roundtable: Re: MAP memo re: "spectrum flexibility"
roundtable: Re: MAP memo re: "spectrum flexibility"
Re: MAP memo re: "spectrum flexibility"
Matt York (myork@videomaker.com)
Fri, 19 May 1995 11:20:17 -0700
Date: Fri, 19 May 1995 11:20:17 -0700
Message-Id: <199505191820.LAA06922@video.hidden.videomaker.com>
To: roundtable@cni.org
From: myork@videomaker.com (Matt York)
Subject: Re: MAP memo re: "spectrum flexibility"
>Prepared by Gigi B. Sohn and Andrew Jay Schwartzman
>
>Media Access Project
May I suggest adding something:
It would seem wise that non-discriminatory access be provided to small
businesses that are entering the video information industry. There are
over 150 new (niche) TV networks currently looking for cable
distribution. There are too few gatekeepers in control of too much
bandwidth.
Section 612 of the 1992 Cable Act requires non-discriminatory access.
Video Dial Tone requires it as well. A new organization is forming
around this premise.
Video Information Providers for Nondiscriminatory Access
VIPNA
Mission Statement
We rigorously support common carrier regulations that separate
conduit from content and insist upon open access.
I. Assure nondiscriminatory access for all video information providers
(including those distributing a single program or series of programs) to
all electronic distribution means:
Cable TV
Video Dial Tone
Direct Broadcast Satellite
Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (Wireless Cable)
LLDS (cellular TV)
II. Assure access to:
*equitable market position compared to the conduit provider regarding
tier position, boot-up screens, channel number
*schedule, indexing and listing providers
*audience measurement data
*billing & collection services and related information
*Customer Premises Equipment Intelligence (the CPU of set-top boxes,
PCs or other related equipment)
III. Assure parity compared to the conduit provider in connection,
service and downtime.
IV. Assure access governed by reasonable rates (tariffs), terms and
conditions.
Cable TV has certainly reduced the audience concentration away from the
broadcast networks, but they are still too saturated with broadcast TV
reruns or recreations. The economic realities are that large audiences
result in large advertising revenues. Television is not vulgar because
people are vulgar; it is vulgar because people are similar in their
prurient interests and sharply differentiated in the civilized concerns.
Consequently watching TV is, for the most part, a mindless activity that
rarely enhances the quality of the viewers life. The philosopher, George
Gilder agrees as he writes in his book "Life After Television"
______________________________________________________________________
Why doesn't our superb information technology better inform and
uplift us? This is the most important question of the age. The most
dangerous threat to the US. economy and society is the breakdown of our
cultural institutions -in the family, religion, education, and the
arts- that preserve and transmit civilization to new generations. If
this social fabric continues to fray, we will lose not only our
technological prowess and economic competitiveness but also the meaning
of life itself. The chief economic challenge we now face is how to apply
the new technologies in a way that preserves the values and disciplines
that made them possible in the first place.
By changing the balance of power between the distributors and
creators of culture, the bottleneck of broadcast mass appeal will be
forever broken. Television can change from a mass-consumed commodity
to an endless feast of niches and specialties.
___________________________________________________________________________
I couldn't agree more with Representative Markey. In a recent speech by
Representative Markey he made the following statements:
****************************************************************************
" To make our vision of a networked community a reality, we have to
remember the core values behind the Communications Act of 1934 --
values which apply as well in cyberspace as they did in the New
Deal. One value is to insure universal access to every person in our
country -- rich or poor. Another is to insure diversity , that there is
a multitude of " media tongues " that can speak, that you don't have to
work for the biggest and most powerful companies , or be a certain
kind of person to get access."
"That the smallest voices , those articulating creative ideas, those with
information to communicate, have access to the telecommunications
network,"
"That they can be free and strong and separate from the larger voice
that may want to be more monopolistic and drown them out, and
that localism can be, in fact, fostered through this network."
"That it's not just a couple of voices coming from New York or LA.,
but voices all across the country that can use the telecommunications
system. For this reason I am advocating that America needs to take
an interim step on the way to a fully functional broadband system
for the country."
**************************************************************************
VIPNA believes that the Information Superhighway should be founded on the
primacy of individual liberty and a commitment to pluralism, diversity and
community. This Jeffersonian vision has been actively promoted by the
Electronic Frontier Foundation's Mitch Kapor.
Today's system consists of bottlenecks to innovation. Too few gatekeepers
have been controlling television programming. Too few people have had too
much influence over too many people for far too long.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Matt York, Videomaker Inc | internet: myork@videomaker.com
920 Main Street | v 916-891-8410 fax 916-891-8443
Chico, CA 95926 | http://www.videomaker.com
Videomaker, inc. provides high-quality, up-to-date information on
the topics of video production and distribution. Through print,
video and digital media, our mission is to democratize and enrich
television by educating, informing and inspiring the public.
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