Susan Fratkin Papers

Subseries 1.1: Educational Telecommunications Committee (ETV), 1977-1987 (1.25 linear feet)

This subseries documents Susan Fratkin's work as a member and driving force behind NASULGC's Educational Telecommunication's Committee, from 1977 to 1987. Issues dealt with by the Committee include establishing teleconferencing networks, lobbying the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and cooperation with theCorporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)). The Committee was made up of circa 25 representatives from NASULGC member institutions. The materials are divided broadly between correspondence and meetings, although there is some overlap. Thereafter materials appear chronologically.

Subseries 1.2: Joint Council on Educational Telecommunications (JCET), 1978-1986 (0.75 linear foot)

This subseries documents Fratkin's work, from 1978 to 1986, as a member and, from 1984, president of the JCET. Founded in 1950 as the Joint Committee on Educational Television, and later the Joint Council on Educational Television, this organization had the original aim of persuading the Federal Communications Commission to reserve broadcast channels for non-commercial television. Now, with the new name Joint Council on Educational Telecommunications, the organization serves as "a consortium of national and regional non-profit organizations and associations in education, public broadcasting, telecommunications, and library and information sciences." Issues considered by the JCET include Instructional Television Fixed Service, AT&T rates and tariffs, deregulation, and JCET administrative matters. Materials are arranged chronologically and include correspondence, memoranda, minutes of meetings, agendas, clippings, and Fratkin's notes.

Subseries 2.1: Conferences and Workshops, 1980-1985 (13 folders)

Subseries chronicles Fratkin's participation in several conferences and workshops all pertaining to telecommunications issues, from 1980 to 1985. Included are programs sponsored by the Joint Committee on Television, the Telecommunications Research and Action Center, and the Council on Learning. Materials include correspondence, agendas, programs, drafts of speeches and reports.

Subseries 2.2: Work with Other Organizations, 1981-1986 (11 folders)

This subseries documents organizations with which Fratkin had at least some measure of direct involvement, from 1981 to 1986, as part of her efforts to bridge the world of higher education with that of technology and telecommunications. Educational organizations with which Fratkin worked included the Southern Educational Communications Association, the Higher Education Interassociation Committee on Television, and the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Also included are organizations more concerned with technology such as the Public Service Satellite Consortium, and the National University Teleconferencing Network. Materials are arranged chronologically by organization and include correspondence, memoranda, reports, newsletters, and Fratkin's notes.

The box inventory for this subseries is not currently available online. Please refer to the subseries description above for a broad description of the materials or contact the department for more information.

Subseries 3.1: Adult Learning, 1978-1984 (6 folders)

Materials gathered relating to various programs and projects for adult education and telecommunications, from 1978 to 1984. Of particular concern was the CPB Station-College Executive Project in Adult Learning (SCEPAR) as well as other programs for adult education, sponsored by the American Open University and the Bay Area Community College Consortium. Materials includes correspondence, reports, and pamphlets.

Subseries 3.2: Restructuring AT&T, 1981-1985 (9 folders)

Materials gathered concerning the breakup of the AT&T phone monopoly, from 1981 to 1985, in particular in regards to its effect on higher education, with many colleges and universities establishing their own phone systems. Included are memoranda, newsletters, clippings, testimony, and pamphlets.

Subseries 3.3: Cable, 1979-1985 (0.50 linear foot)

This subseries contains materials relating to the rapid expansion of cable television, from 1979 to 1985. Of particular concern for Fratkin were several pieces of legislation regarding regulation of cable and the possibility of universities and colleges entering joint ventures with cable companies. Included are correspondence, clippings, pamphlets, newsletters, and reports.

Subseries 3.4: Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 1975-1986 (12 folders)

This subseries is made up of reports and materials relating to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), from 1975 to 1986. Reports by and about the CPB are included, as well as material regarding the Annenberg School funded CPB project to explore advancing higher education through telecommunications. Included are reports, memoranda, clippings, newsletters, and notes.

Subseries 3.5: Fairness Doctrine, 1983-1984 (6 folders)

This subseries documents Fratkin's opposition, from 1983 to 1984, to the possible repeal of the "fairness doctrine," which required broadcasters after covering a story "to afford a reasonable opportunity for the presentation of contrasting views." In this endeavor, Fratkin worked with a group called the Friends of the Fairness Doctrine. Material includes correspondence, statements, press releases, newsletters, and notes.

Subseries 3.6: Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 1978-1988 (15 folders)

This subseries contains material relating to particular cases before the FCC of concern to Fratkin from 1978 to 1988. Included are materials on television and radio deregulation, licensing, low power television broadcasting, and multiple ownership rules. Materials include correspondence, memoranda, legislation, FCC case briefs, clippings, and notes.

Subseries 3.7: Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS), 1978-1985 (2.00 linear feet)

Subseries contains material relating to the threatened relocation of ITFS channels from 1978 to 1985. The Instructional Television Fixed Service was established in 1963 to reserve several broadcast channels to allow for the transmission of education or instructional video programming to various specially equipped locations. Of special concern for Fratkin were several cases before the FCC, including 80-112, 80-113, 80-116, and 80-523, all involving reallocation of ITFS stations. The series is divided between correspondence and general material relating to ITFS, and material relating directly to FCC cases. Included are correspondence, memoranda, case briefs, newsletters, clippings, and notes.

Subseries 3.8: Legislation, 1977-1983 (7 folders)

Subseries relates to federal legislation, from 1977 to 1983, of concern to Fratkin. Legislative topics include broadcasting to Cuba, alternatives to the CPB, home recording rights, and various annual Communications Acts. Materials includes correspondence, memoranda, statements, clippings, and newsletters.

Subseries 3.9: Other Organizations, 1979-1983 (6 folders)

Subseries contains material gathered by Fratkin, 1979-1983, about various organizations with which she had no direct involvement (see series one for material on organizations with which Fratkin worked directly). Organizations include the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges, the Education Commission of the States, the National University Continuing Education Association and others. Materials includes reports, correspondence, newsletters, and pamphlets.

Subseries 3.10: Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), 1979-1984 (5 folders)

Subseries contains material collected relating to PBS , from 1979 to 1984. Included are reports about PBS as well as reports generated by PBS itself, in particular in regards to its future operations. Other materials include correspondence, memoranda, clippings, and notes.

Subseries 3.11: Satellite Technology, 1980-1984 (4 folders)

Subseries contains material gathered regarding satellite technology, from 1980 to 1984, in particular the potential for satellite broadcasting and teleconferencing. Included are clippings pamphlets, reports, and promotional materials.

Subseries 3.12: Teleconferences, 1981-1984 (5 folders)

Subseries contains materials regarding teleconferencing gathered by Fratkin as part of her interest in establishing a teleconferencing network among institutions of higher learning, from 1981 to 1984. Included are correspondence, memoranda, reports, clippings, promotional materials and notes.

Subseries 3.13: Telecourses, 1983 (3 folders)

Subseries contains materials gathered regarding telecourse programs, dated 1983. Includes material on the Veterans Administration pertaining to veteran educational benefits, and on telecourse programs run by the University of California at San Diego and the Coast Community Colleges. Included are correspondence, pamphlets, reports, and promotional materials.

Subseries 3.14: Teleports, 1983 (2 folders)

Subseries contains material, dated 1983, regarding teleports, a project sponsored by Port Authority of NY and NJ, Merrill Lynch & Co. and Western Union, Co. to establish a $200 million satellite communications center on Staten Island. Types of documents include correspondence and clippings.

Subseries 3.15: Miscellaneous Subject Files, 1978-1986 (0.75 linear foot)

Subseries consists of single subject files covering a variety of issues relating to telecommunications, from 1978 to 1986. Topics includes Black Radio Stations, Editorial Integrity in Public Broadcasting, the New York State Appalachian Telecommunications Systems, and contact with the HEW Office of Civil Rights. Materials include correspondence, newsletters, memoranda, clippings, reports and surveys.