IR 001 446 Satellite Communications and Interconnections. Public
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 100 350 IR 001 446 TITLE Telecommunications and the Public Interest; Needs and Prospects in California. INSTITUTION California State Legislature, Sacramento. Joint Committee on Telecommunications. PUB DATE Dec 74 NOTE 235p. EDRS PRICE IMF -$0.75 HC-$11.40 PLUS POSTAGE DESCRIPTORS cable Television; Commercial Television; communication Satellites; *Delivery Systems; Educational Programs; Educational Radio; Educational Television; Fixed Service Television; Mass Media; *Public Policy; Public Television; Radio; State Legislation; *State Surveys; Statewide Planning; *Telecommunication; Television; Video Equipment IDENTIFIERS Federal Communications Commission ABSTRACT A summary of 18 months' investigation into the potential uses of telecommunications in the public interest is presented. Areas investigated include public TV and radio, cable TV, television translaters, instructional fixed television service, satellite communications and interconnections. Public hearings were held in eight cities and more than 100 representatives of telecommunications industries testified. Questionnaires were mailed to all delivery systems operators, and appropriate officials of other states were asked to comment on their telecommunications policies. The committee issued specific legislative recommendations in all areas listed above, sought to define therole of governmental and community agencies, and made suggestions for the use of systems. Appendixes include summaries of appropriate current legislation, maps showing locations of public TV and radio stations in California, a summary of Federal Communications Commissionregulations on cable TV, and a report on a satellite technology demonstration. (SK) '0,7;1 4 on ; WICIPYINAMME TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND THE PUBLIC INTEREST NEEDS AND PROSPECTS INCALIFORNIA REPORT OF THE JOINTCOMMITTEE ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS California Legislature Senators Assemblymen S DEPARTMENTOF HEALTH. EDUCATION A WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTEOF EDUCATION Fred W. Marler, Jr. (1) John P. Quimby DOCUMENT HAS BEENREPRO TI-41% DUCE() EXACTLY ASRECEIVED FROM (Vice Chairman) (Chairman) ORGANIZATION ORIGIN THE PERSON OR (2) AT.NG 11 POINTS OFVIEW OR OPINIONS Mervyn M. Dymally John L. Burton (3) STATED DO NOTNECESSARILY REPRE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF Arlen Gregorio Robert C. Cline (4) SENT OF F ICIAL EDUCATION POSITIONOR POLICY Walter Karabian (5) Paul V. Priolc (6) John C. Crabbe,Consultant Stephen W. Frantz, Consultant Charles E. Toole, Consultant Mary Bailey, Secretary September, 1974. (1) Memberofthe Committee until (2) Memberofthe Committee untilNovember, 1974. March, 1974. (3) Memberofthe Committee until (4) Memberofthe Committee sinceJanuary, 1974. March, 1974. (5) Memberofthe Committee since (6) Memberofthe Committee untilJanuary, 1974. 3 ASSEMBLY MEMBERS: JOHN C, GRASSE JOHN P. Qui 101V PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT CHAIRMAN MARY BAILEY RORIENT C. CLIMB COMMITTEESECRETARY WALTER KARAMAN ealiforniaegiolature Ille NINTH STREET SENATE MEMBERS: ROOM 58 MERVYN M. DYMALLY SACRAMENTO. CALIFORNIA 95814 TELEPHONE. 445-8445 ARLEN GREGORIO FRED W. MARLER, JR. Laid Mouttnitter VICE CHAIRMAN au drEltuntutnuttrattens JOHN P. QUIMBY CHAIRMAN FRED W. MARLER, VICE CHAIRMAN 41111101 Is November 29, 1974 Honorable John L. Harmer, President and Members of the Senate Honorable Leo T. McCarthy, Speaker and Members of the Assembly Ladies and Gentlemen: In accordance with ACR 44 and ACR 209 (1973-74 Session), we transmit herewith the findings and recom- mendations of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications. During the course of our study we experienced a surprising demand for copies of the transcripts of our public hearings, indicating a substantial interest in this subject. We hope the report will be widely dis- seminated and its recommendations implemented. espectfully submitted, JOHN P. Q Chairman FOREWORD Our signatures below indicate our authorization to file this report of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications with the Senate and Assembly of the California State Legislature as provided by ACR 44 (1973-74 Session). Individual comments of members as to some recommendations are included in the Appendix. Assembly Members hn P. Quimby airman Robert C. Cline P, Wa ter Karabian Senate Members "11.!!tritimb ervyn A. Dymally PREFACE The Joint Committee on Telecommunications was created by Concurrent Resolution of the Legislature in June, 1973, and was activated immediately. In addition, to the Committee members whose names appearin the foreword, other legislators who served as members andfound it necessary to resign for various reasons were: Senator Fred W. Marler, Jr., (Vice Chairman), Assemblymen John L. Burtonand Paul V. Priolo. The Committee was given until December 30, 1974, todevelop public policy in the form of recommendations forappropriate legislation that would maximize the use of telecommunicationsin the public interest. The areas of investigation included public television and radio, cable television (CATV),television trans- lators, Instructional Television Fixed Service(ITFS), satellite communications, and interconnection. The level of activity in these areas in the State was assessed and a comparisonwith similar activities in other states was made. Public hearings were held in eight cities in theState (see Exhibit 1 ). The hearings were designed to obtain input from the broad range of interests in each community regardingthe many aspects of the developing telecommunicationsenterprise. More than one hundred representatives of publicand commercial broad- casting, education, local government, and communityagencies testified as did many individual citizens. Transcripts of the hearings have been widely distributed and the testimony presented therein is an important part of the record. Questionnaires were mailed to all delivery system operators in the State. All of the states were requested to supply infor- mation as to regulation of CATV. Throughout our study we involved as many people as possible in our deliberations, participated in many conferences and public meetings, and sought the advice of professional organizations and agencies interested in the subject. The Committee formed a Citizens' Advisory Council of thirteen members to help it set guidelines and formulate policies. The Council met several times and made many important contributions during and in between its meetings (see Exhibit 2 ). Quite early in its work, it became apparent that the charge given the Committee was too large to dell with effectively in the time available to it. It became necessary to limit the scope of its endeavor and knowingly leave certain areas for further investi- gation. Major emphasis was given to exploration of delivery systems and recommendations for strengthening those systems so they could become more effective. The Committee is indebted to many people for their contribu- tions to this effort. We especially thank the Panel on Telecom- munications of the Assembly Science and Technology Advisory Council, its Chairman, John J. Guarrera, and the Council staff, Steven J. Larson, Edward H. Stokes, and Barbara Pleake. The Council was investigating cable television and educational television at the time our Committee was beginning its study and we were allowed to participate in their hearings and continued to work witi. them after their report was released. 7 We single out for special thanks Margot Shinnamon,who designed the cover for this report, Elizabeth Spaulding, Debbie Davis, and J.W. Poznet for their dedicated help. This report represents eighteen months of concentrated effort. It makes recommendations for action by the Legislature. We hope these recommendations will be pursued and that telecom- munications activities will bt Acouraged to develop in the State in an orderly and economical fashion. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1. Introduction 1 2. Summary and Recommendations 8 3. Public Television 18 4. Public Radio 33 5. Television Broadcast Translator Stations 38 6. Instructional Television Fixed Service 40 7. Cable Television 44 8. Interconnection 68 9. Satellite Communication: A Special Recommendation 80 10. Commercial Broadcasting 83 11. Governmental and Community Agencies O 86 12. Using the Delivery Systems 88 13. Legislation 110 Appendix 135 INTRODUCTION The Joint Committee on Telecommunications was created in June, 1973, to study current and potential uses of tele- communications systems in California and to suggest ways in which the State can meet present and future needs in these areas. Although a number of bills in the area of telecommuni- cations have come before the Legislature in the past two decades, no comprehensive plan for the most effective use of all forms of communications technology has been devised. The only ongoing state body in this field is the Television Advisory Committee in the Department of General Services, and that agency's primary activity is to screen requests for federal grants. One may question why a comprehensive policy is necessary, when the communications industry has proliferated all these years with no involvement from state government. The answer is that developments have occurred in the last twenty years which are likely to alter radically the nature of and uses for mass media. These developments have been termed a "communications revolution" by Douglass Cater, former communications adviser to Lyndon B. Johnson and now Director of the Aspen Workshop on Communications and Society. On the educational front alone, Eric Ashby has termed the growth of instructional media part of the "fourth 10 revolution," the first