A2 Community Access Television Channels

A2 Community Access Television Channels

Channel 8 Educational Access

This channel airs educational and informational programming. Examples of Channel 8 shows include: plays and concerts featuring Ann Arbor school children, information about new books at the public library, and college telecourses. Program categories are: 16% AACAT (i.e. Around Ann Arbor - Live); 4% Ann Arbor Public Library (i.e. "Booked for Lunch" lecture series); 62% Ann Arbor Public Schools (i.e. school plays, Homework Helper, district information, satellite programs); and 18% Washtenaw Community College (telecourses).

Channel 9 Public Access

This channel airs programming by Ann Arbor residents and members of Ann Arbor-based nonprofit organizations. It is a platform for opinions, ideas, and creative endeavors. Programs are pre-produced, taped at AACAT facilities or aired live from the AACAT studio. There are between 30 and 40 series (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) running at any one time. Program categories are: 35% Special Interest (i.e. African American, religious, physically challenged, women's issues, children's issues, gay issues); 32% Arts & Entertainment (i.e. dance, drama, music, comedy, sports, documentary); 27% Information (i.e. community events, public service, news); and 6% Education (i.e. health, safety, fitness).

Channel 10 Government Access

This channel is devoted to city government in action - included of meetings  of Ann Arbor City Council, Commission, Board of Education, Cable Communication Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Historic District Commission, Solid Waste Commission, and Commission on Disability Issues. It also cable casts special events (i.e. elections and town meetings).

Channel 11

A2 Local Info (AALINC)

AALINC is an interactive elect board that lows access, with a touch tone Phone, City Hall, community organizations, public schools, the pub AACAT program and Washtenaw Community College.

   To use AALINC, call 994-4513. Instructions and the list of categories appear on the screen. A number keypad with arrows appears in the bottom led corner, prompting the user to push certain numbers to access certain information. Each caller has five minutes at a time to use AALINC.

   Through AALINC one can call up information such as: a list of City Council members (name, address and date of term expiration); school lunch menus; Washtenaw Community College news; or a list of new books at the public library!

   Community organizations can submit information (i.e. upcoming activities or volunteer recruitment announcements) for inclusion on AALINC on a 3.5 inch IBM diskette, using ASCII or DOS text file formal. Format the announcement to 40 characters per line, 10 lines per page (this equals one screen on TV). You may use up to 100 screens for your listing. At the end, type "end of file." .

   If submitting a computer diskette is not possible, AACAT will accept announcements in written form.

AACAT Online

AACAT also operates a bulletin board system accessible to computer modem users. Agendas, agenda items, and minutes from City Council meeting as well as city job postings and AACAT program shedules a workshop op dates are available for down loading 24 hours a day by dialing 994-1743 on your modem (300 to 14,400 BPS. Data=8, parity=N, stop=1). The bulletin board also includes the AACAT Bazaar (classifieds of items for sale); downloadable software; and a chat board on a variety of topics including government, religion, taxes.