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Clty Councll Meeting 5/14/85
Santa MOnica, CalIfornia
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Mr' 1 4 1985
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: CIty Staff
SUBJECT: Purchase of Cable CommunIcatIons EqUIpment
Introduction
ThIS report recommends purchase of cable communlcatlons eqUIpment
to be Installed at Santa Monlca CommunIty College and used
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JOlntly by the City, College and Santa Monlca/Mallbu UnifIed
School Dlstrlct.
!?ackground
As a follow-up to the Cable Task Force report, staff has been
pursuIng a varIety of cable-related Issues. These Issues relate
both to refranchIslng and utIlizatIon of eXIstIng publIC,
educatIonal and governmental cable capacIty.
More detaIled
lnformatlon on these actlvltles WIll be presented to Councll in
the next month.
There IS, however, a suggestlon WhICh has been made by a JOInt
commIttee of School Board members and CIty Councll Members WhICh
could prOVIde some near-term enhancements of use of the
educational and pOSSIbly publIC cable channels.
It has been proposed that the CIty purchase a cable generator and
anCIllary equlpment to be lnstalled at Santa Monlca CommunIty
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College and used by both School DIstricts and the City. The
estImated cost of thIs equIpment and Installation IS $30,000.
It IS antIcIpated that broadcastIng could commence In August If
funds are approved at thlS tIme. Between now and then, staffs of
the three entitles will be developIng operatIonal and POlICY
gUIdelInes for consideratIon by the respectIve legIslatIve bodIes
as well as resolvIng technical product~on Issues.
Budget/Fiscal Impact
Funds for thIs purpose are avaIlable In the non-departmental
contIngency account #01-700-274-000-785.
RecommendatIon
Authorize the expenditure of a maXImum of $30,000 to Santa MonIca
COMmunI t Y ColI ege to acqUIre and Install a ca bl e generator and
anCIllary eqUIpment at Santa MonIca CommunIty COllege for
educatIonal and governmental broadcast uses.
Prepared By: Lynne C. Barrette
ASSIstant CIty Manager
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CIty Council MeetIng 2/26/85
TO:
Mayor and City Council
FROM:
Cable CommunIcations Task Force
SUBJECT:
Report of the Cable Communications Task Force
INTRODUCTION
Government, private and public service providers, busInesses,
vOluntary organizations and indivIdual citIzens all require local
telecommunicatIons services to conduct their affairs. Retailers
use point of sale terminals, banks and ~nvestment houses use
electronic funds transfer, and small and large informatIon
industries use high speed data transfer. Service organIzations
need to share information about clients, ~ndIviduals need to
receIve information about the Institutions in the city, and all
organIzations need to dIstribute InformatIon to the general
public on the nature of their activities.
A telecommunications system IS as fundamental to a well
functIoning CIty as is the street system. ImagIne the negative
effect on investment In a city lf telecommunicatIons services
were suddenly eliminated. Conversely, imag~ne the positive
effect on investment if a city were served by a well functIoning
state of the art telecommunIcations system.
The CIty of Santa MonIca is currently served by two Wire based
telecommunIcation networks. The telephone system owned by
General Telephone Co. is franchised and regulated by the
Californla PublIc utilities Commission. The cable communications
system owned by Group W IS franchised and regulated by the Clty.
Theta Cable Television was originally franchised in 1967 to
provide cable television services in Santa Monica. This
franchise was extended for 10 years in 1977 and will expire in
December, 1987.
In 1981, Theta's parent company, Teleprompter Inc., merged with
Group W (a subsidiary of Westinghouse ElectrIc and Cable). In
1982, Group W asked the CIty for permission to assume the Theta
franchIse.
In a June, 1982 staff report to the City Council, the City
Attorney raised several issues affecting Theta's request for
license transfer approval. One Issue was the possibll~ty that
the franchise had been breached because Theta did not secure CIty
consent prior to the merger.
Before a publ1c hearing on the matter could occur, Theta proposed
that discussion be deferred on the merger approval, the possible
franchise breach and also the possibIlity of an extension of the
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eXisting franchise. Consideration of the City Attorney's staff
report was suspended and the scheduled publiC hearing was
postponed indefInItely.
The City Manager's Office assumed responsibility for developing a
policy framework that would reflect service needs of all sectors
of the City. This framework would gUide cable franchising and
city government activities in relation to the cable system.
On July 27,1982, the City Council approved the formation of a
citizen task force that would study the issues, prOVide
opportunities for publiC participation and advIse the Council on
cable pOlicy. A telecommunications consultant, Wally Siembab,
was hired to advise the CIty Manager on cable issues and prOVIde
technical assistance to the Task Force as well as to
organizations in the community engaged in the process of
assessing needs and developing action plans for cable use.
The City Council appointed a fifteen member Cable CommunIcations
Task Force on september 28, 1982. The group met weekly between
October, 1982 and May, 1984, and on an occasional basis from
JUly, 1984 to the present. CouncLlmember Zane was the the
Council l~aison untll he was replaced by Counci1member Epstein in
December, 1984.
A Cable CommunicatIons EnterprIse Fund was established by
UnanImous CounCil vote 1n March, 1983. The purpose of that fund
was to support the work of the Task Force Wh1Ch required
specialized technical informatIon in identified areas of concern.
The Council also approved a fiscal 1983-84 budget allocation for
the Fund in order to continue the work of the Task Force.
The report of the Task Force entitled "Cable Communications in
Santa Monica" was completed in May, 1984. After staff review, It
was distrlbuted to the City Council and made ava~lable to the
pUblic ~n JUly, 1984.
The proJect was essentially dormant between June and October,
1984, the transition periOd between City Managers. In October,
John Jalil1, then Acting CIty Manager, author1zed a pUblic
outreach program with the funds remaining In the 1983-84 Cable
Communications Enterprise Fund. ThIS program introduced the
recommendations of the Task Force to interested ind1Viduals and
organIzations in the City and solicited comments from the publIC.
The purposes of thIS staff report are to:
o summarize the recommendations of the Task Force,
o place the recommendations in the context of the
current market for cable services, and
o alert the City Council that some modifications will be
necessary in~order to make the recommendations conform to
the recently enacted Cable Telecommunications Act of 1984.
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Background
Slnce the completion of the Task Force report in May, 1984,
two new issues have ar1sen Wh1Ch potent1ally affect the
feasIbility of some of the recommendations. First, changes in
market circumstances affecting cable system development may have
occurred and second, the Federal Cable Telecommunications Act of
1984 was enacted in December, 1984.
MARKET CIRCUMSTANCES
The cable industry is itself generating mixed messages regarding
its fInancial health. Some compan1es are in fact experienc1ng
serIOUS financial diff1culties. West Valley Cable, for example,
has been ref1nanced several tlmes. CommunlCom has filed for
Chapter 11 protections under the bankruptcy laws. RenegIng by
some cable operators on contracts signed during the "franchlse
wars" (1979-l983) has been occurring across the country.
These cutbacks and broken contracts may be the result of serious
miscalculation of costs and revenues. They also may reflect an
industry-wide strategy for increasing returns on ~nvestment ln an
environment that is no longer competitive (heavy franchise
competlt1on has been over for two years).
Trade press economic forecasts for the cable industry have been
generally strong. Recent financial reports suggest many
companles are performlng well.
Reports in recent edItIons of trade Journals also indicate that
westinghouse Electric Co. and West1nghouse Electric and Cable in
part1cular are doing well nationally. Furthermore, the R1ce
Assoc. analysis of current Group W operations In Santa Mon1ca
indicated that the firm is receIv1ng a return on investment well
above the national and state average for all cable operators.
In add1tion, Rice Assoc. est1mated Group Wls 1983 pretax profit
from operations in the City of Santa Monica alone to have been
in excess of one m1llion dollars. The Santa Monica system, In
the Jargon of the trade, 1S referred to as a "cash cow" whlch can
be "milked" for profits.
In February, 1985, staff conducted lnformal research into Group W
franchise commltments in metropolitan Los Angeles. In a poll of
7 cities, only one {Santa Ana} has made sign1ficant franchise
agreement concessions. No actual cutbacks were found in the other
6 cities. In these, Group W had made and is contlnu1ng to honor
cash, equipment, and/or facility commitments that were 1n excess
of Task Force recommendations (although 1n two of these cIt1es
Group W has Informally approached the city regard1ng de-
act1vation of the second cable).
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There is therefore reasonable doubt about the claIms made by the
industry In general, and Group W In particular, that some system
features and services that were commonly promIsed a few years ago
are now fInancially infeasIble. Recently the Task Force
evaluated the need to "scale back" its recommendatlons in lIne
with current cable ~ndustry positions. It declded that the
recommendations developed in relat~on to the 1983 environment and
marketplace remain VIable in early 1985.
If the cable operator believes that the recommendations of the
Task Force can not be met in an economIcally feaSIble manner, the
burden should be on the operator to demonstrate thIS fact by way
of financial proJections (routinely included in a franchIse
proposal). In other words, Group W or any other cable operator
submitting a proposal to the City should cost out and include In
financial proJections, system faCIlitIes and services to address
the recommendations of the Task Force.
NEW CABLE LEGISLATION
New federal cable leg1slation was enacted 10 late 1984. The FCC
is currently promulgatIng rules and regulatIons to implement
provisions of that law. Glven thIS new legal environment, the
City Attorney should review and evaluate the recommendations of
the Task Force and report to the Council on necessary
modifications to the Recommendations as well as on the City's
renewal opt~ons and procedures.
CITY'S CABLE PLANNING PROCESS
The CIty'S cable plannlng process Included the follOWIng:
o A task force of CItizens (with no particular institutional
affiliations or technical expertise) who met weekly for 20
months to:
learn about cable communIcations including its market
dynamICS, technical capabIlIties, Federal and State
pol1cies, and non-commercIal applications,
identify issues of concern for the Santa Monica
community from an educated cltzen's perspectIve Which
should be addressed in franchIse POlICY, (e.g" prlvacy
protections, desired services for households and
businesses, profitabilIty and franchise/ownersh~p
alternatives, alternatives for definIng and
admInIstering cornmunl ty communIcatIons, etc.),
evaluate a large body of specially commIssioned
technIcal and policy Information and apply what was
learned to local policy,
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debate the alternatives and make recommendations to the
City CouncIl.
o A thorough research program that provided information to the
Task Force and created a factual bas~s for the eventual
recommendations. (An In-house technical expert provided first
line informatlon and also commissioned specIal POlICY
research studles by outsIde technical experts In order to
focus on the Issues identIfIed by the Task Force -- five
nationally known consultants were commIssIoned to conduct
eIght studIes which Included market research, financial
analysis, and alternatives for local POlICY In a number of
areas. In addItIon, over a dozen experts in such areas as
communIcations law, engineering, consumer protection, and
media production volunteered their time and expertise to the
Task Force.)
o A partiCIpatIon program to conduct public education and
receive public comments. (Mechanisms Included a centerfold
article in July, 1983 Seascape, a public hearing In August,
1983, 2 public presentatIons for the purpose of general
education, several meetings With the general membershIp of
local organizations, an interview on the radio program The
Adept Connection, and a maJor article in the Los Angeles
Times Westslde SectIon reporting on the pUblic hearIng.)
o A publIC outreach program through WhiCh the Task Force
recommendations were presented to a broad cross-section of
organIzatIons and lnstltutlons in Santa Monica.
Overview of Task Force Recommendations
The Task Force developed an extensive set of recommendatlons to
govern the development and utIlIzation of a cable communications
system to the year 2002 (the end of the 15 year franchIse
period). The recommendations were based on POlICY research and
input from the communIty,
The deliberations were influenced by emerging condItions in the
marketplace for local telecommunicatIons serVIces which have been
brought about by the AT&T d~vestiture as well as by Federal de-
regulation of portIons of the telecommunIcatIons marketplace.
The conditions Include hIgher rates for baSIC telephone service,
privatIzation of publIC pay telephones, and, In the near future,
metered rates for local calls.
AddItional influences included the technical capabilitIes of cable
communicatIons systems, the hIgh cost of transportation, and the
VItal role of electronIC Information distributlon (VIdeo, data,
VOIce) in an information based or "post-Industrial" society.
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The vision reflected in the recommendatIons of the Task Force is
of a multi-user/mult~-purpose telecomrnunicat~ons system WhlCh has
three d~st~nct components:
o A network (set of channels) for delIver~ng entertalnment and
commercial informatIon services to homes (Subscriber
Network).
o A network for delivering a range of commercial "broadband"
telecommunication services to businesses and institutlons
(InstitutIonal Network).
o A network for conductIng the civic, SOCIal, educational, and
artistic communlcatlons of the community (Community
Communications Network).
The components of this vision provide for the followIng:
The Subscrlber Network will have sufficient capacity to guarantee
a diversity of programs and program sources.
The InstItutlonal Network will provide the advanced
telecommunIcatIon services required by Information intensive
bUSInesses and InstItutions. This will help enhance the Clty as
an attractive location for commerclal investment and will
contribute to a higher quality of lIfe for resldents. For
example, the Institutional Network could be used to extend
such hospltal based serVIces as speclallst consultation to local
medIcal offIces and para-med~c tralning to fire stations.
The Commun~ty Communications Network (CCN), as envlsIoned, will
lnclude a number of video channels and productIon equipment --
all prOVIded by the franchIsee. A well equipped central
product~on stud~o as well as numerous "portable stUdIOS" w~ll be
available to serve the broad range of communIcation SkIlls and
interests that are present in the CIty.
PublIC buildings and offIces that prOVIde community services wlll
be wired so as to both receive and orlginate video signals.
WirIng at reasonable prices will be ava~lable to all other
bUIldings in the City.
The capability for multIple site production (uslng portable
studios), limited SWItchIng equipment at the headend, and the
availabilIty of a few channels to carry upstream informatIon will
allow indIviduals and groups located throughout the City to
interact in an electronIC meeting while remaLning In the safety
and convenience of a famIliar setting. The public lIbrary and
the public schools will use this system to conduct In-service
tra~ning without the need to transport professionals to a central
locat~on. A dietician will provlde advlce and answer questions
for seniors located in nursing homes, service offices, and senior
centers throughout the CIty. Local artists will hold lIve vldeo
.open houses" to dIsplay their work.
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A non-profit corporation wlll be created by the City Councll to
admlnlster the channels and facilltate use by any and all
organizatlons or individuals in the Clty, The approach to chooslng
the Board of D1rectors remaLns open although direct Council
appointment has been recommended. Mlnimum guaranteed fundlng for
the operations wlll come from a portlon of the City's franchlse
fee. AdditLonal operating funds WIll be necessary and commerclal
underwritIng 15 one possible avenue to pursue. A voluntary
contribution from the franchlsee is also possIble.
All CCN facilities and channels will be allocated on a flrst-
come, first-served basis and will be operated according to FCC
rules wh1ch govern public access faci11ties and channels (e.g.,
no commercialism, no endorsements of political candidates, no
obscene or indecent material, etc.).
Basic service (defined as the "must-carry" over the air stations
and the CCN channels) w1ll be priced and packaged in order to
achieve a penetration rate that w1ll exceed 75% of the homes ln
the City. A basic serVlce lifelIne rate will be available for
truly low income families.
The potentlal users of the system include a broad range of
communlty organIzations, for example; groups who serve the
frall elderly (program demonstratlng exerClse techniques for
bedridden people): day-care referral services (counseling on how
to choose a day-care provider); Chamber of Commerce (profess lanaI
accountants offerlng tlpS on new tax laws); city government
(cablecast~ng Councll, Board, and Comm~SSlon meetings); Santa
Monlca College (descrlption of ltS night school curriCUlum): the
Conventlon and Visltor's Bureau (what's happenlng in Santa
Monica); and the Police and Flre Departments (programs on how to
plan for and react to an earthquake).
Channels will be avallable for soclal serVlce organlzatlons
to hold a telethon in order to raise money: for the local chapter
of the Amerlcan Bar Assoc1ation to offer continuing education
courses for attorneys; and for the Convention and Vlsltor's
Bureau to provide informatlon on local events to both the publlc
and to hotel guests.
The Task Force vision of cable communications substantlally
differs from the simple 1dea of cable tv as a prov1der of pay
movies.
Summary of Task Force Recommendations
Thls summary follows the chapter organization used in "Cable
Communications In Santa Monica." Where relevant the communlty
need and/or the research findlngs are d1scussed as well as the
recommendations.
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DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Capacity
o "Dual trunk" subscr~ber cable capable of providing at
least 92 channels.
A "zero-based. just~fication method was used to arrlve
at a total capacity of 92 channels. Sixty-three were
designated for commerclal use or lease and the
remaining 29 for varlOUS categories of public service
use including use by the CCN.
Commissioned research lndlcated that abundant channel
capacity is necessary for (although not sufficient to
guarantee) information diverslty -- see Susan McAdams,
"Local Options for Informat~on Dlversity.w
A survey in December, 1983 of other Group W systems in
Southern California ind~cated that 92 channels was a
reasonable requirement -- see page I-9.
o Inst~tutional cable of unspecified capacity.
Both the Rice Assoc. Institutional market research and
the study by Susan McAdams entltled "Economic
Importance of An Institutional Communlcations Network
ln the CIty of Santa Monica: Telecommunicatlons as a
Local Economic Development Strategy" supported the
need for an lnstitutional network.
~he survey of Group W systems In Southern Cal~fornia
lndlcated that Group W had promised a large capaclty
inst~tut~onal cable to all but the smallest cltles.
Planning for capac~ty requlrements and location of the
cable was left to the Clty Manager's Office.
o At least 10 upstream channels on elther the subscriber
cables or the instItutional cable.
Production from multiple locations in the City and
live, lnteractive VIdeo requ~res upstream channels
somewhere In the system.
Llve, InteractIve video was proven by National SCIence
Foundatlon research to be an effectlve mechanism for
cost/effectlve delivery of socIal services in Reading,
PA (a city about the same populat~on size of Santa
Mon~ca). A field trIp by the Task Force to examlne the
live, interactive system used by the Irvine School
Distr~ct confirmed fIrst hand some of the conclusions
from the Reading research.
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2. Interactive CapabilIties
o Headend switchlng and appropriate wlring of community
buildings.
These requirements are complementary to the upstream
channels described in the .Capaclty. sectlon.
Headend sWltchlng is necessary in order to mix two
video slgnals onto one channel.
o Clrcuits for 2-way data communicatlons on the
institutional cable.
The Rice Assoc. market research discovered slgnificant
(but prelimlnary) demand for high speed data circuits
among information intenslve firms in Santa Monica.
o Polllng response computers prohiblted in Santa Monica
with City officials mandated to oppose introductlon of
any other technologles that threaten pr~vacy.
Comm~ssloned research lndicated that polling computers
pose a serious threat to personal and group privacy --
see Peter BroderiCk, "Who's Watching: Local Optlons
for protecting privacy."
3. InterconnectIon
o Interconnect required by the new ordlnance.
The Rlce Assoc. lnstitutional market study indicated
that the institutlonal cable would increase in
commerclal value if served by a regional and/or long
distance interconnection.
staff research lndicated that improved municipal
networking and cost savlngs from telecommunications
substitution for some cross town trips by prOfessionals
could result with a reglonal interconnect.
o Clty staff to continue lnterconnect plannlng and
analysls locally and regionally.
Staff research identified both technical and
administratlve options for cable system
interconnection. Addltional plannIng and analysis is
requlred among potential local users and WIth
nelghboring munIcipal governments.
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USE RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Consumer SerVIce Package
o Service package to include over-the-alr "must carry"
broadcast telev1sion plus all public, education and
government channels. In order for these publ1C serVlce
channels to be effectively used by the c1t1zens and
institutIons, a 75% penetration target w1thin two years
of completion of system construction should be
achieved.
The goals for cable communicat1ons development
established by the Task Force call for equal access to
information regardless of income or wealth. The
concept of commun1ty communications and the policy of
leased access was developed 1n order to diversify
1nformat1on and maximize access to the means of
communicatlon. The effectIveness of these pol~cles in
achieving the goals depends upon the avallabil1ty of
serV1ce to most homes.
It is des~rable for truly low income households to
obtain the basic service package, so that those 10 most
need of municipal and social serVIces can cost-
effectlvely obtaIn the relevant information.
o City'S cable officer (consumer advocate) to educate
consumers on programmlng services available but not
carrled, and to conduct an annual consumer preference
poll as non-bindlng information in relation to the
programming ch01ces of the franch1see.
These policies become cr1t1cal if a system wlth 54
channel capaclty or less 1S bU1lt. More services are
avallable today than can be offered over the existing
system. In the coming fifteen years, many more
additIonal program services WIll become available,
Consumer awareness of program service availabilIty is
currently very low and this recommendation is for the
City to accept the respons~bility for 1mproving the
flow of informatlon concerning the video marketplace.
o Group v1ewlng ln community communication centers.
Once these centers are developed (see below), group
view1ng should be allowed without restrlct1ons.
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2. Community Communications
The communIty communIcations recommendatIons are among the
most important and the most extensive. For a full
explanatIon of each recommendation and the reasoning behind
lt, refer to pages 11-8 to 11-23 of the Task Force report.
o Community Communicatlons Network (CCN) to facilItate
and distribute live, Interactive video programs and
community produced video tape programs; produce local
news and public affairs programs (possibly as a
strategy to attract local underwriting): and develop
a few centers equipped for interactive vIdeo that will
serve as community meeting rooms and regIonal
teleconference centers.
o Non-profit corporation established by the City and its
Board of Directors appointed by the City Council.
Alternatives to a non-profIt corporation to admInister
the CCN Include the cable franchisee, City government
~tself, or some other local InstItutIon. The Task
Force evaluated the pros and cons of each before
reachIng Its conclusion regarding a CIty establIshed
non-profit corporatlon. There are a number of
alternatives to CounCIl selectIon which the CounCIl may
wlsh to explore.
The following crlterla were established by the Task
Force to guide any future dIScussIons about the form of
admInIstratIon for the eCN, or how it is established:
organizatIon should represent dIverse sections of
the community,
organlzatlon should have as Its single goal the
implementatIon of the CCN,
indiVIduals from organizations which represent the
diverse interests listed on P.II-22 of the Report
should have an opportunIty to serve on the Board,
pol1tics and ideology should playas small a role
as possible In the ImplementatIon of the ecN.
o Board of Directors to consist of between 9 and 15
IndIVIduals appOInted by the Council to staggered
terms.
o Board of DIrectors responsible for ensuring first
come, fIrst served, non-dIscrImInatory use of the cable
system by all Santa MonIca reSIdents and organizations.
o CCN to have a central video productIon facility.
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o CCN to adminIster upstream and downstream channels
WhICh total up to approximately 25% of the capacity of
the system.
o Operator to provIde equlpment for the CCN Including one
color production studio (including control room,
editing equipment, etc), headend switchIng equipment
capable of two five-way video conferences, and as many
portable productIon studios as recommended by the City
Manager's office. A prelImInary estimate of the cost
of this equipment was $500,000 but the equipment 15
the target, not an amount of money.
o FInancial support for the CCN to come from diverse
sources so as not to be dependent on anyone. The City
to provide a guaranteed minimum by designating 60% of
its 5% franchIse fee revenue to the CcN. AddItional
funds will be necessary and alternatives Include
accepting commercial underwrItIng from local
organizations sImilar to arrangements established by
the Corporation for Public BroadcastIng. Guaranteed
minImum support from the City's franchise fee will
partially shield the CCN from polItical buffeting.
o Need exists to develop a CCN prOductIon faCIlIty
immediately in order to accommodate the organizations In
Santa Monlca currently underserved by Group w's publIC
access program. The Santa Monica College channel may
be avaIlable for dlstrlbution of programmIng pendlng
negotiation with the college and KCRW.
The research base for these recommendatlons included: "EIght
Case StudIes of PublIC Access AdminIstratIon" by the
National Federation of Local Cable programmers, "Budgetary
Impllcations for Public Access" by Jerry Richter of
Community TelecommunIcatIons Development, and the "Thirty
CIty Survey" by Susan McAdams and Walter Siembab.
Addltional small studies were conducted by staff such as an
investigation of the eXIstIng publIC access approach
employed by Group W.
3. Leased Access
Federal legislatlon appears to preempt city policy on leased
access. The Task Force continues to believe that its
findings related to the need for leased access are valid.
If first come, first served channel leases can not be
negotiated, some alternative arrangements for meeting the
needs of community organizations to dellver commercial
information and serVIces should be developed.
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MUNICIPAL CABLE ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Franchise Compliance and Consumer Protection
o MunicIpal cable professlonal to discharge
regulatory/franchIse compliance responsibilities and
act as a consumer advocate.
The Nat~onal Federation of Local Cable Programmers
conducted a second study for the Task Force entitled
"Eight Case Studies of Cable Boards and Commissions."
The study identified a number of detailed areas
Involving franchise complIance and regulation that
should be embedded In the City's ordinance and assigned
to knowledgeable staff. ThIS research also served as
the basis for discuSSIons which led the Task Force to
recommend agaInst creation of a cable related board or
commission for regulatory matters. Most of the
required duties appeared to be staff matters,
addltlonal expense of staffing a CItIzens board was
thought unnecessary, and citizen voluntarIsm was
thought best channeled into cable use and the CCN.
The monopoly status of cable and Its use for communIty
communicatIons suggested the need for a consumer
advocate, partIcularly in the absence of a citizen
board or commission.
The areas requIring staff responsIbilItIes are:
handlIng consumer complaints
handl~ng cItIzen compla~nts related to muniCIpal,
education or CCN productIons
dispute mediatIon and resolution
advising City Council on proposed Federal or State
regulatory changes that mIght Impact local
pol~cies and usage
analyzIng proposed municipal regulatory policies
in terms of potentIal impacts on consumers and on
the City, and advising the CouncIl on such Impacts
conducting publlC meetings and performIng special
studIes pursuant to Council direction at tImes of
franchise review, extension or revocation
prOVIdIng an annual report to the CIty Councl1
summarizing the consumer advocacy activities, and
evaluating the performance of both the franchisee,
and the CCN
13
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tilt
dIstributIng lnformatlon relevant to consumers V1a
the billing envelope and conducting a consumer
preference poll for programm1ng ava11able at the
wholesale level
establishlng and enforcing standards of serVlce
delivery (e.g., signal strength, repair response
t1me, etc.)
establishing and enforclng reportIng requIrements,
(e.g., flnancIal reporting, subscriber statistics,
facilIties maps, etc,)
Monitoring and enforcing the construction schedule
Proposing amendments to the ordinance
Conducting studies on policy or implementation
o Issues for Inclusion 1n the new ordinance/franchise
agreement
Virtually all pOllcies adopted by the Councll
will reqUIre expresslon in the City's new cable
ordInance, The followlng are not addressed elsewhere:
protectIon of consumer's privacy
sanctIons for faIlure to provide serVlce as
defined in the franchise agreement
periOdic evaluatlons of the franchisee
access to the franchisee's bllllng envelope (e.g.,
the CI ty of Bever ly Ell1 s uses the bi 11 ing
envelope to distribute lts gUIde to municipal
programmlng)
o Citizen partlclpat~on to be encouraged at any time that
policy changes impactIng the franchisee or the cable
franchise agreement are considered.
specifically, at least two members of the Cable
Communications Task Force should be asked to serve on
or as a Citizen's advisory panel in the upcom1ng policy
development and contract negotiations.
2. MuniCIpal Cable Use
o ObJectIves for munlcipal programming to include maklng
government more accessible and understandable,
encouraging participatIon in policy maklng,
distributIng information about municipal activities and
services, deliver publ1c services in a cost effective
manner, and Improving the efficiency of local
government in the face of rising telephone costs.
14
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o Munlcipal programmlng POllCY and operational procedures
to be establlshed, e.g., rules for use of Clty
channels, rules for cablecasting Councll meetlngs, etc.
Models for such pollcles and procedures are available
from nearby cltles, e.g., Torrance, Beverly Hills.
o Public partlcipatlon mechanisms (e.g., publlC hearlngs)
to be evaluated In terms of alternative
possibilities related to 1nteractive video.
3. Franchise Fee
o City to immediately request an lncrease in amount of
franchlse fee from 3% of gross system revenues to 5%.
o Clty to support the CCN wlth a port1on of its franchise
fee (minimum of 2%, 3% or more preferred).
o City to spend its net franchlse fee net on cable
related activities, specifically franchise compliance,
consumer advocacy, and munlclpal uses of the cable
communlcatlons system.
OWNERSHIP RECOMMENDATIONS
o Clty should evaluate any renewal proposal that may be
submitted by Group W In l~ght of the recommendatlons of
the Task Force.
o If Group W does not submit a renewal proposal, or If
the Clty f1nds the Group W renewal proposal to be
unsatIsfactory, the CIty should SOllClt proposals from
any interested cable providers.
o If the above steps fall to result in a satIsfactory
cable franchise, the CIty should pursue alternatlve
ownershIp strategIes, whlch may involve munICIpal gov-
ernment.
If the cable related communication needs of thIS communlty
cannot be met by the eXlstIng franchlsee or by the cable
communIcatIons marketplace, then the City should be prepared
to become creatIvely involved In order to see that those
needs are met.
Toward thls end, Rice Assoc. developed financial pro formas
for a number of dlfferent ownership scenarios Includlng
straIght renewal, franchlse to a competItive bidder, JOlnt
venture between City and a prIvate operator, priavte-public
leaseback, and straIght munICIpal ownership. All ownerShIp
optIons analyzed were found viable except a scenariO In
WhIch the City buys the ex~stIng system from Group W.
15
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SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
OffIce of the Assistant Supermtendent-Educatlon
IMC/DesegregatIOn and IntegratIon
USES FOR CABLE TELEVISION
IN THE
SANTA MONICA-MALIBD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
1. Use of cable for computer mterfacIng throughout the entire distrIct
1.1 AdmmIstratlve mterhookup (electromc mail) -
The admimstrators in the 15 schools throughout the district and the
administrators in the dIstrict's central office may be computer
networked WIth one another through the cable teleVISIon hnes.
1.2 Curriculum dissemInation of computer software -
A series of outstandIng classroom instructional lessons may be
transrrutted throughout the dIstrIct at the appropriate grade level
for other classrooms studYIng the same curriculum.
Computer software supportive of specIfIc currIcula throughout the
distrIct may posSIbly be accessed through the cable televIsion
hnes ,
2. CurrIculum and Instructional cable programmIng into the classrooms
2.1. LIve events m Congress -
Certarn SOCIal studies and CIvics classes would be able to observe
live events coverage In Congress as they study U. S. Government,
prOVIded that cable programmmg was aVaIlable for the classrooms.
2.2. RET AC programming -
Regional EducatIonal TeleVISIOn Advisory CouncIl (RET AC)
programmmg IS provided by the OffIce of the Los Angeles County
SuperIntendent of Schools and Includes educatIonal teleVISIOn
programming in many currIcular areas, k-12. The curriculum
prOVided by RET AC augments the dIstrIct and the state
curriculum, as it coordInates its educatIonal programming goals
with the state curriculum framework for textbooks approved by the
state. The Board of Education recently approved fundtng for
RET AC (RegIonal EducatIonal TeleVISIOn Advisory CounClI)
programming. ThIS funding was prOVIded from ProposItion LL
funds in order that once again the schools may receIve educatIOnal
teleVIsion programming from the Los Angeles County
Supermtendent of Schools OffIces. RETAC provides a wide varIety
of currIcular offenngs at all grade levels. The cost to the distrIct
is 90 cents per chIld per year. Cable operators often prOVIde thIS
serVIce through the cable franchIse.
2.3. DramatIc presentations from hIgh school to other schools -
Our schools offer excellent dramatIc presentatIons. However. none
of the elementary schools are able to VIew the presentatrons WhICh
take place at the hIgh school. Through the use of CA TV.
dramatic presentatIons from the hIgh school and the JUnIor hIgh
schools could be receIved In the elementary schools.
A-dc1 -Th 10-1+
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3. Interactive Call-In Programs
3.1 Independent study and home bound student instruction -
Students workmg outside the school site setting either because
they have independent program study or because they are
incapacitated or ill and unable to attend school, may receive their
Instruction In thelr homes through the cable televislOn
programmmg. Live televislOn presentations by the teacher will
also permit the students at home to Interact with the Instructor by
telephone.
3.2 Homework assistance programs -
In Spanish language -
In Enghsh -
Each evening the distnct can broadcast live homework asslstance
programs during which time students may call directly to the
teacher for speCIfic answers to their questions.
4. Inservice training of teachers
4.1 College courses taken in own school buildings -
Cal State Umversity-Northridge transmits college credit COUl"ses by
satellite directly to institutions. Our district may pick up
specifically deSigned courses from the Umverslty and transmit them
through cable televislOn networking to teachers In their own school
bUildmgs who will take the courses for credit.
4.2 TraIning in new chstrlct currIculum materials and methods for
teachers -
Tramlng In new district curriculum materials and methods for
teachers. New curriculum materials and methods for using these
materIals may be presented by mentor teachers or our chstrict
specialists and transmitted to the different school sites for teacher
in service training.
4.3 Curriculum inservlce regarding use of new textbooks -
District curriculum program specialIsts and/or consultants from
publishers of new textbooks may present Inservice traIning for our
teachers on the use of new textbooks from a central locatIon and
have the training transnutted throughout the distrIct to the
appropriate teachers by the cable television system.
4.4 Opportunities for teachers to learn from one another by video
tapmg selected lessons of teachers -
Opportunities for teachers to learn from one another by video
taping selected lessons of teachers. The video tape recorded
selected lessons of mentor teachers and other outstanding teachers
may be used as inservlce demonstration lessons for other teachers
throughout the distnct when transmitted directly to the school
sites of the viewmg teachers.
4.5
demonstratIng speclal science lessons, math
concepts,
Programs
etc. -
Teachers
concepts
prepared
may be shown how to demonstrate specific
through carefully deSIgned video mservlce
and presented by fellow teachers.
curricula
programs
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4.6 DemonstratlOn of new art technIques for teachers -
DistrIct fine arts specialists and consultants wIll be able to reach
all of our elementary teachers through vIdeo taped demonstrations
of the techmques that will be needed for classroom instructIon in
art.
4. 7 Onentation for new employees -
InformatlOn on employee benefits, dIstrict policies, UnIons, pay
procedures, etc., could be broadcast sImultaneously to employees
at different SItes VIa cable televiSlOn.
4.8 Multicultural curriculum inservice -
The Santa MOnlca-Malibu Unified School DIstrIct has developed a
series of MultIcultural Curriculum Resource Activity Books for
grades K -6. The use of Cable Television would enable classroom
teachers to be InservIced In the various aspects of the
Multicultural Curriculum guides and their application to the
currIculum content areas.
4.9 Dissemmatlon of mformation to teachers from SEIU, CSEA,
SMMCTA
4.10 DissemInation of InformatlOn to teachers from admInIstration
5. Expand communlcatlOn through mformation to parents and communIty
regarding school and district issues and events
5.1 Information regarding school programs, policies and procedures -
Information about new and/or revised programs such as the
extended kindergarten, policies such as the one on use of
controlled substancies and procedures such as enrollment could be
conveyed to the general public as well as to employees.
5.2 InformatIon about DesegregatlOn program -
Up-to-date informatIon on the distnct's desegregation program,
and all of It's components could be relayed to both staff and
communi ty .
5.3 Information about Extended Day Care program -
Information of schools whIch have day care centers, fees, criteria
for enrollment and the quality of the program could be presented
to the Commumty. SpeCIal segments showmg children and teachers
in the actual centers could also be broadcast to parents.
5,4 Meetings
5.4.1
PT A meetmgs -
Monthly district-wide PT A Council meetmgs could be
broadcast In the distrIct and m the community.
AddItionally, local school PT A meetings on tOpICS of
interest to all parents could be broadcast.
5.4.2
Board meetings -
Regular and special meetmgs of the Board of Education
could be broadcast to the commumty.
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5.4.3
Other distrIct advIsory commIttee meetIngs -
Meetmgs of committees such as the gifted and talented
advIsory committee special educatton could be relayed to
the entire communIty.
5 .5 Pupil progress and report card description system -
ImmedIately pnor to the distributIon of students' report cards, the
distrIct can present to the communIty through the cable teleVIsion
system a detaIled descrIptIon of the features of the report card
and the descrIptIve measures used to quantify pupils' progress.
5.6 DIstrict testing informatIon -
ImmedIately preceding any dIstrIct-wIde testing of pupils the
program can also be presented to the commumty whIch gIves
speCIfic information regarding the reasons why the tests are bemg
gIven and the specific purposes for which the data IS collected.
5. 7 Trammg for parents in support of school programs -
The wstrict can highlight specifIC school programs with specially
prepared televiSIon InformatIOnal presentations on these particular
programs. The detailed features of programs offered in the
district schools such as special education, gIfted and talented,
advanced placement, bIlIngual mstructIOn, English as a second
language Instruction J Chapter 1, RegIOnal Occupational Program,
computer SCIence and others can be offered to the public in their
own md1vidual television presentations In order to insure contInued
parental support of these programs.
5.8
Programming to include places to take children -
Cable teleVIsion programming available in the
community could be used to Inform parents and
educatIonal and recreatIOnal activities for chIldren
the CIty of Santa Momca.
classroom and
teachers about
in and around
How to improve family relationshIps -
The dIstrIct can highlIght and develop specIfic educational and
mformational programs related to famIly problems and solutions
with the potentIal to call in questions and abIlIty to talk with a
psychologist demonstratmg that theIr problem is not umque.
How to help children with homework -
5.9 Special programs produced by students and teachers, such as
play s t sportIng events. science fairs t award ceremonies. holiday
programs. etc.
5.9.1
Student concerts -
Vocal and instrumental performances by students could
be broadcast. Special concerts such as II StaIrway to the
Stars" could be presented over cable.
5.9.2
Fine and Performing Arts Magnet programs -
Performances produced and staged by students In the
magnet program could be shown to students at other
schools. the communIty and to parents conSIderIng
enrolling their chIldren in the program.
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5.9.3
Student staffed and written news reports -
A program with a format similar to professional news
shows could be written and presented by students.
ThIs type of program would be informative for the
communIty and an excellent learnmg experIence for
students.
6, Commumty serVIce type programs
6,1 How parents can help theIr children at home wIth reading, math
and other homework -
Special instructional television programs Just for parents may be
presented to show parents techniques for augmentmg what theIr
children are learning in the classrooms.
6.2 Parenting classes -
The distrlct's physiCIan, psychologists, nurses, and child care
speciahsts can present televised programs which may give our
students! parents some interesting insights to aSSIst them with
theIr parentmg.
6.3 What to expect from a parent conference -
Televised simulations of typical parent conferences between
elementary teachers and parents of their pupils and also
SImulations of a representative conference between a secondary
teacher and the parent of a secondary student should assist
parents in preparIng for teacher conferences. Such presentatlOns
WIll show the parents what to expect from the teachers and assist
the teachers In letting parents know what the teachers expect from
them in a conference.
6.4 A IlSanta Monica Schools" type of show -
A program with a call-In format would gIve the communIty a chance
to ask queshons about school-related issues and concerns. A
program such as this is an excellent opportunity for two-way
communication and to get feedback from the community on specific
tOpICS as well as the school In general.
6.5 Other call-m programs (audio interactive)
Deseg, school closure, budget and other school issues -
Person depends on issues -
Other call-m programs which would provide an interactive audio
channel WIth the live video would provide essential Information to
the school community. Some active Issues which would be of
importance and interest to the community would center around
school desegregatIon, closure of schools, the school distrIct's
budget, school safety, etc. The person featured on each of the
call-m programs would depend on the school Issue involved.
6.6 Emergency mformatIon about schools -
In the event of crISIS, district-WIde or at the local school level,
both staff and parents could be kept abreast of the SItuation via
cable.
7. School to school mterlinks
7.1 Sharmg Ideas among schools
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7.2 Classes to wnte and produce theIr own productIons -
WIth access to a productIon studio classes will be encouraged to
WrIte and produce theIr own presentatIons. chscussions,
simulations, and share them with other classes in the same subject
area throughout theIr own school or the dIstrIct.
7.3 Multicultural exchange programs -
A major goal of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School DistrIct is
to foster a multicultural awareness and appreciation among its
students. Cable TeleVision would provide a "Multicultural
Exchange Programll whereby students could share their cultural
herItage with other students throughout the distrIct. Students
from the varIOUS schools in Santa Monica could be II electrically
paJ.redlt for such multIcultural sharIng actlvitles,
7.4 To IIElectrically Gather" students taking the same class in different
areas -
In some schools where enrollment is low in a particular class (i.e..
English as a second language instruction), students could be
gathered Ilelectncally" via cable televislOn for group instructIOn by
a IItelevision teacher. 11 Instruction could generate from central
office to the various schools throughout the distrIct.
8. Information from central office to schools
8.1 DIsseminahon of admInistrative information to schools -
The use of cable would enable distrIct adminIstrators to
communicate information to each other Without calling meetings.
Meetings reqmrmg no feed-back could be ehmmated.
8.2 The ability of the distrIct to broadcast materials housed at the IMC
over closed cirCUIt rather than running shuttle films durmg special
hohday seasons
8.3 Cable casting of special holiday events such as Martin Luther
King1s birthday
9. City agenCIes to schools
9,1 ChIldren may learn about new books and materials available in
school libraries or pubhc librarIes through book talks -
Cable communications can prOVIde a link between city agencies and
the school community in a varIety of program areas, City
librarians can prOVIde information on new resources, book reviews,
and audIo-visual materials directly to school classrooms and
teachers.
9,2 Police Department -
Educational programming produced by both the fIre and poIrce
departmen ts could be made available to school classrooms and
utilized in accordance WIth the class curriculum. This would
reduce the personnel costs now associated with individual live
presentatIons and would allow the schools to take advantage of the
range of materIals avaIlable to these public safety departments.
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9.3 Fire Department -
Educational programmmg produced by both the fire and police
departmen ts could be made aVaIlable to school classrooms and
utIlized in accordance with the class currIculum. This would
reduce the personnel costs now assocIated with individual hve
presentations and would allow the schools to take advantage of the
range of materIals avaIlable to these publIc safety departments.
10.
Vocational educatlon and Job search -
Programmmg deSIgned to inform and promote
traIning and regional occupational program to
communIty as a transItlon tool for non-college
English speaking students.
vocatIOnal educatIOn
students and the
bound and limited
Job traIning and programming on placement linkages between the
Employment Development Department, communIty placement agencIes for
the handicapped, Job training partnershIp programs and city funded
youth employment trammg opportunities and how students can link up
WIth the programs, informatIOn about resources and skills needed for
specIfIC Jobs could be transmitted over cable into classrooms. hbranes
and to homes.
Educational programming demonstrating what employers look for in
seeking new employees and lessons on developing these skills linking
business and educatIon.
11. Linkage information by I for the dIsabled -
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School DIstrict OffIce of Special
EducatIon has developed a serIes of lessons for secondary students
deSIgned to aSSIst in changmg attitudes toward the disabled
through a series of mformation. demonstration and guest speakers.
The use of cable television would enable more students to be
involved in this program.
Career opportunities and vocatIOnal preparation for the dIsabled are
currently addressed WIth great limitations. Classroom lessons could be
dIstributed over cable by a counselor or vocatlonal specialIst to teach
students a variety of skills related to job search, Job keeping and job
promotion.
, l ,
CABLE C4IIIrICATIONS IN SANTA MONI~HPCC
/0-4
I. COST EFFECTIVENESS
A. Increase number of people served through:
1. Public service announcements
2. WIder dIsseminatlon of program lnformatlon,
e.g. announcements of workshops
3. Health education programmIng
(ThIS will ease our frustration over the space
limltations that prohibIt us from offering more
classes.)
B. ElIminate need for multiple presentations of the same
materIal by produc1ng VIdeotapes for unlImIted replay,
e.g. health educatIon community outreach programs,
tours of the Center, traIn1ng and techn1cal aSSIstance,
advocacy on the need for preventive and mental health
care.
C. Expand our expertise, allowlng us to incorporate more
profeSSIonals on a one-tIme basis for in-servlce and
community educat1on.
D. Save travel tIme and "repeat performance" tlme,
increas1ng staff efflc1ency.
II. HOW WE ACCOMPLISH THESE FUNCTIONS NOW
A. Send announcements to every small newspaper (6 In Santa
Mon1ca, 35 1n L.A. county) and local communIty center (18).
This is t1me-consuming and expenslve.
B. Our health educat10n programs at the Center can
accornodate a maXImum of 20 people. We repeat the same workShOps
agaIn and agaIn. People must walt for an opening In a class.
We repeat presentatIons on speciflc health care Issues as
well as health falrs on a number of d1fferent subJects at many
SItes In the communIty. We plan to do 15 Identlcal health
education days throughout L.A. county thls sprlng. ThlS 1S an
exhaustlng process for our staff, must be llmlted by theIr
avaIlable tIme, and can only reach as many people as the slte can
accomodate.
We do tours of the Center for 10-15 people on a monthly
basls. Space does not permit us to InVIte any more. Staff
members make the same presentations at each Open House. The tIme
requlred for plannIng, organlzatlon and presentatIon IS
signlflcant.
C. Professlonals are generous In volunteerIng time from
their busy schedules to speak to our staff and clients. We can't
ask them to appear more than once when we aren't able to pay for
their serVIces. Only a llm1ted number of people can take
advantage of these programs.
1
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SPECIFIC SHPC~ES FOR A CABLE COMMUNIC~S SYSTEM
A. Activities involving multiple sites:
Community outreach
Health educat10n workshops:
exerC1se
stress reduction
chron~c pain management
sexuality enhancement
nutritlon and we1ght loss
blood pressure
coping w1th memory changes
women's l.ssues
w1dow's rap sess~ons
arthrItis self-help
Peer counsellng demonstrat1ons to encourage seniors to
seek help lf they need 1t
Health screenlng:
Health t~ps
Symptoms to watch for
Importance of annual physical exams
Importance of women's health care
Women's 1ssues
Training and techn~cal aSsIstance
InformatIon about the Center, including tour
Advocacy presentatIons
B. ActivItIes for the homebound and seniors In nursing
homes
speciallzed exerClse (e.g. for arthrltics)
slng-a-long chorus
t'al chi
Instructlonal do-along projects such as quilting
and other crafts
C. ActivItles for the handIcapped
IIp readIng
large pr1nt text for the partially sIghted
readlng storIes and llstenlng to music for the
VIsually ImpaIred
speech therapy
slgnlng for the hearlng-lmpalred
D. Actlvlt~es InvolVIng local organIzatIons wIth the same
m1SSIon as ours
MeetIngs
Bralnstormlng
SharIng experIences
ExchangIng ldeas
InformatIon and Referral data base
Team teach1ng
2
E.
Activltie~olvlng organizations i~ network and In
other net~~
Same as (B.) above, but Including
communIty service organlzations, ethnlc
organlzations, churches, local governments, Senior
Centers, nutrltlon sites, parks, hospItals,
physIcIans, Visiting Nurses Assn., Red Cross,
Unl ted Way, YMCA, etc.
F.
ActivitIes Involvlng contact with current clients:
announcements of programs and actual workshops on:
health screenIng
peer counsellng
health education
fund-raIsIng
senlor advocate groups
famIly outreach
news of special lnterest to senlors
Senior Forum to dISCUSS senIor concerns
senior participatIon In productIon and programming
for cable network
G. ActivitIes Involving contact with the general publlc:
announcements of programs and actual programs:
health falrs
health educatlon
fund-ralslng
family outreach
speCIal events (Volunteer Luncheon, Dinner Dance,
presentatIons by and awards to staff and
volunteers)
Informatlon on communlty resources
educatIonal programming
legal aSSIstance, People's Court
tax aSSIstance
soclal securIty aSSIstance
Medlcare, Medl-Cal aSSistance
estate and fInanCIal plannlng
travel lectures and opportunitIes
art and mUSIC appreclatlon
phone-In programs
lntergeneratlonal lnteractlon sltuatlons, e.g.
forums, teachIng a skill, problem SOlVlT1Q,
communIty per:ormances of mus~c, comedy, draMa
H.
ActIVItIes lnvolvlng contact WIth other speCIal groups:
senior hOUSIng
employment
transportatIon
recreatIon
adult education
Meals on Wheels
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IV.. WHY WE WANT T~E AN EFFECTIVE MEANS O~IUNICATION WITH
THE SENIORS WHO LI~ SANTA MONICA -~
In 1983-84, the Senior Health & Peer Counseling Center
(SHPCC) served 13,500 people from allover Los Angeles County.
This hardly beglns to meet the need in Santa Monica alone.
PreventIve health care IS extremely Important In reduclng
the cost and Increasing the effectIveness of medical treatment
and supportIve counselIng. Medicare and Medl-Cal don't cover
dIsease preventIon expenses. We could provIde so much health
educatIon at no cost to senIors VIa cable TV. We could motlvate
people to have regular physlcal exams, which we offer free at our
Center, to exerCIse and eat properly -- In short, to take care of
themselves.
Last year, In our health screenlng clinIc, we dIscovered
three cases of breast cancer that would have gone untreated and
ultImately have led to serIOUS dIsease. We found that one woman
needed a hysterectomy, 20% of clIents had urInary tract
InfectIons of WhICh they were not aware, 5% were mIldly anemIC.
We helped many learn to lower their blood pressure. In a dIet
and nutrItIon workshop, 18 senIors lost a total of 80 pounds.
We are proud of our success, but frustrated by the
lImItations of tIme, space, and money that prevent us from
reachIng more people. A cable communIcations system would enable
us to serve many more senIors.
4
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--
fo-4
February 19, 1985
Mayor Christ1ne Reed
and c~ty Counc~l Members
Santa Monica C1ty Hall
1685 Ma~n Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Dear l'1ayor and Counc]..l Members:
We w1sh to take th~s opportunlty to express our
support for the recommendations of the Cable Cornmunica-
t~ons Task Force. We see great potential in the use of
cable communicat1Qns ~n our serVlce to seniors within
Santa Hon~ca.
Those of us ~nvolved ~n provlding serVlces to senlors
are constantly confronted w~th obstacles 1n reach1ng out
to th1S City's sen10r populat1on. A portion Ilve alone,
lsolated from the community. Many have no means of trans-
portatJ..on. Some are too fra~l, non-ambulatory, or other-
Wlse cannot ava~l themselves of the wealth of resources
ava~lable to them. We see a cable communicat~ons network as
a means of el1m1nating many of these barr~ers.
Compound1ng the lnaccessibility of many sen~ors is the
fact that most agenc18s serving sen~ors are faced w~th
quarters too small to accommodate all the clients who need
help and the programs which are needed. Furthermore I Ilmlt-
ed staff w~th l~mlted amounts of time cannot reach out to
as many sen10rs as they would like~ Thus the constituency
many of us serve lS Ilmited In Slze by our space and t1me.
~ We. network through communlty meetlngs as our schedules permitl
and could benef~t from 1ncreased idea exchanges 1f we had
the tlme and opportunity. We see a cable communicatlons net-
work as a means of link~ng serVlce prov~ders in the aging
network, l~nklng senlors with lnformat1ve and educat10nal pro-
grams, and enabllng the C~ty to make those most lsolated a
part of the commun1ty and its resources.
We see cable communicat~ons as a means to accompl1sh
some of the followlng:
-prov~de educational presentat10ns which would normally
have to be repeated at multiple sites to reach maXlmum
numbers of senlors
-prov~de information and serVlces to homebound or lnsti-
tutlonallzed senlors
-provide entertainment and dlrected act~vity for homebound
and lnstltutlonallzed seniors
-prov~de a network for the exchange of ldeas and informa-
tlon between soc1al serV1ce organ~zations
-prov~de an lnteractlve network between senJ..ors and
community resources as well as among senlors themselves~
, '
-
--
We encourage the Clty Councll to accept the recommenda-
tlons of the Cable Cornmunlcations Task Forcel as we feel
that thls proJect can be a maJor cornmunicatlons Ilnk in pro-
vldlng services to senlors in general andthasB senlors most
In need In particular.
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Westslde Independent SerVlces for the
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Santa Moni~st' L.A.Councll for Senlors
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Llncoln Center for Speech Pathology
Elderly Senior Health & Peer Counselln~
[,fti!k'?1- C ~ L'-<JA.~enter
COffiMlSSlOn on Older Amerlcans
Santa Honlca
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Westside Independent services/for the Elderly
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St. JOhnrS~oS~l & Health Center
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Los A~: CO,u~ty AAA ~,
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Culvey-Clty Senior Citlzen~enter
page 2
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~..... .
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...
Resource & Referral
395 3605 395-0448
:\]{ernatlve Payment Program 394-2646
AdmmJSTraTJOn 393-5422
February 26, 1985
/ t> If-
Santa Monica Clty Councll
1685 Ma~n St.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Dear r~yor & City Council Membersj
The city of Santa Monica has often presented ~tls residents w~th opportun~t~es
not readily avallable elsewhere. Now, w~th Group W's cable franchise nearlng
contract re-negotiations, we are afforded an opportunity rarely experlenced by
any c~tyts social serv~ce prov1ders; the opportun~ty to negot~ate for and gUlde
the development of, a cost-effective cable commun~catlons system whose state-
of-the-art technology could become as 1mportant as the telephone system in our
dellvery of serVlces.
In observance
met as a comm1ttee
those we renresent
your conslderation:
of the importance and the challenge of th~s pros~ect, we have
to discuss future possib~llties. On behalf of ~y colleagues,
and myself, I would like to offer the following points for
Currently, each of us works very hard to reach our const~tuency w1th
1nfor~ation about needed serVlces. Some of us are often forced, by l~mited budgets,
to ~alntain a low-profile. Others of us e~llst t'lone ranger" tactlcs to galn
vlslb~l~ty ~n our community. When we do come together, our networklng efforts
rarely afford full particlpat~on of member agencies. We are constantly faced
w~th the conflict of llmlted time frames and the need to be 1n more than one
place at a time. Broad-based commu~ity coordlnatlon and organlzatlon of serv~ce
del~very 1S a goal we constantly str~ve to achieve.
We propose that a cable commun~cat~ons system wlth ~nteractlve video
capabilities (2 way comm1ncation using v~sual and audlo transm~sSlons) could
change current Ilm1tatlons ln the following cost-effectlve ways:
*
Provide soclal serVlce agencies a method of personal informatlon exchange
~n a soc~ety becom~ng increasingly informat~on orientedj
*
Act as a substitute to telephone use, printed ~nformat~on and face-to-face
lIeetings;
*
Facllltate meeting the needs of specific populations such as the d1sabled,
the aged, youth, people w~th transportation problems, etc.,
*
Enhance current ~n-service tralning procedures by means of video progra~~ingj
I Child Care Informanon Sen Ice
1539 EuclJd Strf't't Santil :\lonlCa C -\. 90404 ,
.
.
to a
collectIon
agency
regardIng
debts owed
to the cable
operator';
(2 )
names
and
addresses
of :subscrlbers
can be
dl~closed to another "cable or other serlve" pro~Jlded that the
subscrlber
disclosure
15
9 l'../en
prOVIded
the
oppertun 1 ty
to
prohIbIt
such
and
the dlsclosure does
net r e ve a 1 the
extent
or
nature
of the subscrIber's use
of the serVIce or
transactlons
over
it.
Addlt lonally} the
cable operator 15
allowed
to dIsclose Information under
a court order acquIred
by a
governmental
ent lty.
The Act
creates CIVIl causes of
actIon for vlolatlon.
Hothlng
franchIslng
In
thls
sectlon
prohlblts
any state
or
authorl+Y
from
enactIng
or
enforCIng
1 a 1.015
conSIstent
With thIS section.
The legIslatlve hIstory shows
that
Congress clearly dld not Intend to preempt addItIonal or
more
strIngent state and local laws.
Thus, 1 f the CIty deems
I t
necessary}
requlrements beyond those
prOVIded by the Act
may be Incorporated lnto the master ordInance.
The extent to whIch prIvacy becomes a real conc~rn IS a
functlon
of
the
sophIstIcatIon
of
the
system
that
15
constructed.
SubscrIber prIvacy wDuld be a maJDr concern} for
example}
In.
a
system whIch
offer
InteractIve
or two-way
serVIces such as consumer pollIng, transactIons IncludI~g
banklng and shoppIng, or IndIVIdual program by program chOIces
whIch create valuable marketIng InformatIon. UntIl the
speCIfICS
of
the
system are
known} the
e~tent of prIvacy
and state law are
concerns
unclear.
beyond
those prOVIded by federal
58
~
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1
10-4
SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
OffIce of the ASsIstant Supenntendent-Education
IMe/Desegregation and Integration
TO:
San ta Momca City Council
Jon G. camPbel~/ /
SupervIsor
IMC/Desegregat on and Integration
FROM:
DATE:
February 26, 1985
In 1982 the InstructlOnal Medla Center of the Santa Momca-Malibu Umfied
School District began a fIve year plannmg process regarding the needs for
cable and lnstruchonal televisIOn in the school district. The five year
planning perlOd began in antIcipatlOn that the eXIstmg cable franchise (which
at that time was WIth Theta Cable) would be expirmg in 1987.
Due to the compleXIty of the Issue and potential uses of CATV, a long
educational process was begun. Without realizing the potential uses of
cable, it is diffIcult to anticIpate needs and uses in the educational arena.
Therefore, the plannIng process Included attendlng meetings and workshops
related to this technology. In additIOn, school distncts in southern
California whIch had successfully (and In some cases unsuccessfully)
negotiated a deSIrable franchIse were vis~ted. ViSIting school chstricts and
diSCUSSIng their cable operatIon proved to be a valuable plannIng tool.
DIstricts which were VIsited were: Irvine Umfled School DistrIct, Beverly
Hills Unified School DIstrict, Lakewood School Distr~ct, Orange Untfied School
DIstrict, and Glendale Unified School DIStrict.
After learning of the potential uses of CATV, the Santa Momca-Malibu
Umfled School District Cable Communications AdVIsory CommIttee began to
examine the uses and application of CATV as it pertams to our umque
situatron.
The development of the attached document, Uses for Cable TeleVIsion In the
Santa Monica-MalIbu UmfIed School DistrIct, therefore was an evolving
process. The list has constantly been in a state of flux and reviSIons have
been ongomg. The document as presented to you tomght reflects the latest
thInking of our adVIsory comm~ttee.
Little or no mention has been made in the document as to the type of
dIstrIbution necessary to achieve the goals and/or uses listed. However, it
should be carefully noted by the CIty council that the ma]onty of the
apphcatlOns needed by the school distrIct require the abIlity of the distrrct
to send a video sIgnal to the cable operator for redistrIbution to the schools.
ThIS distrIbution In most cases would be to schools only and not to the
subscriber network. However, it should also be noted that in many
Instances the applIcatlon calls for chstribution to the subscriber network;
1. e., parent Information shows, homework call in shows, telecastIng of
certaIn important Board of EducatIon meetIngs, etc.
.
~
--
} (, .-/il
/"-" ~
'( .... . .
"
r.
SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
OffIce of the ASsIstant Supermtendent-Education
IMC/DesegregatIon and Integration
TO:
Santa Monica City CouncIl
Jon G. camPbel~'
SuperVIsor
IMC/Desegregat on and Integration
FROM:
DATE:
February 26, 1985
In 1982 the Instructional Media Center of the Santa Momca-Mahbu Unified
School DistrIct began a fIve year planmng process regarding the needs for
cable and instructional telev~sion in the school distnct. The five year
planmng penod began in anticipatIon that the eXlstmg cable franchIse (which
at that time was WIth Theta Cable) would be expiring in 1987.
Due to the complexity of the issue and potentIal uses of CATV, a long
educational process was begun. Without realIzmg the potentIal uses of
cable, It is diffIcult to anticipate needs and uses m the educational arena.
Therefore, the plannmg process mcluded attendIng meetings and workshops
related to this technology. In addition, school chstricts in southern
Califorma whIch had successfully (and in some cases unsuccessfully)
negotiated a deSIrable franchise were visited. VISIting school districts and
discussmg theIr cable operation proved to be a valuable plannmg tool.
DIstrIcts WhICh were visited were: Irvine Unified School DIstrict, Beverly
Hills UmfIed School DIstriCt, Lakewood School DistrIct, Orange Umfied School
DIStrICt. and Glendale Unified School District.
After learning of the potentIal uses of CATV, the Santa Momca-Malibu
Umfied School DIstriCt Cable Communications AdVIsory Committee began to
examine the uses and application of CATV as It pertams to our unique
si tua tIOn .
The development of the attached document, Uses for Cable TeleviSIOn in the
Santa Monica-Mahbu UmfIed School DIstrict, therefore was an evolVIng
process. The list has constantly been in a state of flux and reVISIons have
been ongoing. The document as presented to you tonight reflects the latest
thInking of our adVIsory committee.
Little or no mentIOn has been made in the document as to the type of
dIstrIbutlon necessary to achIeve the goals and/or uses lIsted. However, it
should be carefully noted by the city council that the majority of the
apphcatIOns needed by the school district require the abilIty of the distrIct
to send a VIdeo signal to the cable operator for redistribution to the schools.
ThIS distributIOn in most cases would be to schools only and not to the
subscriber network. However, It should also be noted that in many
instances the applIcatIon calls for distrIbutIon to the subSCrIber network;
I.e., parent InformatIon shows, homework call in shows, telecasting of
certaIn Important Board of Education meetmgs, etc.
,... - ..
'*
~
.
. .
It must also be carefully noted that our advIsory committee has made no
mention of eqUlpment. Our junior high schools and senior hIgh school do
have some color teleVIsion receIvers and some video recorders and cameras.
At the elementary level, schools are drastIcally in need of eqUlpment. Only
two or three of our elementary schools have a color teleVISIOn set. The
majorIty of the elementary schools are hard pressed to fmd any teleVISIOn set
newer than 15-20 years old and they are black and whIte receIvers. Two or
three of our schools have recently purchased a VIdeo cassette recorder and
two of them have a camera.
In summary, the counCIl is encouraged only to consider a franchIse
agreement that would provlde not only the wIrmg of our schools and
IndrvIdual classrooms to make them capable to send and receive Video, but
also to Include signal amplifIers, teleVISIon receivers, video cassette
recorders, and other equipment necessary to meet our needs.
. <
,,'" . ..
.
1li ).
.
SANTA MONICA-MALIBU UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CABLE COMMUNICATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
'.
Frank. Schwengel - Parent
Jamce Walker - Public Information Office - SMMUSD
Libby Sparks - PT A - SMMUSD
- ,
Tim McNulty - Supervisor of SpecIal Education - SMMUSD
Dick Wagnon - Prmcipal - SMMUSD
Walter Siembab - Santa Monica CIty
Hal Connolly - Supervisor of Curriculum - SMMUSD
Joel Post - Principal - SMMUSD
Sandy Franklin - Data Processing - SMMUSD
Rory Livingston - MaIntenance - SMMUSD
Steve Martmez - Program SpecIahst. Bilmgual Education- SMMUSD
VIvIan Rothstein - Santa MOnica City
Rosemary Ecker - Program Specialist. Special Education - SMMUSD
Eval Redhead - PT A - SMMU SD
Candace Gomber - Childrens' Centers - SMMUSD
Jon Campbell - SupervIsort IMC/Desegregation and Integration - SMMUSD