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179 Report Re: Cable TV Escapade Problem Mrs. Charlotte Severin, Chairperson of the Citizen's Cable T.V. Advisory Council, presented the report of this committee regarding the Escapade Leakage problem, stating the problem is threefold. She described the type of programming coming over the Escapade Channel as being extremely explicit sexual acts, including obscenity, per- version and violence, and certainly are "X-rated or worse"; but described by Viacom as adult "R" rated. She stated the first part of the problem is audio leakage into homes receiving basic cable service but who have not subscribed to Escapade. She stated that some homes also receive intermittent very clear pictures of the visual portion of this program. She introduced Mrs. Carole Larsen to elaborate further regarding this problem. Mrs. Carole Larsen stated that her 3 and 6 year old daughters were changing channels on the T.V. and suddenly were viewing a very explicit scene of perversion° She stated she was very upset that this type of programming was being brought into her home without her request. She stated she then became aware that Viacom would cut off service at the pole to remove this problem, but she felt that the problem should be the responsibility of the cable company, not the user. She concluded by stating she did not want Escapade leakage in her home, and urged Council to take whatever action necessary to remove this problem. Mrs. Severin stated the third problem is the one concerning premium subscribers who have subscribed to HBO or Showtime; and by pushing a combination of numbers the Escapade program comes in with complete clarity. She reported that many students and younger children are taking advantage of this without their parents knowledge. Mrs. Severin advised that she and Councilmember Brandes have received a number of complaints regarding the audio portion of Escapade leaking into their homes, and that she and Councilmember Brandes have discussed the issue with Viacom Cablevision and the City Manager, and the agreement was that Viacom would cut off reception of Escapade at the pole or box outside the home of everyone who was having the leakage problem. She stated that many subscribers have reported, however, that when they have called Viacom to turn off Escapade they have been told to come in for another box. The box doesn't work and they have had very frustrating experiences trying to get this programming out of their homes. Mrs. Severin introduced Mr. Dick Downing to speak regarding this problem. Mr. Downing stated that he is a basic cable subscriber and that his problems started 2~ months ago when he picked up his original new box. When he found Escapade coming through he requested that something be done about it. He was told to bring in his box and Viacom would burn out that channel. He stated his wife took the box to Viacom and was told the problem was taken care of. His wife brought the box home but they continued to have the same problem. He advised that after five separate episodes with different boxes, different confusing explanations-all unsuccessful, Viacom had finally last Thursday turned off the pole and they now have peace. He stated that if Viacom cannot control what comes through the T.V. programming then they should not have control over the area. M~s. Severin stated the agreement with Viacom was to turn it off at the pole for all subscribers having leakage. She stated the subscriber should not have to beg the company to remove this explicit material from their homes when it should not be there in the first place; the onus is on the company to take the initiative to solve the problem before it enters the home. She stated she felt Viacom should voluntarily make a systematic plan to go from pole to pole turning off Escapade except for those homes who have specifically subscribed to that program. Mrs. Severin asked for those in the audience in support of this action to stand. Approximately 80-100 persons stood in support of this. Mrs. Severin presented a petition to the Council, signed by 411 concerned citizens, which read as follows: "I am concerned that the audio portion of 6. 9/28/82