A CABLE - INTERNET MARRIAGE ? By Pierre Bourque Realtime Online Ottawa 3:30 p.m. August 16, 1994 Canadian Cable TV Association President Ken Stein presented his case for a linkage between cable, Freenet and the Internet. A logical future together ? Stein reminded conference delegates that cable is a canadian technology. And a worldwide leader in the cable industry. An innovator. It's canadian, and it's community. Cable is preparing for the future and has already embraced the new digital technology. Cable is developing new information products and services. It is moving towards complete interactivity. In Canada, there are 1,845 cable systems. Ranging from the small 108 subscriber North Country Cable, to the massive Rogers Cable with it's 1,7 million subscribers. Canadian Cable is a world leader for the future. With the establishment of fibre ring networks (a hybrid of fibre and coax), digital video compression, and interactive services. Stein sees information as a growth opportunity for Cable. Cable's strategy is it's commitment to universal addressability with national interconnection. They wish to be a universal service provider. They wish to continue to develop strategic partnerships with broadcasters, programmers, producers and suppliers. Stein also points out that cable's network distribution capacity is in place. Most communities will have fibre ring links. He stresses that cable has a huge lead in the area of versatility over telephone companies because of it. Perfect for Internet and hundreds of other new technologies. Stein says that cable's goal is to move rapidly into the no man's land of services not yet provided fully either by telephone or cable companies. Such as telemetry (energy management and security), or information services (banking, shopping, databases, audiotext) and community services (Email and data communications). He forecasts that all of these areas will be occupied by the year 2001 He sees the future of cable as one where it is intrinsically involved in the classroom, with smart tv, SchooLink, Distance Learning, Schoolnet and Freenet (Chebucto). Cable has a commitment to do so. The Canadian cable industry can work for the Internet and for Freenet. Stein says "We've got the broadband system, we've handled the new technologies, we are computer focused." At the end of his presentation, a point was raised from the floor whereby the cable industry should consider the fact that many people are actually afraid of the computer. The question was asked whether the cable industry would consider exploring ways to make the television more computer like so as to allow for bringing the Internet and Freenet to the masses. The point was well taken. -- Realtime Online - Professional Conference Reporting Team Rosaleen Dickson, Ottawa ac174@freenet.carleton.ca. Pierre Bourque, Michel Careau, Shady Kanfi, Charles King, Andrea Kujala, Jules Lafrance, Bruce MacDonald, Robt Rattey, Natalie Roth, Michael Silvestrini, Stephen Toy.