About Us

CTN Chartering Organizations

	Detroit Public Television www.dptv.org DPTV is a viewer-supported PBS member station servicing the nation's 11th largest television market. It's vision is to educate, entertain, and inspire, in partnership with the community. Detroit Public TV is notably active in the community producing local programs and online content that showcase arts and culture, children and education, regional leadership and news analysis, environment and energy, and health; and outreach campaigns that use the power of media to connect programs to people. Weekly productions include American Black Journal and Am I Right? both of which focus on the metro Detroit community.
	Detroit Public Schools www.detroit.k12.mi.us DPS serves nearly 90,000 students in 172 schools throughout the city of Detroit. The district's mission is to create Centers of Excellence in every school in every neighborhood. The school system's administration, teachers and staff have a laser-like focus on creating learning opportunities to prepare children for the 21st Century and ensure they can compete in a global economy.
	Macomb Intermediate School District www.misd.net MISD serves the 21 public school districts, charter schools, and private/parochial schools in Macomb County. It is the largest ISD in Michigan that provides direct services to students. MISD staff help bring best practices to the classroom, impacting some 150,000 students in both public and non-public schools. Resources provide quality educational opportunities for general education and special education students, technical and instructional support to school employees, and leadership in all areas impacting education.
	Oakland Schools www.oakland.k12.mi.us Oakland Schools is one of 57 intermediate school districts (ISDs) established in Michigan in 1962. ISDs are regional service agencies that offer support services to school personnel that are best delivered regionally, as measured by cost, size and quality advantages. Oakland Schools is an autonomous, tax-support public school district governed by Michigan General School Laws serving 230,000 students, 25,000 school employees, 28 school districts, and 20 charter schools. The mission of Michigan's educational service agencies (ISDs, RESAs and RESDs) is to provide visionary leadership and quality services to strengthen teaching and learning for all citizens. Our mission: Oakland Schools: Learning today. Transforming tomorrow. For all citizens.
	Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency www.resa.net Wayne RESA is a regional educational service agency that provides a broad spectrum of services and support to Wayne County's 34 school districts aimed at improving student achievement and maximizing economies of scale in staff development, purchasing, and administrative services. Services range from curriculum consulting and staff development, helping districts maximize technology use in the classroom, software applications for district student and administrative services, group purchasing and more..
	Wayne State University www.wayne.edu Wayne State is an urban, public research institution dedicated to preparing students to excel in an increasingly interconnected global society. Reflecting its location in Detroit, one of the nation's truly international cities, Wayne State boasts students from 50 states and more than 70 countries. the university has nearly 32,000 students, offers more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges, and holds the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching's highest designation for research activity.

CTN History

The Community Telecommunications Network (CTN) is a 501c3 non-profit corporation representing a unique combination of urban and suburban organizations serving the community, K-12 education, higher education and public television in southeast Michigan. Created in 1987 CTN is a partnership of Detroit Public Television, Macomb Intermediate School District, Oakland Schools, School District of the City of Detroit, Wayne Regional Education Service Agency and Wayne State University.

Chartering institutions applied and received licenses from the Federal Communications Commission to operate Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) broadcasting services on frequencies put aside for educational use. CTN was created to operate the licenses on behalf of member institutions creating an 18-channel public service television/telecommunications system dedicated to education and human resource development.

Broadcast transmitters were collocated at a cooperative operations center in order to take advantage of common facilities, technical staff, faculty, and the educational expertise of the members. With limited financial resources, a broad scope of programs, educational training and informational services were designed to maximize the efficient use of ITFS spectrum and provide new /extended services to the community of southeast Michigan. Original programming include a K-12 educational series originally known as M*Star, the working channel and the college cable channel.

In addition, CTN became the leasing agent for the partnership allowing them to use the excess capacity of the system as a source of funding. In the mid 90's the FCC realigned the ITFS frequencies and rules were enacted allowing for expanded partnerships between private for profit and non-profit agencies. CTN explored partnerships with a variety of organizations including Eastern Cable People's Choice and eventually Sprint.

In the early 2000's the technology matured and ITFS frequencies became valuable assets to broadband wireless development through out the country. CTN members recognized this shift and a new partnership with business and industry was solidified with Sprint/Clearwire to move from a broadcast environment to a two-way interactive service.

Always keeping in mind the original mission of the partnership to:"...enhance the quality of life in southeast Michigan through the creative use of telecommunications..."

Today CTN continues to serve government, education and the community as a wireless service partner. Facing these challenges amidst the turbulence of technological change and closing the "digital Gap" are what brought the chartering institutions of CTN together and continue to be its major effort today.