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1981-02 Cable TV For EaganA SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND GROWTH CAR -RT PRE SORT Cable TVI BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID for ST. PAUL, MN PERMIT NO.4902 EAGAN CITY OF EAGAN 3795 PILOT KNOB ROAD POSTAL CUSTOMER EAGAN, MN 55122 PHONE: 454--8100 EAGAN, MINNESOTA February 1981 CABLE TV FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW Television first appeared in the 1940's . And early viewers wanting better reception brought clear pictures into the home through wires called cables. The early cable "subscribers" paid a small- fee for the better reception and were limited to three or four channels of viewing. Today's viewers are able to watch almost any type of entertainment, from children's shows and educational programs to first run movies, 24 hour a day news or sports programs. This is possible because of long range satellite communications sending signals directly to cable systems and into a subscriber's home. These types of programming are not offered by TV net- works alone. And if a community so chooses, it is possible to have access to the cable for productions of its own, for trans- mission to parts or all of the City. Channels can be provided to religious organizations, schools, for emergency warning, government information and for business, showing information straight off ticker tapes. Tomorrow is today in the world of cable TV. The technology is available to do almost anything the mind can imagine, and all a community needs to do is decide what it wants and set the wheels in motion. Help us serve you Will I be able to watch my son's high school basketball game at home? Can I subscribe to Home Box Office? Can I shop at home if I subscribe to Cable TV? I'd sure like to show the community what our organization is doing to help the community. Will that be possible? Included in this newsletter is a survey which, if completed, will help Eagan's Cable Television Advisory Committee in their decisions as to what Eagan desires in cable communications. We need your input so we can make the most effective decisions possible. With your completed survey, we'll know what you want in cable service. Committee members say: "In September of last year, the City Council was informed that Eagan had been included in a Cable TV Franchise Territory. In response, the Council formed a Citizens' Cable Communication Cable TV can offer: Local Cable Origination * 24-hour local weather radar * time/weather scan * message wheel/community bulletin board * channel guide * public access (individuals, nonprofit organiza- Jerry Ulrich tions and civic groups) * educational access (credit and non-credit Robert Peterson courses, adult continuing education, home. Robert Hill bound instruction, school board meetings) * governmental access (city council meetings, Joseph Harrison in-service training, traffic light control) * leased access (commercial and non-commercial) * regional channel * cable company programming * news ticker (local, state, regional) * sports ticker * stock ticker (business and financial information) * institutional network (medical/health, cultural, educational, governmental) * two-way interactive Local and Regional Off -the -Air Broadcasts * local TV channels (commercial, public) * distant TV stations (via microwave and from translators) * Aril, Frit, and Shortwave Via Satellite * first -run and classic movies * senior citizen programming * childrens' programming * U. S. House of Representatives (gavel -to -gavel) * religious networks * sports specials and networks * foreign language networks * night club entertainment specials * distant TV "Superstations" * distant radio signals * national/international wire services display (slo-scan video) Other Services * talking books (services for the blind) * video games (play cable) * computer access and computer based learning * stock information retrieval service * captioned programming for hearing impaired * data display (bus schedules, airport arrivals) * power load control (monitoring) and meter reading * civil emergency alert * fire, burglar and medical alarm to authorities * facsimile mail, eletronic delivery of daily newspapers * high-speed data transmission * banking, shopping transactions, credit card verification * traffic light control Committee to investigate the possibility of a franchise beginning within Eagan. I encourage your family participation and input into this matter through the completion of the attached survey." Bea Blomquist, Mayor "We, the members of the Cable Tele- vision Advisory Committee, feel that the potential for cable TV is tremendous, ranging from great new entertainment such as first run and classic movies, to 24-hour news and weather information. And we're excited at the unlimited possibilities in the future with home computer systems and educationally oriented programs. The opportunities are now available to Eagan residents and we encourage and hope you will participate in the decision process. We ask that you complete the accompanying questionnaire and attend one of the public forums to be held in March. The forums shall be held in order to both inform interested citizens of the franchise process and to gather input of what they feel should or should not be asked of a franchise. It is our hope that the citizens of Eagan will participate in the franchising process." Members Cable Television Advisory Committee Committee members Please feel free to contact any of the following committee members if you have any questions or concerns regarding cable television: James A. Smith, Chairperson 454-1734 Barry Tilley, Vice Chairperson 454-7819 Karen Mathena, Secretary 454-7414 Bea Blomquist 454-2308 Thomas Egan 452-3957 Mark Parranto 452-2996 Theodore Wachter 454-2130 Jerry Ulrich 454-7738 Steven Mattson Robert Peterson 454-2626 Robert Hill 454-8408 Geor..,e Fryman 452-4428 Joseph Harrison 454-1635 Lloyd .Krob 454-6679 Charles Schults III 454-2624 THE MEANS TO AN END Eagan may soon be taking steps to install Cable TV Service in the com- munity. And a committee has been established to investigate the pos- sibilities. The committee has identified the fol- lowing ten steps which must be com- pleted before the cable can be installed. 1. To establish a service territory; 2. To submit a cable service territory proposal to the Minnesota Cable Communications Board (MCCB); 3. To compile a needs assessment report; 4. To draft invitations for franchises; 5. To publish the invitation or applications; 6. To receive franchise proposals; 7. To select the best applicant for the franchise based on the priorities appearing in the needs assessment report; 8. To negotiate terms of the franchise ordinance; 9. To draft, adopt and publish a local cable communications fran- chise ordinance; 10. To apply to the MCCB for a certificate of confirmation. Eagan has been included in a service territory with the Cities of West St. Paul, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Sunfish Lake, Mendota Heights, Mendota and Lilydale and has been accepted by the MCCB. Eagan can, if it desires, separate into a territory by itself or even form a territory with other different com- munities. That decision is down the line. At the present time, the committee is forming a needs assess- ment. This assessment will decide whether the citizens of Eagan want cable at this time or not. The committee will be basing its decision on the results of the survey included in this newsletter. Should the results of the survey indicate that the citizens wish to have cable installed, the committee would then proceed with the remainder of the franchising process. The process may take up to 12 or 2 years to complete. Part of the process is the decision of what type of programming services the cable must offer. Each individual city can require the specific types of services it deems desirable. This decision will be made by the committee based upon the survey results. Once these steps are completed, each citizen shall have the opportunity to connect to the cable and become a subscriber. Committee meetings are open to the public and residents are welcome to attend and help the committee with its decisions. Meeting times and dates can be obtained by calling City Hall. Please help by taking a few minutes to complete the accompanying question- naire. The results are an important part of identifying the City's cable service needs. Citizens' Cable Communications Questionnaire Please have all members of your household review and help complete this questionnaire and return it by March 17, 1981 via U.S. Mail (postage prepaid) or to Eagan City Hall. Thank you. I. General Categories Check those categories iTportant to you. More than one category may be checked. 1. Entertainment 2. Educational 3. News 4% Cultural 5. Sports 6. Government 7. Community Service G. Information 8. Children's Programs 9. Public Access Channel 0. Religion 1. Two -Way Communication I. Priorities Within Each Category Check those items of interest to you. More than one item within each cate- gory may be checked. Entertainment A. First -Run Movies B. Guthrie Theatre C. Musical Concerts (Local & Regional) D. High School Productions E. Other Public Access Channel A. Public Service -- School & City Events B. Business Communica- tions or Seminars C. Local Commentary D. Voter Information E. Other Educational A. College B. High School Courses C. Vo -Tech Courses D. Community Education Courses E. Library F. Job Training G. Other News Other A. National News B. Regional C. Local D. Wall Street Market Guide & Survey Quotes E. Weather& Disaster F. Business G. Other Cultural A. Museums B. Historical Society C. Great Books D. Art Shows E. Travel F. Other Sports D. A. Professional Sports B. Madison Square Information Gardens C. High School Sports D. College Sports E. League Play (Local Other Park Program) F. Other Government A. National Congres- C. sional Meetings B. State Legislative Meetings C. Metro Council Meeting D. City Council Meetings E. School Board Meetings F. Other Religion A. Round Table Discussions B. Religious Studies C. Local Churches (Services) D. Local Church News & Events E. Religious Music F. Other Two -Way Communications A. Alarm System (Security & Fire) B. Consumer Shopping Guide & Survey C. Voting D. Utility Reading E. Emergency Communica- tions F. Home Computer Center G. Other Community Service Information A. School Information B. Job Listings C. Senior Citizen Information D. Ethnic Programming E. General Community Information F. Public Hearing Information G. Recreational Events H. Other Children's Programs A. Travel & Adventure B. Children's Workshop C. National Programming D. Story Hour (Public Library) E. Preschool Readiness (Public Schools) F. Children's Theatre G. Other III. Would you subscribe to Cable TV if it were offered to your community in the near future? YES NO IV- Even though you may not subscribe, do you feel Cable TV would be beneficial to your community? YES NO COMMUNITY NEEDS 1. What do you believe to be the most significant problem(s) in our community which cable television could help to solve? 2. How would cable television help to solve the problem(s) you identified in number one above? 3. Aside from the features previously listed, what other applications do you see for cable television in our community? ORGANIZATIONAL/BUSINESS NEEDS 1. Name (Optional) Name of Organization/Business 2. Address 3. Who's the best person to contact in your group in the future concerning cable tele— vision? 4. Your Organizational Needs: A. Does your organization/business have special needs or problems Cable TV might help with? B. If yes, what are the problems? C. What can Cable TV do to solve them? Other Comments: Please fold, staple or tape closed NO POSTAGE and return to: NECESSARY IF MAILED A IN THE BUSINESS REPLY MAIL UNITED STATES FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 8969 EAGAN, MN. POSTAGE KILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE CITY OF EAGAN Cable Television Advisory Committee 3795 Pilot Knob Road Eagan, MN 55122 Services and Costs What is basic service? What is premium service? Do I get to choose the channels I want? These questions and others are foremost in the minds of many people. Just what do we get from this cable company? Well, each company that bids for the franchise will be proposing their own ideas but they will base their ideas on the cable committee's suggestions. The usual bids include Basic Service, Premium Service, Interactive Service and Access Service. Basic Service is just what it sounds like. It is the most common channels which the company can provide without extra cost to them. The consumer can receive items such as extra channels from religion to sports or business and weather channels. The cost of basic service varies but should range between $6 - $10 per month. Premium Service includes those items which a subscriber pays for over and above the basic service. First run movie channels or FM Radio Service can be purchased on the premium service. Home Box Office movies (HBO), Cinemax, Showtime, Home Television Network (HTN) and Galavision are examples of premium service and could be available to each subscriber who desires them. The cost of each of these premiums ranges from $5 to $8 per month at the present time. Interactive Service is the ability to communicate back and forth with the facilities available at the cable company. Items such as security systems, computerized games, consumer shopping guides, data retrival, home education and others could be available for subscribers should they be desired. The costs of these services range from $2 to $5 per month depending on the type of package decided on. Access Services or Public Access is the ability of groups or individuals to produce their own programs and air them on access channels. This would enable schools or churches to record programs or sporting events and air them to interested persons. Origination areas and programming money could be made available if the citizens so desire. These services and their eventual availability shall be decided by the Eagan Cable Communications Committee. The committee shall base its decisions on the survey which is included in this newsletter and they ask that you help in the decision process by completing and returning the survey. PUBLIC ACCESS... it brings your city closer to you As cable technology has grown so has its benefits to the community. Most cities in the recent past have been requiring the franchising company to make available mobile origination equipment and origination stations. This gives interested groups the opportunity to produce their own programs. Money is usually provided by the company for programming so most every organization will have an opportunity to participate. Some of the most valuable aspects of local access is the ability of schools and churches to s -low sporting events, theatrical _)roductions, debates and school board r;ieetings, choir concerts, etc. Other ;groups can also use the access channels, such as senior citizen groups, neighborhood organizations and community groups or organizations. It is also possible to "narrow cast". "Narrow casting" is the taking of specific areas within a city, such as school districts, and show different productions to each area at the same time. this would enable all three school districts to show basketball games at the same time to their respective districts. Public access offers citizens an oppor- tunity to speak to the community or inform the community of upcoming events and to entertain the community.