Community Video Report (Fall 1973)

oO) UP/METRO CABLE ROUND-UP/METRO CABLE ROUND-UP/METRO CABLE ROUND-UP/METRO CABL %0 CABLE ROUND-UP/METRO CABLE ROUND-UP/METRO CABLE ROUND-UP/METRO CABLE ROUND MARYLAND ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY The franchises were recently awarded for the County, which was divided into a northern and southern district. Fran chises went to two local firms, both backed by Boston MSO, Amvideo, Inc. BALTIMORE CITY, MD. A Citizens Committee appointed in April, 1972 by the Mayor issued a lengthy public report called ‘‘Cable Communications for Baltimore” in January, 1973, with recommendations to the Council that further study be made; that a city Office of Telecommunications be established to coordinate further study, and to coordinate and develop the City’s own internal communications system; and (perhaps the most controversial) that the best form of ownership in Baltimore Is by a public, non-profit authority, if proven financially feasible, and, If not, that the city be divided into multiple districts with a diversity of ownership. The study goes into various other considerations, including regulation, technical and service standards, the decission-making process, CONTACT: Quentin Lawson. Special Assistant to Mayor, 301-396-3100 Ed Johnson, Antioch Cable Project/Maryland Citizens Coalition for Cable. 301-235-0944 BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD. A franchise was awarded for this juicy plum Of sprawling suburban Baltimore to Calvert Telecommunications on April 2nd. Calvert is owned by a local group, which was backed and organized by Fred Ford-Lee Lovett group— their second big franchise won in the last year. The franchise faces some serious challenges from a variety of sources, Already taken to Baltimore County Circuit Court by the County Women’s PoliticalCaucus on the grounds that the process excluded the public’s role in decision-making. The case was dismessed because the seven women who sued the County and the company were deemed not to have sufficlent grounds. The agreement has been challenged at the federal level in the FCC, where Calvert must receive a Certificate of Compliance, Complainants include six Baltimore TV stations and the primary competitor of Calvert—the company headed by long-time Baltimore Democratic pol, Ted Venetoulis. (Venetoulis’ company was backed by Warner Communications, the second-largest cable operator in the world.) The filings vary, but are primarily economic arguments before the Commission. An additional challenge has also been filled by the Baltimore County Citizens Planning and Housing Association at the FCC level, based primarily on improper proceedings. A group called FAIR (Fair Award of Cable Television), which has ties with Venetoulis, has begun a referendum campaign to recall the franchise. 18,000 signatures are needed, and 20,000 were collected, but it was rejected by the County Soliciter on a technical ground. This will probably meet a court test. The Council still has to pass the final franchise contract bill, as well as a bill establishing some sort of regulatory process, CONTACT: Ed Johnson, Antioch Cable Project/Md. Citizens Coalition. 301-396-3100 COLLEGE PARK, MD. Three firms Rave Madeproposals in response to city's advertisment for same. The City has appointed an advisory citizens committee of some 25 people, who have submitted recommendations to the Mayor and Council which are under consideration. This jurisdiction is one of the several most politically vola tile, with various charges of all sorts coming from most of the the principal parties concerned. One charge, for instance, is that the PG County Council V-P has exércised influence to have the citizens committee stall the letting of a franchise until the County is franchised, in hopes of trying to enhance the chances of a unified County system. CONTACT: Leon F. Shore, City Administrator, 864-8877 GAITHERSBERG, MD. One of two operating cable systems in the area, Gaithersburg CATV, Inc, serves over 1,000 subscribers and passes in front of more than 4,000 homes at present. The system started operation Dec. 28, 1972 after many delays, dating back as early as 1968, when the City Council granted the franchise to the company, which is owned by the owners of the Gaithersburg GAZETTE. Because the system was franchised before the new FCC rules took effect, it is not legally required to meet mimimum standards. Thus the system carries only 12 channels, of which the only nonbroadcast signals are a weather clock and a UPI tickertape. No public or other access is currently provided, although system manager predicts video capability soon— perhaps in six months. CONTACT: Mr. Whitlock, manager: 948-7422, or Sanford Daley, City Mgr: 948-3220 GREENBELT, MD. A study is planned to be conducted by a Citizens’ Advisory Committee. City Council action defining the role of the Committee and appointment of members is pending. CONTACT: Dennis E, Piendak: 474-8000 HOWARD COUNTY, MD. A long and complicated cable process has occurred in semi-rural Howard County, located between the Baltimore and Washington suburbs and the home of new town of Columbia. A deal was made between the Rouse Co., the Baltimore developer that planned Columbia, and Time-Life, a national MSO. This deal, which wasn‘t approved by the Howard County Council that has jurisdiction over Columbia, fell through after the Council passed a CATV ordinance in early 1972, and Time-Life pulled out. By the end of 1972, three companies had applied for the franchise, two nationally oriented, and one headed by Baltimore politician and cable entrepeneur Ted Venetoulls, who also has backing from a national company. The Council, at last report, is tied two members to two members between selecting the Venetoulis bid or rejecting all of them. The one remaining member is undecided. A consultant's report by Atlantic Research recommended Venetoulis’ bid. Local citizens who were active in ousting Time-Life and Pushing an ordinance would like to see no group get it so that a community-owned system might develop. CONTACT: Norman Winkler, 10174 Gate Lane, Columbia 21044. 730-3125. He is head of the citizens group— Community Television Council Howard County. MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD. A formal CATV action program has been adopted by the Council at the initiation of the County Executive. Five phases: (1) Establishment of a Cable Television Office to oversee various aspects listed below. Includes five staffers—a Director, an engineer, a community aide, technical research assistant, and clerical help. The office budget is half the $96,360 earmarked for fiscal year 1973. (2) Selection of a consultant to develop a study of technical, legal, programming, social service, public safety, health, education, franchising and ordinance aspects of cable. The consultant is almost chosen. The report is due Feb. 1974 at a cost of $52,800. (3) Appointment of a Citizen Advisory Committee to advise the government and begin the community dialogue. (4) Implementation of a public awareness program, primarily by the staff. (5) Development of Task Forces for prime potential uses (civic associations, hospitals, education, business, government, etc.) to develop proposals for consideration by the Board, The plan, one of the more comprehensive in the country, has met with considerable opposition by commercial interests—both the familiar cable interests in the area (Lovett/Ford & other frequent bidders) and the large real estate-development interests. The Board prevailed against the pressure, and has proceeded, even to the point of publically expressing interest in the concept of County-ownership of CATV. CONTACT: Russ Hammill, County CATV office. 7621662 PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD. PG County, the largest and perhaps most diverse Washington suburban jurisdiction, will have perhaps the most complex cable process in the area. In addition to its size and population, PG Co, has some 43 sub-jurisdictions within its borders, unlike most of the other Counties. Already cable has surfaced as an issue involving some County politicians, who have interest in competing companies who would like to wire the County. Formally, a County Study Commission was created by Executive Order on July 12, 1972. The group of 14 members, consisting of government officials and some citizens, is headed by Lucky Rodenhausen. During Jan. and Feb., 1973, four public information forums were held around the County, which solicited information as well as dispensed it. On May 24, an interim report of the Commission’s activities was sent to County Executive Gullett, and remains generally unavailable to the public. Among the major recommendations suggested hiring a consultant to assist the Commission in future planning. A request-for-proposal is being written by the Commission. No concrete action plan has been adopted yet. An enormous number of applicants have been interested in PG County, including a group headed by Fred Ford. CONTACT: Harold (Lucky) Rodenhausen: 627-3000 ex. 50° ROCKVILLE, MD. Hired MITRE as consultant in March, 1973; economic analysis on the feasibility of CATV by MITRE submitted to Mayor and Council, May 1, 1973; public hearings held July-August, 1973; Ad Hoc citizens advisory group appointed by Mayor. Mayor and Council to decide Sept. 10, whether to move ahead with a draft ordinance on CATV or to wait. ‘“‘The question of CATV has become an involved, complex one .. . because of a large number of politically active citizens becoming involved directly with one of the firms which would be interested in applying for the franchise,"’ according to Asst. City Mgr. Anthony Shoemaker, in COG Questionnaire. One major contender is connected with Ford-Lovett group. Municipal ownership seems all but ruled out. And, although there is ‘‘no public clamor for cable TV" according to City Mgr. Larry Blick, he admits that an ordinance is possible as early as January because of the intense pressure from private interests. CONTACT: ANTHONY SHOEMAKER OR LARRY eeaen? 424-8000, ext. 213.111 S. PERRY, ROCKVILLE, 850. TAKOMA PARK, MD. “No activity for over two years on Council working agenda. Seems there is little interest in subject at this time.” —COG Questionnaire. CONTACT: HAYNES M. PRIDGEN. 270-1700. VIRGINIA ALEXANDRIA, VA. In June, 1973, the City Mgr. presented a position paper to City Council presenting the following procedure for the adoption of a “progressive CATV Regulatory Ordinance and Franchise," essentially following the procedure recommended by the Cable Television Information Center: 1.) October 23—Presentation of a CATV Study to City Council; 2.) Dec. Presentation of draft regulatory ordinance; 3.) Dec.-March 74—Public hearings on the ordinance; 4.) April—adoption of ordinance; 5.) May-June 74—selection of franchisee. CONTACT: GEORGE E. HUBLER, JR. 703-750-6517 ARLINGTON COUNTY, VA. Arlington County will probably be the first area locality to build a cable system of the new, sophisticated type. All other existing systems----Reston, Gaithersburg—are old, one-way systems built before the new federal rules. The County Board began by ad@ptimg &@ATV regulatory ordinance on Feb. 13, 1971, after three public hearings before the Public Utilities Commission. A detailed 23Page application form for a CATV certificate was mailed to more than 60 firms and advertised. On Oct. 23, 1971, five applications were received and rated by the PUC. Following several hearings the County Board granted a provisional certificate to the Arlington Telecommunications Corporation (ARTEC) on Aug. 5, 1972. ARTEC is partially owned and was formed by the team of Fred Ford, a former FCC Commissioner, and Lee Lovett, a wellknown Communications lawyer and consultant, They have won the franchise in Baltimore Co. and have applications in many other jurisdictions in the region. After negotiations and public hearings, the County Board awarded a certificate to ARTEC on March 3, 1973. ARTEC now awaits approval of their application for a Certificate of Compliance from the FCC, Several Washington television stations filed comments to biock the application, primarily on the grounds that the construction of a cable system would infjure these stations economically; this is essentially the reasoning which the broadcasters have tried to use to block cable in the cities for years, SO most observers expect their objections to act continued on page 8 Washington area cable chronology TdV) dN-GNNOU ATSVI OWLAW/dN-GNNO" ATHVIONLAW/d1-GNNO0" ATAVIOULAW/dN-GNNOU A 1965 Jul Mar 3 Final award made in Arlington April23 FCC issued First Report and Order, assNOV Aided tan deteeeme ri Shattensioae ig Sbload to ARTEC erting jurisdiction over microwave-fed . CATV syareme. Interim report released by MITRE on Creation of Washington Community March —*_ Housing in Anacostia’, 1st cad ‘Urban caus Systems’. f Video Center SUL ia page Mg 9 Mar 8 FCC Issued Second Report and Order, Sa . n orniact Amaaunt asserting jurisdiction over all CATV sysDec Sloan Commission on Cable CommunArlington County Program ity, WY He 1 EMMY. tems, and placing restrictions on carrying ications releases national report. Advisory Committee formed ability. Won loca : distant signats in top-l00 markets. 1968 " ° July 12 Study Commission begins in PG Co. Apr 2 On maton 7: seb De F chise to vert Telec lee paused teuvertantae mera ae eae July 24 WCVC and Institute for Policy Studies cations immediate freeze ‘on cable sponsor ‘Cable TV in the District’--edu, jou Arlington citizens begin educational cational and community strategy seminar Apr15 OC Public Library Video Showcase th 10 D.C. City Council Committee on Manmeetings about cable. August Montgomery County Exec. Gleason Apr 20 Opening of Adams-Morgan Storepower and Economic Development con. Feb Report by MEDCO drafted and cirbegins cable action plan front by WCVC venes public hearings on cable television culated within government. Never October ‘s i ymposium on Urban Cable TelevisMay Anne Arundel County franchises cy in the District, with some 35 witnesses. publicly released. lon’ sponsored by MITRE Corp. Saha ; ; V or nce , Feb.13 matin Waniheteeee ° dinance, Mar 4 — Arlington hearings on CATV applicants October Dr. Marjorie Parker assumes chair of June NCTA Convention, Anaheim, Mar 24 ‘Cable.Communications and the City committee overseeing cable in DC Calif. National Association for June 25 White House established special Cabof the Future'--seminar for District Media Action formed November Founding of CASE Cable—coalition of peat fevel COIN tee eres STF LOIS NG ee Oe 42 community organizations in DC intmid-year Formation of Howard University April Balto Mayor Shafer appoints Citizen erested In DC cable process. School of Communications begins. Advisory Committee. Nov Maryland Citizens Coalition for Cable July DC City Council tentatively y Communications begins scheduled cable hearings; called Aug D.C. City Council Committee releases April Video Conference held at New off before public notice pending report on cable TV. Brunswick, N.J., forms national Arts and Media *--conference by Nat’! new Council appointments cooperative for video/cable groups. Endowment for the Arts ad a5 wit August Public hearings held by DC City Counuly | Weekly video screenings begin 25/Sept cil Commitee on Economic DevelopMay PG County Exec Gullett appoints Dec 28 pte a CATV system begins at WCVC storefront 17 m nd Manpower. Citizens Committee. whl = ea 2 1973 July MITRE study of Rockville finished Oct Six-month moratorium on CATV franMay 15 Final COG report. Moratorium ends. chise-granting voted by Council of Jan Baltimore study released Aug Napa gern th olla Lead r f P May 1|7 Arlington PUC hearings. y Senate for —Ms. Tony For OOS TS ee ee Jan 23 Montgomery County Exec releases requests chair of Economic DevelNCTA Convention, Chicago, features report ‘Window to the Future’ in opment and Manpower Committee, video/public access groups for first seeking nearly $100,000 appropriawhich includes cable TV. Oct Founding of Fides House Communtime. tion for CATV projects ications Project i of Mismnicaton TPE. ASENDENGGS © hay 3) Praylsionel certificate ofanted to Arlington Telecommunications . Nov City Council receives first peition (ARTEC). ? Petia hemi ay at Wi Sect lg AOE 2 START aE a verod resigns post x} from private firm seeking franchise report, sends to mayor. Not for DC cable TV June & More hearings on ARTEC in Arlington. P y' cable TV development in DC released to general public