| Title: |
Edward M. (Ed) Allen
|
| Document type: |
Oral history
|
| Accessibility: |
Free Only
|
| Repository: |
Cable Center. Barco Library. Special Collections
|
| Collection: |
Cable Center Oral History Collection
|
| Description: |
Ed Allen began his career in the cable industry in 1955 when he became general manager of the cable system in Winona, Minnesota, one of the first cable systems to be built in the state. He had been a radio salesman in the same town. He managed other cable systems and eventually became chairman of Western Communications, Inc., one of the leading multiple systems operators. Allen was involved in the establishment of the Central CATV association and played a major role in the California Cable Television Association (CCTA) after he moved to that state in 1967. Allen served as chairman of the National Cable Television Association (NCTA) during the crucial period in the mid-1980s when the Congress was considering legislation to end local regulation of the rates charged by cable systems. In particular he played the key role in forging a consensus among the members of the board of the NCTA -- some of whom supported the legislation and some of whom opposed it -- and in negotiating a compromises agreement with representatives of the cities and other organizations interested in the bill. The legislation became law in the 1984 Cable Act and ushered in a major boom in the business. Allen worked hard to persuade his colleagues to act responsibly with regard to rates after the regulations had been lifted. In his oral history he discusses these events and the prospects for further regulatory efforts by the government. He also discusses the future of the cable business, particularly some of the new technologies being exhibited at the Western Show in 1989 where the Oral History interview took place.
|
| URL: |
http://www.cablecenter.org/education/library/oralHistoryDetails.cfm?id=207
|
| Original Language: |
English
|
| Time span: |
Not indicated ... to 1989 (Year of interview)
|
| Speaker: |
Allen, Ed
|
| Speaker gender: |
Male
|
| Document location: |
Anaheim, CA
|
| Document date: |
13-Dec-1989
|
| Interviewer: |
Smith, E. Stratford, 1916-
|
| Locations discussed: |
North America; United States
|
| Topics discussed - ASP terms: |
Broadcasting; Cable television--United States; North America; Oral history; Public broadcasting; Television; Television programs; United States
|
| Topics discussed - Other terms: |
Cable administrators
|
| ASP release: |
2005-06
|
| Document code: |
OHI0022674-24059
|
