Television policy and procedures

NOTE: The lease for the satellite system will expire June 30, 2006. IHETS will not support the system after that time and is offering a new service, IHETS Interactive, to replace it. No new satellite originators or receive sites are being accepted. This information is provided for historical purposes only.

IHETS Television is a complex, multichannel, one-way video/two-way audio network shared by Indiana’s post-secondary education institutions to deliver televised instruction to geographically-dispersed audiences. This document describes the network and its components, as well as the basic policies and procedures for accessing the network for origination or reception.

Program origination sub-systems

Origination sites are responsible for funding the construction and operation of television production facilities and other facilities required to deliver televised program materials and video test signals to the network. Such transmissions shall equal or exceed the minimum technical standards established by IHETS for program origination, as detailed in the minimum standards for IHETS Television reception.

Originators are also responsible for all costs associated with planning, production, and origination of programming to IHETS Television, as well as for arrangements for program reception at certified receive sites and for paying any charges from user sites for reception services.

IHETS Television

• Program origination channels: video and audio channels for delivering programs from program origination sub-systems to the network. Program origination channels make it possible to send live or videotaped programming via IHETS Television. IHETS currently uses direct satellite and terrestrial digital channels to provide capability for existing origination sites.
• Network switching: Program origination channels are controlled by a computer at IHETS that switches programs from the originator to the proper network channel for relay by the network satellite transponder.

Program reception sub-systems

• Reception equipment: Sites wishing to connect to IHETS Television must install and maintain an appropriate satellite antenna system, downlink control unit (DCU), building distribution system, and IHETS Digital TeleResponse System in accordance with the minimum standards for reception.
• Distribution and viewing facilities: Each user must provide, operate, and maintain a system to distribute IHETS Television program channels to local viewing rooms and the TV set in those rooms.

IHETS transmission responsibility

IHETS transmission responsibility begins at the point of signal delivery to the IHETS Television interface at each program origination sub-system and extends to the point at which the signal exits from IHETS-funded facilities. Each program originator assumes certain risks in transmitting programs via IHETS Television. IHETS cannot be liable for loss incurred by an originating institution or other user due to human or technical error or other malfunction.

Scheduling

IHETS staff controls and operates IHETS tTelevision on behalf of member institutions and other users of the service. The network is scheduled in accordance with established policies and procedures (see scheduling policy).

Ownership of program materials

Each sponsoring institution or agency is responsible for program materials it transmits or causes to be transmitted via IHETS Television and for the uses made of this material at reception locations. The sponsor must make certain that programs transmitted from the origination site have been cleared for copyright license or have the permission of the producer of the material.

Requests for origination capability

• IHETS member institutions: Origination channels for member institutions are provided at IHETS expense. Funding for such connections is included as a part of the IHETS appropriation request. A campus requesting origination channels must make such request with appropriate justification in a letter to the IHETS executive director from its institutional representative on the IHETS Management Committee.
• Nonmember entities: Nonmember entities may originate programs directly to IHETS Television provided that the agency agrees (a) to pay all costs associated with providing and maintaining the channel, (b) to provide television program origination in accordance with the minimum standards forreception, and (c) to abide by all policies and procedures established for IHETS Television, including appropriate-use policies. Nonmember requests for an origination channel must be made in writing to the IHETS executive director.
• IHETS will charge an hourly schedule/coordination fee for each transmission and an hourly technical service fee for any transmissions scheduled outside of standard network operating hours. Standard network operating hours may vary according to scheduled utilization patterns. Nonmember originators are encouraged to contact the IHETS offices for timely information as they engage in production planning and budgeting.

Request for program origination channel(s)

Requests must include the following information: (a) the date by which origination capability will be needed; (b) description of origination facilities, equipment, and personnel; (c) description of planned utilization (number of hours use expected, description of purpose and general content, potential students involved, etc.); (d) technical contact person for IHETS staff in planning for the connection; and (e) other information the applicant wishes to provide relevant to the request.

Approval process

Following review and recommendation by staff and the Video Network Task Force Committee, the request will be forwarded through the Integrated Technologies Committee to the Management Committee for approval.

Requests for IHETS Television reception

• Requests for IHETS Television reception: Sites wishing to receive IHETS Television shall complete a Request for IHETS Television Reception, Letter of Understanding, and a Preliminary Site Information Survey, and send it to the IHETS executive director. The Letter of Understanding constitutes the agreement between a receive site and IHETS and must include the signature and title of the responsible individual at the requesting site. Receipt of these documents is necessary for consideration of site approval.
• Nomination for approval: All sites requesting approval to receive IHETS Television must be nominated by one of the IHETS member institutions. For a campus of an IHETS member institution, the signature on the Letter of Understanding of that institution’s representative to the IHETS Management Committee will serve as nomination for that campus. Nonmember sites may be nominated by any IHETS member institution; the Management Committee representative of the nominating institution must sign the Letter of Understanding for the requesting location. Receiving locations may arrange to use programming from any IHETS TV program originator; they are not limited to using programs only from the institution that nominated them.
• Authorized local extensions or “backdoor connections:” Authorized receive sites may construct systems to add reception locations beyond the site’s premises provided: (a) all costs are paid by the site; (b) the site accepts full responsibility for ensuring that only transmission activities that have been cleared by the originator for such extended use will be transmitted to the additional sites; and (c) the local extending facility (CATV, microwave, ITFS, etc.) is constructed to prevent unauthorized reception of IHETS Television programs. Plans for such extensions must be submitted in advance to the IHETS executive director for review and approval by the IHETS Management Committee.

Request approval process

• Conditional approval: The IHETS staff will review each request, securing any supplementary information that may be necessary to clarify the request. Assuming everything is in order, the IHETS Video Network Task Force Committee will give conditional approval to the request. If IHETS funding is required, the request must be approved by the IHETS Management Committee.
• Those planning for IHETS TV reception should study the minimum standards for reception to be sure that their equipment meets all specifications. For IHETS member campuses, IHETS provides the necessary equipment and the campus is responsible for installing it. Other sites must provide and install their own equipment. (All sites are responsible for providing their own channel distribution and viewing systems.) The Downlink Control Unit and TV talkback units are unique to IHETS Television and must be purchased through IHETS; “turnkey installation” of a complete system can also be arranged. Upon request, IHETS staff will provide technical information and assist in arranging installation. Steerable antenna systems may be used to receive IHETS-distributed programming. However, the on-duty operator-technician or IHETS coordinator must have the additional responsibility of understanding and being capable of operating their viewing site’s steerable dish equipment in order to ensure satisfactory reception of IHETS signals.
• Installation and certification: Upon notification of conditional approval, the site should complete equipment installation. At the completion of installation, IHETS staff, or its agent, will visit the site for inspection and certification. The site will then be added to the IHETS database of certified user sites.

Additional considerations for out-of-state sites

• Installation and certification: In order to ensure quality service to distant locations, out-of-state sites must arrange, through IHETS, for purchase and installation of reception equipment including satellite antenna, downlink control unit, and classroom Digital TeleResponse equipment. IHETS’ agents will provide turnkey installation of this equipment and complete a site certification inspection, providing copies to the site and to IHETS. Upon certification, the site will be added to the IHETS database of certified user sites.
• Costs: Since IHETS Television is supported by Indiana tax revenues, an annual fee will be charged for out-of-state sites to cover the cost of supporting such locations. This fee will be billed in advance on an annual basis; initial annual payment must be included with the request for connection. Annual charge rates are set by the IHETS Management Committee.

Digital TeleResponse description

The Digital TeleResponse (DTR) system uses a standard telephone connection to the central system. The central system automatically routes the call to the correct class. Once connected, the student is a member of the class. When the student presses the ‘push-to-talk’ button on the handset, his voice is instantaneously sent to the classroom. Questions to the professor and participation in group discussions are then possible.

IHETS provides, at no charge, one briefcase unit to its member institutions. Additional DTR briefcase units may be purchased when needed. Because the system was designed specifically for use by the IHETS video network, it must be purchased from IHETS. Nonmember locations are required to purchase each DTR they use.

Digital TeleResponse requires a dedicated analog line for connecting to the central system. The site must also provide local wiring and equipment. The DTR system is a dial-up connection. Therefore, IHETS member institutions may use SUVON or a toll free number. Nonmember locations are required to use a long-distance carrier if they are out of the IHETS local calling area. Please contact the IHETS office for additional information regarding how your site will connect to DTR.

Program preemption in case of equipment failure

Should a facility failure interfere with transmission of a program on IHETS television, the IHETS staff will take timely action to provide an alternate route, if one is available. The staff will not interrupt transmission on a good facility in order to provide an alternate feed path.