"Depending on the franchise and how they construct the system, and barring any unforeseen types of things, my guess is that roughly one year after they start constructing, the city will be nearly wired," said Electronics Professor A. A. Pandiscio, who currently overseas Harvard's two existing cable systems.

One network, the fifteen year-old Harvard Information Transfer System (HITS), performs "relatively routine" tasks such as telecasting medical school seminars and transmitting data. Pandiscio added that because HITS is built with outdated technology, it only has the capacity to carry one program at any given time.

The recently-installed Faculty of Arts and Sciences Local Area Network (FAS/LAN), the other cable system, can transmit data to eight buildings between Aiken Laboratory and Sever Hall.

Pandiscio said he welcomes the city's new cable system since it might connect more Harvard buildings, especially in the outlying parts of the campus.

"Because there is no steam tunnel access to the Radcliffe area, Harvard is very interested in laying additional cable," Pandiscio added.

How Successful?

Most agree that the success of cable television in Cambridge largely depends on its penetration into 41,000 local households and nearly 7,000 Harvard, MIT, and Lesley dorm units.

Yet another measure of cable's success in the city will be whether or not the selected franchise will provide municipal access to residents, enabling local groups to air special interest programming. Cable Commissioneer Sakey requested such access in the city's 300-page report to the four applicants and asked the franchises to supply studio equipment, mobile production units, and trained personnel to assist Cantabrigians.

"This is a revolutionary concept--people finally in control of their media environment," said Edward C. Casey '76, of the city's cable commission.

"One can dream up all sorts of potential interactions between Harvard, MIT and Cambridge," Pansdiscio speculated.