TECH: Hit->Internet through CATV

[Central MA Regional Library System <cmrls@WORLD.STD.COM>]

Thanks to everyone who responded to my inquiry.  I was asked to post a
hit, so here are the slightly edited responses.
On Thu, 1 Jun 1995, Central MA Regional Library System wrote:

> Friends,
>  Does your community have an arrangement with the local CATV company to
> provide internet access for the school and public libraries?
>  A colleague is looking for contacts who have experience with this sort
> of agreement.  If you can help, please respond to me with the name and
> phone number of a contact person that she might call.

**  Carolyn Noah, Children's Services Consultant  **
** Central Massachusetts Regional Library System **
** 3 Salem Square, Worcester, MA 01608-2074  **
** cnoah@cwmars.mass.edu  **
                               ***

You might try calling Chris Wolfe from the Griffin School District near
Olympia WA.  I saw him Wednesday and he mentioned that they are getting
their Internet access via the cable company as part of the franchise
agreement.

Chris's work number is 360-866-2515, home 360-866-3970.  Home address is
1828 Island Drive, Olympia WA 98502-9709.

Susan Baker
Bremerton [WA] High School
sbaker@orca.esd114.wednet.edu
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

        We are working with our cable television company to develop a
district wide area network and expect to finalize a contract with them this
summer.  We have visited Arkadelphia, Arkansas, a community that has
established a community wide area network connecting not only schools, but
also city offices and Henderson State College.  Our cable company is
Multimedia Cablevision.

Anne Masters
Director, Media Services/Instructional Technology
Norman Public Schools
207 E. Gray
Norman, OK  73069
405 366-5863
amasters@ionet.net

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

We don't, but a town in Arkansas is entering into that right
now--Arkadelphia. Someone there might be able to help.

D'Anne Easton
Media Specialist
Jim Stone Elementary School
Conway, Arkansas
deaston@achilles.k12.ar.us
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I recently heard Alan November speak and he mentioned the cable
companies as the best bet for school internet access.  I immediately
called my local cable franchise and they acted like I was crazy.
Please post any hits you receive on this topic!
--
*****************************************************************
Paula Galland - Glynn Co. Schools - St. Simons Isl., GA
                     paula@freenet.fsu.edu
****************************************************************

I understand that such access is a part of the contract negotiated at the
time the franchise is approved by the city government (City Council in
our case).  I called our city manager last year to ask if we had
negotiated such access, and he said no.  I asked *when* the contract will be
re-negotiated because I want to attend that meeting (I'm sure that most did
not know about the internet when cable first came to Brownfield), he
said in *15 years*!!!!!

It seems that such contracts are long term so you have to know WHAT to ask
for and WHEN if you are going to have that access written into the contract.
There *is* one channel dedicated to local information that schools can
use, but as far as I know, that's the only public service they provide
here.  I understand that in other places, *several* channels are
available for school or public use.

Betty

Betty Dawn Hamilton
<bhamilt@tenet.edu>
Brownfield, Texas 79316
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you do not mind a long distance call.  Gregg Weisiger, 804-692-0335, our
specialist (Virginia DOE) in telecommunications is very knowledgeable in
this area.  We have a number of school divisions in Virginia who have
this  system in place.  He could give you a reference.  Unfortunately, hard
bargining is required concerning the cable contract, and the cable company
has to upgrade their equipment to send bi-directional signals, etc.

Good Luck,
gordon creasy
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You might try calling Chris Wolfe from the Griffin School District near
Olympia WA.  I saw him Wednesday and he mentioned that they are getting
their Internet access via the cable company as part of the franchise
agreement.

Chris's work number is 360-866-2515, home 360-866-3970.  Home address is
1828 Island Drive, Olympia WA 98502-9709.

Susan Baker
Bremerton [WA] High School
sbaker@orca.esd114.wednet.edu
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
        We are working with our cable television company to develop a
district wide area network and expect to finalize a contract with them this
summer.  We have visited Arkadelphia, Arkansas, a community that has
established a community wide area network connecting not only schools, but
also city offices and Henderson State College.  Our cable company is
Multimedia Cablevision.

Anne Masters
Director, Media Services/Instructional Technology
Norman Public Schools
207 E. Gray
Norman, OK  73069
405 366-5863
amasters@ionet.net
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Here's what is happening in Missoula Montana in that area.
We've formed a consortium of the library, the access channel (MCAT -
Missoula Community Access TV), the city government, and a local internet
server. Together we have applied for an NITA grant and hope to establish
a community network with training and public computer sites in the
library, at our branch libraries, at the access facility, city hall, and
other spots. We are calling our project MAGPIE - Missoula Area Government
and Public Information Exchange and folks are enthusiastic.
     We have a small committment of $$ from the Library FOundaiton and MCAT.
We are also applying for LSCA money for equipment for the Library. WOn't
know about NITA until October but we are continuing to meet and look at
other options.
     Access channels and libraries have always had much in common -
decimination of information democratically. Like libraries, access
channels sometimes have material that offends someone - we are both first
amendment champions.
     We see the training on the network as critical and MCAT has established
an exempliary training record having taught over 2000 citizens in 5 years
how to produce television.
     The library really wants to provide internet access to patrons but our
budget will absolutely not allow for this so we have to look at partnerships.
     Hope this helps. What are you up to? There are other tv/library
partnerships around - San Francisco Public Library is working with a
government access channel, for example.
     Good Luck - keep in touch.
     Bette Ammon, Missoula Public Library, 301 E Main, Missoula MT  59802
ammon@mcat.org