THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 15, 1995 TAG: 9511150220
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BARCO LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Public school students in Currituck, Chowan and Pasquotank counties one day may be able to take college courses without setting foot on campus.
Working or ill parents who can't attend their kids' school plays or assemblies will still be able to watch via live TV broadcasts.
These are just a couple of the possibilities if the Instructional Television Fixed Service, a type of wireless cable, becomes a reality in the Albemarle area.
The Federal Communications Commission has dedicated five four-channel bands to educational institutions in northeastern North Carolina.
Currituck County Public Schools is among the five systems that applied for channel licenses. The others are Elizabeth City-Pasquotank and Edenton-Chowan school districts, College of The Albemarle and Roanoke Bible College.
The Currituck Board of Education agreed to pursue the cable venture and a lease agreement with a commercial operator during its regular monthly meeting Monday night at Central Elementary School in Barco.
``This is all still contingent on the fact that the FCC will grant us those licenses,'' Associate Superintendent William Dobney said Tuesday. ``That process takes maybe six months to outside of two years. But if we are not issued those licenses, then the lease agreement will be null and void.''
If wireless cable does come to Currituck, educational opportunities should expand considerably, Dobney said.
``Because technology is changing so fast, the video possibilities and the direct linkages of direct video between schools would be limitless,'' he said.
``We're looking in the future to live presentations that can be aired at all schools. Students being able to take college courses, interactively, between college classrooms and classrooms within our school facilities.
``Down the road, there could be the possibility of the live broadcast of events to the community and not just to the schools.''
The Currituck Board of Education voted 4-0 to enter into a 10-year lease agreement with Wireless One Corp. of Baton Rouge, La.
School Board member Garry Owens was absent because of another meeting that evening in Corolla.
Currituck will lease three of its four channels to Wireless One for commercial use. The remaining channel will be dedicated to educational programming if approved by the FCC.
In exchange for the channels, Wireless One will give a one-time $20,000 grant and install microwave dish receivers at all current and future schools and the central office.
``The worse that can happen is that in 10 years we'll have four TV channels that we can do whatever with,'' Dobney told the board on Monday.
Wireless cable would directly compete with a county's local underground cable operator.
A microwave dish, similar to small satellite dishes currently used by some households, would be required to receive programming from a transmitter in Pasquotank County.
Dobney said his research indicates that wireless cable customers may receive better reception and fewer weather-related interruptions in service.
In other action, the board:
Approved a resolution asking county commissioners to set aside $284,000 annually to fund a five-year, $5 million technology plan.
The funds will be used to purchase and install computer hardware and programs at all six schools.
Agreed unanimously to a pilot program for mediating and settling disputes among students.
Local attorney Jean Person and District Court Judge J.C. Cole said the program, if approved by the district bar association, would have lawyers work with students on self-esteem, personal responsibility, conflicts, communication and accountability. by CNB