Cable Television Infrastructure

["Richard A. Speer" <speer@saturn.caps.maine.edu>]

Lewiston and Auburn will soon be re-negotiating their joint local
cable franchise agreement.  Attached is a memo which I sent to
Lewiston's staff person working with the joint citizen's cable TV
committee.  I would urge all of you to lobby upper-level city and
school department administrators on both sides of the river
regarding this issue.  It would facilitate the setting up of a
local community network by giving us a high-speed network for
sharing information.  With something like this in place, our main
community network server machine could sit one place and we could
have menu interfaces (transparent to the user) which access
information on other machines.  As I state in the memo, it would
also allow us to share one Internet connection.

--Rick Speer
  Lewiston Public Library
  105 Park Street
  Lewiston, ME 04240
  (207) 784-0135
  speer@saturn.caps.maine.edu
**************************************
TO: MARK A. ADAMS, ASSISTANT TO ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: RICHARD A. SPEER, LIBRARY DIRECTOR
DATE: MAY 26, 1994
SUBJ: CABLE TELEVISION FRANCHISE AGREEMENT

	I apologize for taking so long to get back to you regarding
the potential of using the City's cable television infrastructure
for data transmission and community computing purposes, but it
has been difficult tracking down information on the topic.  I
would recommend that we include language in any future franchise
agreement for an "Institutional Network" which is sometimes
referred to as an "I-Net" or "I-Loop."

	The Institutional Network is a separate cable network that
parallels the one carrying cable television signals and connects
the major institutions in a community, e.g., public and private
schools, libraries, government office buildings, hospitals, etc. 
The I-Net is a bi-directional system and can be used for data
communications as well as video transmission.  These systems
often use a technology called "Mid Split Frequency Division"
which has two groups of frequencies required for data networking. 
The lower group of frequencies is used for inbound transmissions
and the higher group carries outbound signals.

	The advantage to this I-Net would be that we could set up a
high-speed data link between these major institutions for the
purpose of transmitting data and special video programming.  We
would also be able to set up a Community Computer Network and
allow public dial access to look at selected information at each
of the linked sites.  All of the organizations on this I-Net
would also be able to share one Internet connection without
purchasing additional leased lines from NYNEX.

	When negotiating the new agreement to include an I-Net we
should also should write in some language regarding response time
for service problems and/or downed cable.  Another issue to
consider is that of maintaining signal strength.  Cable companies
typically use automatic gain control devices to keep outbound
signals at stable levels, assuring that subscribers receive good
quality TV reception.  The I-Net should also be maintained at
stable video signal levels.

	I will attach an article from a recent Library Journal and
some information from Cactus Computer, Inc., a company that
supplies hardware links for accessing Institutional Networks.  As
I locate more information on this topic, I will forward it to
you.  Give me a call if you have any questions.