50) $1.50 $2.50 $2.00 I $2.00 I $3.00 $2.00 H
5C
0A - Off-Air Broadcast, DO - Distant City Broadcast, SAT - Other Satellite *Rate if subscriber owns converter.
Add $2.00/mo. if converter rented from operator. t"i
u ,,J
P/827411N4 (PAY CABLE) OFFERRINCS AND MONTHLY RATES IN IEAINCTON CAT? PROPOcATS
PAY BROOM! Adams-Russell Bay State Continental Greater Boston Lexington CATV
(Acton Corp.) Rollie Sammons
Homs Boz Office (MBs) $8.00 $8.00 $7.95 $7.95 $8.50 $8.0o� $7.95*
( HBO Mini-Channel $4.50 $4.00
Showtime $8.00 $8.o0N $7.95.
Homo Theatre Network
(MTN) $3.95 $3.95
The Movie Channel $6.75 $7 95 $7.00 $7 95'
Take 2 $3.95
Extra Channel $4.95
Cultural Channel i $10.00
Front Row Ii 1 $4.95
Play Cable 1
$8.00 E
(Future)
Reuters 1181 Data $35•00 E
(Future)
Special Combination None None None None None None * $13.95 for 2
Rates
$19.95 for 3
Ada $2.00-$3.95
Notess per month if
basic service
is for only
12 channels.
Proposal has
rate table for
91 different
service
combinations.
tzi
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APPENDIX N
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i
APPENDIX 0
EXTENSION POLICIES IN LEXINGTON CATV PROPOSALS (Unusual service drops)
Adams-Russell -- At cost over 150 feet from feeder No statement
about underground drops under 150 feet
Bay State -- $ 30 per foot over 12 feet from feeder No
statement about special costs for underground
Continental -- At cost over 200 feet from feeder For underground,
subscriber pays for trenching in all cases
Greater Boston -- $ 10 per foot over 150 feet from feeder for
overhead drop mire Plus actual cost for any
poles or amplifiers needed For underground,
subscriber pays for trenching in all cases
Lexington CATV -- $10 00 per 100 feet over 150 feet from feeder
(Acton Corp ) ($ 10/foot) No statement about special costs
for underground service drops
Rollins -- Aerial or underground drops standard (no extra
charge) up to 175 feet from feeder Beyond
175 feet, charge to subscriber will be actual cost
plus 20 %
Sammons -- For aerial drop, at cost over 150 feet from feeder
For underground drop, S1 00 per foot over a feet
from feeder, plus $75 00 for extension beyond
150 feet from feeder
The above extension policy summaries are believed to fairly represent
the positions of the bidders The level of detail varied in the various
proposals, however, and there may be some errors in interpretation
APPENDIX P
FACILITIES USE PROFILE - 1/1/79 - 12/31/79
CABLECASTING
1. Public Access User Profiles:
A. No. of Program Messages No of Hours
Tape 1613 781
Live 168 204
Total 1817 985
No of Different Program Messages
No. of Shows No. of Hours
Advocacy 107 58.5
Art 59 39
Education 190 109.5
Entertainment 389 317.5
Ethnic 31 27.5
Information 704 254
Religious 17592.5
Health 57 29.5
Music 9 42
Sports 4 2.5
Other 16 _lath
TOTAL 1817 985
Community Calendar Messages
No. of Messages
Community Service 712
Arts 440
Education 359
Health 289
Religion 75
Total No. of Messages 1950
Total No. of Groups 1425
Eouinment Tvoe No. of Times Used No. of Hours
Portapak 185 4479
Studio 688 1189
Edit 754 1798
Total 1627 7466
Training
=II No. of Classes No. of Peoole
Orientation395
Portapak 528 97
Studio5
Edit 23 6
Total
Scheduling & Management
Volunteer Profile
continued next page. . . .
-2-
Volunteer Profile
Area Volunteers/Items Hours/Value
Cablecasting 14 151.5 Hrs .
Prod./Facilitation 111 2041 Hrs.
Materials 41 $4118.75
1
APPENDIX Q
1r
AN OUTLINE FOR ACCESS
IA I . Access Advisory Council
A . An Access Council is a non-profit organization made up
of citizens of the community ( les ) served by the cable
company Membership is open to anyone without regard
1 for age The membership elects a nine-member board of
11 directors which serves for two years and may be reelected
once . The directors choose the officers from among the
membership to oversee the day-to-day operation of the
LA access channels Officers may be , but need not be , directors
Officers serve one year terms and may be reelected Each
director accepts oversight responsibility for at least one
of the Council ' s committees , i e , newsletter, funding ,
technical , production
B Potential leaders of the Council are recruited originally
by the Access Director , whose responsibility it is to
contact community leaders , such as directors of youth
j programs , sports clubs and teams , Y ' s , civic theater
1rewil groups , music groups , educators , lawyers , businessmen and
women, police , fire , service clubs , fraternal organizations ,
r' senior citizens , high school and college students ,
religious leaders , newspaper columnists , radio and TV
personalities , League of Women Voters , etc Each person
contacted is invited to participate in the organization of
the Access Council and encouraged to volunteer as temporary
acting officers and steering committee members during the
first year Elected officials are specifically excluded
from holding any office of the Access Council in order to
avoid potential manipulation
The Council needs people with organizational skills,
fund-raising skills , publicity and press relations,
I financial expertise , grantsmanship, legal knowledge , and
i
basic business management skills
C Duties and responsibilities of Access Council members
01 to act as a liaison between the public and the cable
operator, and to promote , publicize and facilitate the use
of the public, local government and educational access
11 channels
Members of the Access Council choose the area of their
contribution to the Council It may be by serving as a
Director in planning future goals in the development of
local access , setting policy, hiring personnel, etc
Others may choose to assist in publishing a newsletter,
PI
writing press releases , giving a slide presentation
1 regarding the public use of access , or doing clerical jobs
in the Access Center Production assistance as camera
j ; operator, director , audio and lighting , as well as regular
shifts as cablecasters may suit other members ' skills
H171
111A -49-
AN OUTLINE FOR ACCESS ( cont )
w Financial guidance is a must , and anyone with
bookkeeping skills and the ability to write a grant
is a most valuable member Finally , producing and
performing on the access channels themselves , and covering
local meetings and events is the most important
contribution a member of the Council can make
Members elected to the Board or as Officers are
expected to attend all regularly scheduled meetings of
the Board , usually monthly The general membership
meets twice annually ( formally ) , usually in November
and the annual meeting in May
y}' --- ------
II
l _