. (Broadcast); Public Education; *Public Television; Telecommunication.., IDENTIFIERS CAC; Consumer Association of Canada; EDUCDE System 3;

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has made provision for ' three access channels in new cable television systems: one each for the public, educational authorities, and the local;government. The success of these access channels in instituting a two-way relationship between the public and commercial broadcasting is dependent on the presence,of adequate fundi to provide effective programming. In the,interests'of protecting the public interest, the development of a new communications policy is necessary. In aiding the initiation of a socially conscious communications policy, two system proposals are particularly worthy'of consideration. The Consumer Association of Canada,(CAC) conceives the idea of thg Community Information Network with the goal of creating ilhon-profit public information systems that give.primary attention,to the user's needs. EDUCOM"p S.xstem-3 proposal stresses the need for a two-way interactive system which calls for.a collaborative effort between the public and priirat sectors and a synthesis of information gathering and communication. In order to provide access to information for individuals, tAe'bulk of our attention should be focused on the reconsideration of cable television rules to be made by the FCC i