All things related to multicast

[(Scott Aikens)]

For Immediate Release 
Contact: Dr. G. Scott Aikens, Project Director, 

 / (860) 278-5310, ext. 1385
For More Information: http://www.cpbi.org/mta


Connecticut Public Television & Radio and 
IBM Research to Link Public Sector Institutions 
Using Digital Technology


Connecticut Public Television & Radio, long known for its strategic
partnerships within the community, is working with IBM Research on a
pioneering effort to use digital technology to link public institutions to
one another and to citizens throughout the state of Connecticut.  The Ford
Foundation offered early support for the effort and requested that the
organization develop a model that can be followed by other public
broadcasters nationally.

“Strong public partnerships have sustained Connecticut Public Broadcasting
for more than 37 years,” said Jerry Franklin, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc. (CPBI), the
parent company of Connecticut Public Television & Radio. “We’re looking
forward to teaming with other organizations to serve Connecticut’s people
and to put Connecticut in the forefront of public sector collaboration
using digital technology.”

The effort, known as Mapping the Assets, is part of Connecticut Public
Broadcasting Inc.’s five-year plan for converting to digital technology.
“Working with digital technology developed by IBM Research and others, we
are dramatically improving, even rethinking, public television and radio
services,” said Dr. G. Scott Aikens, Project Director of Mapping the
Assets.  “Too many people are being left behind by complicated technology.
 This is known as the ‘digital divide’, and we believe that public
television and radio, which already reaches so many, must be used, among
other things, to bridge the digital divide.  The way to do this is to
transform television and radio into low-cost, Internet gateways that
provide educational, civic, health, arts and cultural services – creating
opportunity for all of the people of Connecticut.”

The plans for collaboration in Connecticut will benefit from the work of
IBM Research and other technology leaders.  “The evolution of the analogue
broadcast TV system into a two-way digital network will provide tremendous
opportunities for new services over the broadcast network,” said Jurij
Paraszczak, Senior Manager, Telecommunications Solutions, IBM Research. 
“We are happy to help CPBI develop the vision of a broadcast network
providing interactivity amongst all of its constituents through the use of
advanced technologies from IBM Research.”  

Technology concepts under consideration for transforming public
telecommunications include, for example, the “digital studio”, a new way
to send and receive video, audio and textual content.  “Our experience
working with our partners on the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) Advanced Television Studio project has given us a unique
insight into the use of broadcast and interactive networks,” said Jim
Janniello, Manager, Digital Television Laboratory, IBM Research.  “This
will help us deploy the digital broadcast technologies in an environment
where we can support initiatives for lifelong learning."

Mapping the Assets has also benefited from Connecticut’s Governor John
Rowland, who has committed $10 million over five years to fund Connecticut
Public Broadcasting’s digital conversion.

The strategy for Mapping the Assets is three-fold:
1) First, CPBI representatives intend to learn about Connecticut’s not-for
profit, public service organizations that are already using digital
technology as the basis for collaborative efforts.  

2) Second, CPBI representatives are using Internet and broadcast
technologies to engage diverse groups in a series of “live brainstorming
events” to determine the needs/wants of different public interest
constituencies and how digital technology can best provide these services. 

So far, the following brainstorming events have been scheduled:
The first event on November 17 covered “lifelong learning,” “science and
technology” and “citizen engagement.” It featured Lawrence K. Grossman,
former President of NBC News and PBS; Herman Lujan, Chief Academic
Officer, Connecticut State University; Tom Malone, Executive Scientist,
Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering; and Mike Meotti,
President, Connecticut Policy and Economic Council.  Input from this
session is available for viewing at: www.cpbi.org/mta

-  A second event on January 5, focused generally on lifelong learning. 
It featured Edgar Beckham, Dean of the College emeritus, Wesleyan
University; Chris Bruhl, President, SACIA; Judy Buffolino, Director,
Distance Education, The University of Connecticut School of Extended and
Continuing Education; George Coleman, Chief, Connecticut State Department
of Education; Eddie Davis, Bureau Chief, School-Family-Community
Partnerships; Denise Merrill, State Representative, Connecticut General
Assembly; Ken Wiggin, State Librarian, Connecticut Library Network; and
Arthur White, Yankelovitch Partners. Input from this session will be
available for viewing at: www.cpbi.org/mta

-  A third event will convene stakeholders to address the specifics of a
pilot concept in development – the “Connecticut Family Net” - which will
link public institutions, forming a network through which the rich video,
audio and data resources that exist in the state for and about families
can be more easily shared.  The event will feature (among others): Laura
Lee Simon, Chair, Connecticut Commission on Children; Ed Zigler,
Professor, Child Study Center, Yale University; Jurij Paraszczak, Senior
Manager, Telecommunications Solutions, IBM Research; Steve Futernick,
Senior Vice President, Strategic Development, Connecticut Public
Television & Radio; Charles Super, Professor and Dean, University of
Connecticut School of Family Studies; Ken Wiggin, State Librarian,
Connecticut Library Network; Dina Anselmi, Associate Professor of
Psychology, Trinity College.  The event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m.
on January 27 at Connecticut Public Television & Radio’s Hartford studio.

- A fourth event will address another pilot concept in development – the
“Connecticut Civic Net” - which will help organize and distribute
important policy resources as well as offer methods for greater citizen
participation.  The event will feature (among others): Lawrence K.
Grossman, former President of NBC News and PBS; Susan Bysiewicz, Secretary
of the State, Connecticut; Jim Janniello, Manager, Digital Television Lab,
IBM Research; Paul Giguere, President & CEO, Connecticut Public Affairs
Network;  Mike Meotti, President, The Connecticut Policy & Economic
Council; Fernando Betancourt, Executive Director, Latino and Puerto Rican
Affairs Commission.  The event will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on
February 8 at Connecticut Public Television & Radio’s Hartford studio.
 
3) Third, the Connecticut Public Broadcasting Inc. Board of Trustees, led
by Board Chair Laura Lee Simon, Chair, Connecticut Commission on Children,
and Strategic Development Committee Chair Lawrence K. Grossman, former
President of NBC News and PBS, is working with technology leaders such as
IBM Research as well as business and public sector leaders to determine
how Connecticut Public Television & Radio can best collaborate with and
serve the needs of Connecticut’s other major public service institutions. 
Key constituents in this phase include: technology companies, schools and
universities, libraries, museums, local governments, state government,
non-governmental organizations, faith groups, and businesses.

The aim of this effort is to engage the institutions and people of
Connecticut from the ground up to help us rethink public
telecommunications for the 21st Century.  To learn more and/or to become
involved with Mapping the Assets, go to www.cpbi.org/mta or contact Dr. G.
Scott Aikens at 

 or (860) 278-5310, x. 1385.
 
The Mapping the Assets initiative has been recognized as pioneering work
on several fronts.  The Markle and Goldsmith Foundations provided initial
funding.  The Ford Foundation offered a grant to support the development
of a model for others to follow nationally.  In 1999, Connecticut Public
Television & Radio also received a 21st Century Award from America’s
Public Television stations for the vision and leadership demonstrated in
this project.  

Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc. is the parent company of Connecticut
Public Television and Connecticut Public Radio.  Connecticut Public
Television is a nationally recognized producer and presenter of
Connecticut-based public television shows, including The Flood of ‘55,
Puerto Rican Passages, Colt: Legend & Legacy and UConn Women’s Basketball.
Now in its 37th year, CPTV remains committed to bringing the best in
entertainment to Connecticut and the nation.  Connecticut Public Radio,
besides being an NPR member station, has been awarded for the second year
in a row with the Mark Twain Award for overall station excellence.   

° CPTV °