Public Access Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 079 960 EM 011 285 AUTHOR Anshien, Carol M.; And Others TITLE Public Access Report.. INSTITUTION Public Access Report, New York, N.Y.. SPONS AGENCY New York State Council on the Arts, New York. PUB DATE Jan 73 NOTE 90p. AVAILABLE FROMPublic Access Report, P.O. Box 393, New York, N.Y,. 10024 ($3.00) EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29 DESCRIPTORS *Cable Television; Citizen Participation; City Planning; *Public Facilities; *Public Policy; *Public Television IDENTIFIERS Manhattan; New York City; Public Access; *Public Access Celebration ABSTRACT A short review of the development of cable televiE_Jn in New York City, a brief description of wiring patterns, a history of public access, and some statistical data on public channel usage are provided in the first portion of this report. The second major part describes the Public Access Celebration, a three-day informational event held in July 1972 to mark the first anniversary of Public Channel programing on cable television in Manhattan. Following this is a section which presents supplementary information about public access to cable television, including reports from local origination centers, reflections on the meaning and role of public access, and recommendations for implementation of full public access. An appendix lists individuals and groups participating in the Celebration, gives a copy of a franchise agreement under which a system operates, and describes public access procedures. (PB) FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY 2 PUBLIC ACCESS REPORT Public Access Celebration July 6, 7, 8, 1972 Report on Public Access in New York Carol M. Anshien Arnold Klein Lynda Meyer Janice Cohen Charles I. Levine Richard Skidmore special assistance from: graphics by: Howard Gutstadt Kathy Shagass Laura Kassos mailing address: PUBLIC ACCESS REPORT P.O. BOX 393 New York, New York 10024 U S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO OUCEO EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN January 1973 ATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EOUCATION POSITION OR POLICY 1 The first 1,000 copies of this report are being distributed free toindividuals. Donations would be appreciated since printing cosi.s were paid for bythe authors. In order for us to support a second printing, we request a minimumof $3.00 per additional copy to cover printing and mailing costs. Please make check or money order payable to "Public Access Report" and mail to: PUBLIC ACCESS REPORT P.O. BOX 393 New York, New York 10024 Thanks to Survival Arts Media for helping to initiate this report by len1ing their support and the use of their facilities. PHOTOGRAPHY: Wayne Decker, Ted Horowitz, Richard Milone, Mark Sherman & Stuart Swartzburg Text pages printed by Glad Day Press Cover printed by Come: Unity Press Thanks to UR (University Review) Gracious layout assistance from: Minton Brooks Bob Israel Published with support from: The New York State Council on the Arts copyright © 1973: Permission granted for reproduction for nonprofit purposes. Please credit and forward two copies for our files. Opinions expressed in this report .PERMISSION TO REPRODUCETHIS COPY. GRANTED BY do not imply endorsement by parti RIGHTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN cipating organizations and compan ies and are solely those of the CAP/ A ("4.-sise,,,, OPERATING authors. TO ERIC AND ORGANIZATIONS THE NATIONAL IN. UNDER AGREEMENTS WITH 00110030 FURTHER REPRO. STITUTE OF EDUCATION MOM411;11I DuCTIOh OUTSIDE THEERIC SYSTEM RE. 2 THE COPYRIGHT QUIRES PERMISSION OF Ipl itenn Me.MYq.M Y 1030 OWNER Explanation of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION A. BACKGROUND 2. DEVELOPMENT OF CABLE IN NEYORK CITY (a) As Recorded by the New YorkTimes over the years, 1970-1972. (b) A Brief Description of WiringPatterns (Sterling and TelePrompter). 3. HISTORY OF PUBLIC ACCESS From 1965 to the Present - The stunted growth ofan unplanned system - From Public Channels to Public Access. "A Common Misconception is that Free Public Access Exists by Legal Right." 4. PUBLIC CHANNEL USAGE STATISTICS The first year plus the month of October 1972 in numbers with analysis by David Othmer and Public AccessReport Group B. PUBLIC ACCESS CELEBRATION 5. DESIGN/INTENTION OF THE PUBLIC ACCESS ( ,LEBRATION--- A FOCUS FOR THE DESIGN OF A RESPONSIVE MEDIA SYSTEM. "...Mushrooming Resources of Life Energies and Technological Hardware." 6. COORDINATING COMMITTEE REPORT 7. PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY FOR THE CELEBRATION Mass versus local information dissemination 8. ECONOMIC REPORT Allocation and Use of 2unds available to plan and run the Celebration. It ... Unrealistic Assessment of costs incurred by the Celebration." 9. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE: CENTRAL PARK - LIVE ACCESS AND TECHNICAL EXPERIMENTATION It ... Applying Technology in new wayto serve Community Information Needs." 10. REALITY OF THE PUBLIC ACCESS CELEBRATION--- 8 of the 18 VIEWING CENTER REPORTS: 179th Street TelePrompter Studio; New York City Libraries; Bellevue Hospital; Women's West Side Video; St. Matthew's andSt. Timothy's (West Side Video); Central Park; Washington Square Village. 3 C. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 11. VIDEO ACCESS CENTER REPORT 12. LIVE LOCAL ORIGINATION CENTER REPORTS URBAN AND RURAL 13. ACCESS CHATTER 14. CONCLUSIONS: Reflection on the Meaning of the Public Access Celebration A Need for Live Local Origination Centers Role of Public Access within a Municipal System " ... As a Base Level of Information Generation for Municipal Operations." 15. RECOMMENDATIONS Necessary Steps for Implementation of Full Pu-dic Access. 16. BIBLIOGRAPHY Research Materials and Recommended Reading D. APPENDIX 17. PUBLIC ACCESS PARTICIPANTS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Categorical List of all Individuals and Group Celebration Participants 18. FRANCHISE 19. PUBLIC ACCESS PROCEDURE 4 ...fit 1 et Ear righdlibo0A :it .' X' ,-- e As, - CAf LE 11.1 n , 1 Introduction. u 1111111311i .11 1 4 .° Om. .L1-41EL IP ( -.111:AL 11111161._ The Public Access Celebration of decentralized nature of the event. July 6-8, 1972 marked the first anni- versary of Public Channel programming Origionally, this report was intend- on cable television in Manhattan.In- ed to be an analysis of the Celebration. dividuals, video groups, City agencies, It has grown to include a broader discus- the New York State Council on the Arts, sion of public access. During the several Sterling Manhattan Cable and Telepromp- months of research for this report, we ter Corporation cooperated to produce studied the history and character of the the first informational event about New York City cable franchise as well as public access for the general public. state and federal cable policies. Histor- ical research, two years of experience Perhaps for the first time, a sub- with the present franchise, and the stantial number of the video groups and Public Access Celebration as a testing individuals in Manhattan worked together. of previously unused capabilities of the Donated equipment and services extended , cable system, indicate the necessity for the funds that were available. Attention expanding the definition of public access was drawn to the Public Channels, people and considering its means of support. participated in making and watching tapes; there was feedback. The true im- Debate on all Public Channel issues portance of the Public Access Celebrationwill be possible at the public hearings is that it was experimental and open and for the franchising of Brooklyn, the dealt, sometimes inadvertently, with the Bronx, Queens,and Staten Island which major problems and possibilities of pub- will begin after the statewide franchis- lic access. ing freeze is thawed in April, 1973.Any changes or additions adopted at that Some of the cable techniques used time will apply to Manhatten due to a were live microwave, live telephones for matching clause in the present franchise immediate feedback, live studio program- [Section 21]. ming, cable system interconnection, radio simulcast, video tape for delayed feed- back, and a retrospective of public ac- Since municipal support is needed cc:ss channel programming. This networking to realize the goal of expanded public carability, coupled with 18 'viewing/ access, understanding the role of Public access centers, including three librar- Channels within a municipal system is a ies, Central Park, Public School 20 and priority. The Public Access Celebration Bellevue Hospital, reveal the complex, presents a forum for that understanding. 5 a Ca free service, others a rate reduction. 2.Development of The experimental contracts were extended four times before franchises were Cable in New York granted an July 29, 1970. The experi- mental period resulted in economic en- Cable in Manhattan had its official trenchment for both Sterling and Tele- debut in December, 1965.Sterling In- prompter and rather than open the formation Services and Teleprompter franchises to competitive bidding, as is Corporation were awarded two-year con- customary, the New York City Board of tracts for the experimental operation Estimate chose to award them outright to of community antenna TV services. They both cable companies. were required to wire the borough on a non-discriminatory basis to avoid The following pages indicate the cream skimming of the high-class neigh- range of issues and the status of public borhoods. Some city agencies received channels during the past two years that the 20-yeas licenses arezero" and to assure that aU CITY HEARING SET contradictory. to the Federalfacets