Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1976 [PAGE 442]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1975]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

431

On motion of Mr. Livingston, the foregoing resolution was adopted by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Hahn, Mr. Howard, Mr. Lenz, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Neal, Mrs. Rader, Mrs. Shepherd, Mr. Velasquez ; no, none; absent, Governor Walker.

Agreement for Use of WILL-TV Towers for Microwave Relay

(11) The Board has previously authorized an agreement between the University and Champaign-Urbana Communications, Inc., for the delivery of certain C A T V services on the Urbana campus, as part of a CATV system to be built in the communities of Champaign and Urbana. As a part of the proposed C A T V system in those communities and on the campus, a consortium of C A T V companies is building a microwave system which will deliver television signals from Chicago to systems in Rantoul, ChampaignUrbana, and Decatur. T h e University owns two towers which are located at points which would allow their use as a part of this system. These towers are the WILLT V microwave tower located at 1110 West Main Street in Urbana and the WILLT V - F M transmitting tower near Monticello. For the use of these towers for microwave relay and off-air reception purposes, the company will supply certain services which have great potential value to the Broadcasting Service and to the University as a whole. Among other benefits would be the company's willingness to deliver six 15 KHz wideband audio channels from the pickup point near Clifton to Urbana, and two such channels from Urbana to Monticello. These channels could be used for the relay of broadcast signals from the University's proposed Cicero radio station to WILL, for telemetry, for the pickup of news materials for WILL, for the return of computer data and P L A T O data, and for many other purposes. Moreover, the company will allow the use of their other towers for the construction of a return path to Chicago at some future time if the University's needs warrant such a system. The company would also pay 50 percent of the costs of maintaining the tower at 1110 West Main Street. The company would be responsible for all construction costs associated with the proposed use of the towers. In addition to the use of space for the company's microwave reflectors and off-air receiving antennas on the WILL-TV towers, the University would grant permission for the company to construct an equipment shed near the base of each tower and to add somewhat to the overall height of the tower at 1110 West Main Street if necessary for the mounting of the additional antennas. The company would be responsible for its own utility service at both locations, b u t WILL-TV would provide access to its propane emergency power system in Monticello for a monthly fee. At the request of the Broadcasting Service the company has provided a stress analysis of the Monticello tower done by a recognized consulting engineering firm, which indicates that the installation of their antenna on the tower will not overload the structure. The company will provide adequate insurance to cover possible damages to University property. All construction will be approved in advance by the Chief Engineer of the Broadcasting Service. Because of the benefits which would accrue to the University from the proposed agreement, the President of the University, with the concurrence of the appropriate administrative officers, recommends the adoption of the following resolution : Resolved, by The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, a public corporation of the State of Illinois, that the Comptroller and the Secretary of this public corporation are authorized to enter into a contract for the use of the University-owned towers located at 1110 West Main Street in Urbana and near Monticello, Illinois, as outlined above.

On motion of Mr. Forsyth, the foregoing resolution was adopted.