Special working group formed to study issues, issue RFP

January 18, 2007
Contact: communications@ihets.org

During the late 1960s, IHETS began acquiring Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) licenses from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on behalf of the consortium to transmit televised instruction and educational content.

By 1985, some 29 licenses had been acquired, making Indiana somewhat unique in comparison to other states. Although IHETS (i.e., the consortium) could not “own” or hold the licenses which were only available to recognized educational institutions, they were obtained in the name of Indiana University, which is IHETS’ fiscal agent. IHETS retained responsibility for managing (building and servicing needed equipment, trouble-shooting, consultation, license renewal applications, etc.) each of the licenses. 

As the technology for delivering electronic instruction has evolved, the need for ITFS technology—now known as Educational Broadband Service (EBS)—has decreased. New wireless technology (WiFi and WiMax) and changes in FCC policy has resulted in renewed interest in the licenses.

In July 2006, new FCC rules went into effect allowing a change in the ITFS technology, “rebanding” the frequency from television to digital band.  That change, along with a new mandate that only five percent of a license’s use must be for educational purposes, creates the potential for a large increase in the value of some of the licenses. 

With these changes, private-sector telecommunication companies now have a renewed interest in these licenses. The IHETS Technical Operations Committee, chaired by Dr. O’Neal Smitherman of Ball State University, has charged a small working group (which includes Smitherman, Laura Larimer of Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, and Scott Ksander of Purdue) with investigating the potential shared value of these licenses to the consortium.

“Our goal is to determine how these licenses can be used not only to benefit consortium members, but to address critical state educational needs and goals,” Smitherman reported.

The group has met with one Colorado-based consulting firm that specializes in assisting organizations who want to maximize the value and functionality of leasing their EBS spectrums. Based on this conversation, plans for issuing an RFP seeking other vendors skilled in the EBS industry are being discussed.