The Citizens' Cable Television Task Force was formed to study and identify the potential uses of cable television for the City of Glendale. The cable services needed and desired by the community were determined by various methods. The Task Force actively sought input from organizations, community groups and individuals through public meetings, surveys and guest speakers.

Throughout the term of its commission, the philosophy of the Task Force has been that cable television is Glendale's opportunity to be at the forefront of a movement to offer technology to enhance the lifestyles of its citizens. We must acknowledge not only those desired services which could be implemented immediately, but to also look ahead to the full term of the license.

The following report reflects the citizens' expectations of cable television in Glendale.

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It is the opinion of the Task Force that the citizens of Glendale desire a modern, efficient, cost-effective cable television system which will facilitate quality programming, deliver a variety of marketable services and offer the flexibility needed to adjust to new developments in the cable communications field. The Task Force insists that high standards of technical performance be maintained throughout the term of the license and that the cable licensee be a leader in the implementation of innovations.

The Task Force expects, at minimum, sufficient channel(s) capacity to accommodate government, public, educational and lease access programming needs. There should be an express understanding that additional channel(s) will be activated when programming capacity has been achieved.

One of the responsibilities of the Task Force was to identify the needs of the users of the designated government access channel(s) to be provided the City of Glendale by the licensee. The Task Force has been sensitive to both the current and future needs of the various City agencies.

To enhance the effectiveness of these agencies, an interactive burglar/ fire alarm capability should be made available to subscribers in various "package" options. The Police and Fire Departments have requested that responses to alarm signals generated by this system be monitored by a third

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party, such as the licensee staff or a security company leasing a channel.

The Task Force urges that the system installed by the licensee have the capacity to operate the City's traffic control devices, including the capability of installing an emergency roadside telephone network.

The cable system can enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of various City services, e.g., water delivery and meter reading. The cable system in Glendale should be capable of monitoring water pressure throughout the City, activating and closing the wells automatically as demand dictates, and reading individual meters for billing purposes.

The General Services Department will use the government access channel(s) to notify the public of regulations, policies, rule changes and other pertinent public information.

The Glendale Parks and Recreation Department has outlined the need for programming capabilities for educational and entertainment purposes. These include the areas of handicrafts, physical fitness activities, sporting events, theatre and concerts. To accomplish this, both live and tape remote capabilities would be needed.

This Task Force concurs that the City's cultural and recreational needs be accommodated through such programming. Thus, it is vital that the licensee provide the facilities and equipment necessary to produce such programming.

The Human Resources Department has stated a need for a variety of programs dealing with such topics as youth services, victim assistance, crisis intervention and others. These programs would be generated through the government access channel(s) and would not require any systems other than normal production facilities.

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mission, which is to provide for the educational, intellectual, cultural and recreational needs of the community.

Through the cable, the library could provide information services to its patrons in their own homes. The library could transmit a listing of its holdings and announce the acquisition of new library materials. Specialized bibliographies, utilizing national data bases, such as ORBIT, DIALOG and BRS, could be provided to citizens in their own homes. A "two-way communications" system between the library and the citizen at home would allow for the placement of library materials on reserve and provide specialized service to "shut-ins".

Illustrative of the innovations expected of the licensee would be the transmission of complete documents for home viewing.

Library programming would include instructional use of various research tools and basic reference sources, book reviews and discussion, children's story hours and the Library's Annual Report to the Citizens of Glendale.

The cable should be used to facilitate citizen involvement with the City administration, the Mayor's Office, the City Council, the City Manager, Personnel Department and the Finance Department. Programming on the government access channel(s) would focus on dissemination of public information, public education and public response, and include live coverage of various city meetings. Through a two-way communications system, individual citizens could more fully participate in governmental decision making.

It is apparent that government access channels would be heavily used by most departments within the City government.

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· Access to the government channel(s) to present programs for public information and education by all City agencies.

· An over-ride system for the dissemination of emergency information. · Passive and active burglar/fire alarms.

· Operation of City's traffic control devices

· A system of emergency roadside telephones

· Capacity for:

     · Monitoring water pressure throughout the City 

     · Activating and closing wells as needed

     · Meter reading

· Capability of providing subscribers with City service schedule changes.

· Interactive capability with various agencies

· Capabilities to access data bases

· Capability to interconnect with other cable systems in the region.

As one of its functions, the Task Force sought to identify not only the current, but also the future needs of those who would, both actively and passively, utilize the cable television services. These services would include the public access channels. These channel(s) would be used primarily by individuals, non-profit groups and community service organizations.

The Task Force strongly feels that public access channel(s) will become an important community resource. They will be a significant medium through which individual citizens and community groups communicate with one another. Public access programming can directly confront the malaise affecting so many suburban communities, alienation and anonymity. Full and effective development of the potential of Public Access would meaningfully contribute

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to a revitalization of community identification and involvement. However, if Public Access is to realize its potential, the cable operator must have a firm and enduring commitment to its promotion and ultimate success.

The Cable Television Task Force identified two major perspectives pertinent to cable television services and the Public Access channel(s):

     1. The public, as recipients of cable signals;

      2. The public, as programming originators on the access channels and users of the facilities.

The first perspective was examined through a sampling of one thousand (1,000) households in the City of Glendale asking a series of questions about services and programming. Extrapolating from this sample, it appears that the citizens of Glendale are most interested in receiving the following listed services through Public Access programming:

     · Special services, multi-lingual programming and local news

     · Instructional programming, such as various "how-to" courses

     · Neighborhood affairs programming and regional cultural programming such as plays, concerts and recitals.

The second issue was addressed by holding a workshop for individuals representing various organizations in Glendale. Over fifty such community groups were contacted and invited to participate in this workshop. From the workshop, several significant ideas emerged. The following listed questions were formally addressed:

     · What are the communication needs of your group?

     · Can public access help your group?

     · Should there be a charge for airing a program?

     · Should there be a studio charge for production?

     · What "community standards" should be used for program rating? 

     · Should programming assistance be provided?

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Subsequent discussion highlighted the following areas of concern:

     . Interest was expressed in the provision of community college and college credit courses.

    . Top quality cable and equipment be used, and that the City should closely inspect such equipment and material throughout the term of the license to guarantee it meets the highest standard.

    . The potential of two-way communications.

    . The equipment, facilities, and technical assistance which would be available for use of the public access channel.

    . Minimization of the disturbance of property. Any property which is disturbed shall be restored to its original condition.

The general feeling expressed in the workshop was that cable television in Glendale is highly desirable.

In addition to these interests, the Task Force feels that it is essential that the operator conduct a continuing series of cable workshops to train and educate the public, City officials, teachers and community groups throughout the term of the license.

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     . A key to successful community access is community involvement. 

     . The licensee must organize an outreach project which explains what community access is and how the public can become involved. 

     . The licensee must encourage and support local organizations to produce regular programming.

     . Access to the public channel(s) should be available to the general public without charge, on a non-discriminatory basis. An adequate number of channels must be reserved so that, as a channel reaches full capacity, another will be available.

As part of its mandate, the Task Force sought to determine the services and programming to be provided on Educational Access channel(s). Educational programming has the potential of contributing significantly to all aspects of community life by increasing the availability of meaningful educational experiences.

The schools have a potential for networking on an area-wide basis. The cable system will offer the various elementary and secondary school districts within Glendale a medium to coordinate their activities. Although the use of television in the classroom is in its infancy in Glendale, other communities have provided vigorous support for the use of educational programming.

Representatives from various school districts in Glendale expressed interest in pursuing the following activities:

     . Informing the public of courses offered by area schools.

     . Telecasting of school board meetings, especially those involving educational planning.

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     · Programming to advise the public of school news events, "live" or video taped coverage of special school events and "coming attractions".

     · Televising student performances, including choral, orchestral, dramatics, dance, forensics and athletics, etc.

Cable T.V. is widely accepted for the provision of university and community college level credit and non-credit courses. Presently, various institutions and organizations are using KAET-TV facilities to produce programming. Additionally, there are libraries of video-taped courses available for use. Rio Salado Community College and A.S.U. have several credit courses being aired at the present time. Both are immediately ready to offer additional courses, channel availability permitting.

Several area schools have programs which train students in the television medium. Thus, there is the potential for the use of students in 'productions at the cable studio(s).

Other uses of the educational channel(s) of the cable system will include various vocational programs and community education programming.

Glendale public schools will need to receive informational programming, cablecast by City agencies, district administration and educational programming distributed by satellite to the cable system.

     . An interactive capability.

     . Facilities and equipment to produce cost effective instructional

programming, including mobile equipment for both live and taped programming.

      · Interconnect capability with all other systems within the region.

      · Capability to receive satellite programming distributed by the cable system.

      · Sufficient channel capacity to accommodate educational needs.

It is important that the licensee view Glendale first as a community and second as a market.

as they become available. Channel capacity and other technical considerations should be carefully evaluated so that the system can accommodate cable television1s future in serving the people of Glendale.

The Task Force believes that the licensee should be an innovator, a leader in the development and implementation of cable services. Such service and programs include, but are not limited to the following: capability of connecting home computer terminals with a central processing unit, energy load management, water meter reading, library services, electronic banking, etc.  

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The Task Force strongly encourages the licensee to implement experimental programs and services which would accelerate the state-of-the-art. The licensee should implement pilot programs using Glendale as a test area.

The Task Force recognizes the need for a system of two-way communication between and among hospitals, schools, police and fire departments, institutions in Glendale, and subscribers.

The licensee is encouraged to provide access to an UL approved central station residential burglar/fire alarm system on a subscriber basis.

The Task Force reiterates the need to develop a general use policy which includes eligibility requirements for the use of the community access channel(s) to insure that all groups and individuals in the community will have an equal opportunity for use of the cable television system. Adequate capacity should be available so that when the majority of the prime time is filled on one access channel, another access channel would be available.

The licensee is encouraged to promote quality local origination programming which includes in-depth coverage of issues of community-wide interest. A regularly scheduled local news program on Glendale is recommended.

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The cable company should periodically survey the Glendale populace to determine what services and programming it desires.

Finally, if cable is the communications medium of the future, the Task Force wants the cable company to play an active rather than passive role in developing community uses of cable services and facilities. The Task Force also strongly encourages the licensee to provide facilities, equipment, technical assistance and maintenance to implement and operate the aforementioned programming needs and recommendations.

     · Each applicant should be prepared to specifically address the financial and technical merits of the Task Force's recommendations.

     · Prior notification of cost and startup should be given as new services become technically and financially feasible.

The Task Force is not interested in hearing promises that will not or cannot be fulfilled. We realize that we are setting high standards of excellence. We are interested in a state-of-the-art system that has the potential of providing all the cable services which become available during the term of the license.

The Fire Department's interest in cable television revolves around a quicker means to meet the needs of the citizens in a fire or medical emergency and enhance public education.

1. Early warning system to detect a fire at a subscriber's location.

3. EMS recertification -- paramedic and firefighter medical class for mandatory state recertification.

4. Training -- We have a need for access to a channel to conduct special training to each fire station. This needs to be a two-way communication which would include our administration to have access to same.

5. Medical panic button -- Citizens with a known medical problem, especially if living alone, could summon help without delay.

9. Cable could replace the phone lines we presently use for a sequence of our dispatch requirements.

   CITY OF GLENDALE

Date January 21, 1981

To Tim Ernster, Administrative Assistant

From John McLaughlin, Director Youth Services/Risk Management

Subject CABLE TELEVISION POSITION PAPER

Risk Management: The Risk Management Division is concerned with the protection of City assets, the control of accidental losses, employee health insurance and Workman's Compensation. insurance. . After a review of the Risk Management operations, it was the staff determination that there are no immediate or foreseeable applications of cable communications for this function.

The interests of the Youth Services/Victim Assistance programs are confined to information dissemination on the cable system. No institutional network uses are visualized. We would foresee the use of two types of programming, those locally produced using area experts and staff, and professionally produced programs available to the City at low cost.

Other topic areas could include information for people who find themselves dealing with family members or friends who appear to have psychiatric problems. This type of program could offer advice on what kind of behavior to watch for and then tie in the Glendale resources available to the families experiencing such problems. It is also anticipated that informational programs on coping with major life crises, such as death, would be of interest to many residents.

Date January 23, 1981

To Tim Ernster - Administrative Assistant

From E.F. Tucker - General Services Director

Subject Cable Television

In response to your memo dated January 16, 1981 which gives us the opportunity to submit ideas on programming, the following are possible areas of programming for the General Services Department:

     1. Each time we have a mailer to residents, which could concern regulations, policies, rule changes and other information, e.g. nitrate notices, we could also broadcast same.

     2. We're willing to participate in a "Newcomers to Glendale" Program which could be broadcast to give new residents general information about the City including regulations in sanitation, trash pickup and other services provided.

     3. A "City Action Program" which could be broadcast showing various City departments or divisions in action. The program could show crews in action explaining what they do and how. Educational to the public type programming would be the basis of this program. Tours of Water Treatment Plant, etc. could also be included on television.

     4. A regular program, weekly, bi-week1y, or monthly, showing work currently in progress by the City crews or City work contracted out to inform the public of the latest status of major construction or repair work.

In addition, we would like to see that the awarded cable company install one additional cable to be used by the City for interconnection of the City's traffic signals.

E.F. Tucker

General Services Director

(Signature of  D.E. Hall)

David E. Hall 
Administrative Assistant to 
General Services Director

DEH:go

Date January 23, 1981

To Tim Ernster, Administrative Assistant to City Manager

From Ray Osuna, Personnel Operations Supervisor

Subject Cable T.V. Position Paper .

Per your request we would like to submit the following on the subject.

BACKGROUND.

Along with providing services for top management, line and staff supervisors, and employees in general we also service job applicants in the public. Through limited means we attempt to advertise job openings, provide information on testing and the benefits of working with the City. We would be interested in adding to our efforts through the use of Cable T.V.

PROPOSED USES OF CABLE

We would utilize Cable TV to:

1.) Advertise current position vacancies and recruitments.

2.) Comprehensively describe the position recruited for.

3.) Describe the recruitment and selection process.

5.) Inform the public about on going recruitments and those that would impact favorably on our affirmative action posture.

6.) Telecast interviews with management officials to promote sincere efforts in recruiting identified applicants (e.g. women police officers).

7.) Special production assistance would be required if staff would conduct the above.

ISSUES

Date January 12,1981

To Tim Ernster, Administrative Assistant

From Lee Stanley, Director Parks & Recreation;

Subject Position Paper - Cable T. V.

BACKGROUND

WHO - Glendale Parks and Recreation Department

PROPOSED USES OF CABLE

Uses such as:

1. Classes such as slimnastics, country swing dancing, oil painting, etc. 2. Band concerts.

3. City Championship sporting events, Example: girls softball, swimming, men's slow pitch softball, etc.

4. Informative topics for senior citizens, Examples: health, legal aid, local services for seniors, planning for retirement, etc.

5. Home reassurance for senior citizens.

6. Scholastic Olympics for youth.

7. Publicizing future recreation programs.

8. Conducting recreational interest surveys.

9. Programs for people with special needs, such as handicapped, no transportation, etc.

10. Drama productions, Glendale Little Theater and C.A.S.T.

11. Informing the public of park facilities.

ISSUES --None

Date: January 22, 1981

To: Tim Ernster, Administrative Assistant

From: Rodeane Green, Library Director

Subject: Position Paper - Cable T.V.

BACKGROUND

POSSIBLE LIBRARY APPLICATIONS OF CABLE

I. Production of Cable Programs

     2. Library might provide training for city employees and various community members in the use of video production equipment.

II Cable Delivery of Library Information Services to the Home

     1. The library's holding as indicated by the title, author, and subject divisions of the card catalog might be available to citizens at home via cable.

     2. Announcements of newly acquisitioned library materials might be available to citizens at home via cable.

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III. Possible Library Programs on Cable

     1. Use of various library tools and basic reference sources such as the card catalog, Newsbank, Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, etc.

     2. Book discussion groups utilizing "two-way communication" capabilities of cable.

     3. Book reviews.

     4. Children's storyhours and other children's programs.

     6. Library annual reports to citizens of Glendale.

POSITION PAPER OUTLINE

(Please be brief)
1 - 2 pages

Please use this format for your position paper.

BACKGROUND

(Briefly) Who are we, what is our interest in cable communications.

Police Department

PROPOSED USES OF CABLE

How our organization plans to use cable - be specific.

Closed circuit hookup with substations. Use for rollcall training, etc: Also ability to hook into schools for Public relations films, safety programs-etc:

ISSUES

Special concerns of our group about the total cable system.

Ability to use captions on all cables within the city for important announcements-- -

Cable should be available to users to hook up to an alarm system (over) <other side of sheet not avail>

To E.F. Tucker - General Services Director

From W.L. Marvin - Traffic Engineer

Subject Cable Television

The study currently under way by the Citizens Cable Television Task Force and Tim Ernster, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager, is of interest to Traffic Operations. The installation of a cable system throughout the city would open a new avenue of communications that the municipal government could use as well as the citizen resident.

Technology available today can make the coaxial cable, supplied by a IICab1e Television Company", a reliable data link for such things as traffic signal interconnect without disturbing the quality or production of a television program. It would also be desirable for the city, the cable television company, the viewer and "data link users" if the city would require a two way or duplex cable system. This affords the cable television company a viewer response system and the "data link user" feed back on two way capabilities.

Traffic signal interconnect through the use of coaxial cable is not new to the field. I am sure that the city's consultant, Cable Television Information Center, could furnish the Task Force with state-of-the-art backup information on this subject. We understand the Traffic Engineering Department of the City of Phoenix is considering using their cable in lieu of the telephone lines they are currently using. Glendale's use of a coaxial system could be a condition of the franchise and therefore free of a monthly charge levied by the telephone company.

We also recommend that in developing the City Code for such a franchise the cable companies not be allowed to attach aerial cables to traffic signal poles.

RIO SALADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE
POSITION PAPER
CABLE TELEVISION

BACKGROUND

Rio Salado Community College is the non-campus college of the Maricopa County Community College District charged with the use of alternative delivery systems for reaching people in their homes with credit and credit-free college courses.

Cable Television is a valuable alternative delivery system which offers a cost effective and programming alternative to regular broadcast television. Therefore, Rio Salado Community College is extremely interested in the development and use of cable systems throughout Maricopa County.

PROPOSED USES OF CABLE

Use of cable for instruction through high-quality college credit courses, credit-free vocational programs, and community education programming is of paramount interest to Rio Salado Community College. We at Rio Salado would hope to air a number of high-quality college credit television courses each semester via the cable system. In addition, we would hope to air on a year around basis credit-free vocational programs and community education programs for Glendale residents. Rio Salado Community College is currently working in this capacity with American Cable in Tempe and Phoenix; with Storer Cable TV in Mesa, Phoenix, and Sun City; and with Terry Parker in the Phoenix Office of Cable Communication.

In addition to providing programming for a cable channel, Rio Salado Community College would be in interested in utilizing production facilities of the Glendale·· Cable Company to produce cost-effective instructional programs geared specifically to the needs of Glendale residents.

ISSUES

As an educational user of alternative delivery systems in the Valley I Rio Salado Community College is particularly interested in four issues which may be addressed by the City of Glendale in issuing a cable franchise. The first of these is a cable interconnect. As a user of cable television throughout the Valley, we believe it is of paramount importance that interconnect capability be maintained between the Glendale cable system and surrounding cable systems. This is important to provide quality service to Glendale residents as well as to those residents of other cities adjacent to Glendale.

MF1/01

Position Paper Page 2

Secondly I we believe that satellite reception capabilities should be maintained.

There are a number of quality programs being provided via satellite which fall into both the educational as well as the entertainment categories. Satellite reception would give Glendale the capability of bringing high quality instructional material into the schools as well as into the homes of Glendale residents. Thirdly I we believe it is important that low-cost production facilities be maintained for public and educational use. It is important that we be able to produce instructional material appropriate to specific Glendale needs. This can only be achieved through low-cost production facilities operated in conjunction with the cable system.

Finally I we believe it is important for the city to request an operational interactive cable system. Interactive capabilities in other cable systems around the country have proved to be valuable educational and instructional tools.

We at Rio Salado Community College would be interested in assisting the City of Glendale in any way we can in seeing that the educational capacity of cable television is fully reached in the Glendale area.

MF1/02

The Glendale Union High School District is composed of 9 major Arizona high schools, three of which are located in the city of Glendale, namely, Apollo, Glendale and Independence. In addition, an Alternative School is serving students with special needs and is located adjacent to the Apollo campus. Our interest in cable communications is virtually limitless. Cable  tele-cast can bring can bring about far more effective communication between the school and communities than is possible through our existing information networks.

Staff members have brainstormed briefly into some of the activities that could involve the public and its schools in improving dialogue in both directions. Just a few of the ideas that emerged include:

4. Student performances that could include choral, orchestral, dramatics, dance, forensics, gymnastics, selected athletic contests, etc.

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7. Actual classroom activities can be telecast to give parents and public insight into the methods and content in the real setting of the school.

The above represents just a few of the ways that we could meet communication needs of the schools. We are constantly engaged in efforts to provide this community with knowledge of the schools. We achieve this via press releases, occasional coverage by commercial television, in-house publics in a wide variety of format such as open houses, announcements of sports events,

direct mailings to the home, parent conferences on individual problems, etc. We can envision a vast improvement or our communications network with the advent of cable cast. This improvement can be inferred from the few activities we have described and there are many more. Perhaps the most valuable improvement will result in the school having access to that wide audience who support the school through their taxes but are not direct participants as parents/ students or educators.

To maximize the effective use of cable tele-cast potential, we would obviously need either technical assistance further schooling ourselves. We have a basic inventory OF TV equipment, video recorders, video cassette devices, and related capital equipment. We would very much appreciate access to more sophisticated equipment both in terms of hardware itself and the supporting software and personnel for transmission. We would willingly explore the possibility of gaining vocational funding to train our students in job entry skills necessary for both technical and production competency.

Some of our concerns include:

1. The potential cost  both operationally and for internal training needs.

by Senior Pastor Rev. Walther P. Kallestad 
December 17, 1980                                

BACKGROUND:

Our ultimate goal is to serve the needs of the people in our community in the best way we possibly can.

PROPOSED USES OF CABLE:

Also, we have education classes in parenting, marriage communication, discovering your gifts, mental-physical-spiritual conditioning, and numerous other practical living educational opportunities.

Thank you for your work in offering this great opportunity to us.

Rev. Walther P. Kallestad              

POSITION PAPER OUTLINE

(Please be brief)
1 - 2 pages

Please use this format for your position paper.

BACKGROUND

(Briefly) Who are we, what is our interest in cable communications.

Community Church of Joy, 16635 N. 51st Avenue, Glendale, Arizona, (phone 938-1460), has a special interest in cable communications. We are one of the fastest growing churches in Glendale and have a membership close to 1,000 people. Our projections are that our congregation will be close to 4,000 members by 1991. Our need for cable communications will grow immensely along with our growth in membership.

Our ultimate goal is to serve the needs of the people in our community in the best way we possibly can.

PROPOSED USES OF CABLE

How our organization plans to use cable - be specific.

ISSUES

Special concerns of our group about the total cable system.