Message-ID: <3A30F8D0.C01874E0@mit.edu>
Date: Fri, 08 Dec 2000 10:05:52 -0500
From: Greg Anderson <ganderso@MIT.EDU>
Organization: MIT Information Systems
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: infosys@MIT.EDU
Subject: Discovery Project Announcement: MIT Cable Service
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Status: O

Good morning,

I am pleased to announce the start of an I/T Discovery project to investigate
how MIT will manage its cable TV services, especially the
programming providers to customers. Cable TV is an enterprise-wide service that
IS has provided to the community for 25 years. This
project will insure that the Institute continues to receive a quality service
into the future.

This project is a component of Theme 3 of the IS Strategic Plan to Operate and
Improve I/T. Within Theme 3, Cable TV is part of the initiative to operate and
maintain I/T Services. The entire MIT community is the customer base for MIT
Cable,although students have a large customer voice for cable programming
services.

Recommendations of the project team will focus on the selection of commercial
program provider(s) with the understanding that the 
external program provider(s) may not provide support for MIT
programming, but that any new technology that we might use will not interfere
with existing MIT local programming efforts (e.g. MIT conferences, lectures,
etc). This project is necessary at this time because the contract with MIT's
current cable provider (AT&T Broadband) expires in Aug. 2001. Much work has
already been accomplished; surveys of providers, request for proposals, and
input from customers via surveys. The project will focus on completing the
process for selection and on proposing recommendations for the financial,
technology, customer, and organizational aspects of our cable service. The team
will deliver recommendations to insure that cable programming services continue,
to propose organizational, service,and financial models for the service, and a
timetable and commitment for delivery.

The team is sponsored by Dennis Baron, Director, VDIN Practice with
additional sponsorship provided by the Dean for Student Life.Team members are:
Randy Winchester, Project Leader
Brian Shannon, Team Leader
Tim McGovern, Project Management Coach
Representative from Dean for Student Life
Communications role
Finance Business Consultant

The team's project notebook can be found at:
http://web.mit.edu/mitcable/www/Projects/

Because the team may need additonal assistance in completing its outreach to
customers and vendors, if you are interested in participating, please send a
message to Randy: randy@mit.edu

The team will complete its work by March 30, 2001.

Thank you in supporting the work of this team.
Greg