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Tucsday, March 13, 1S34
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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Gablevisioii lets taiiipeirers say "Excuse me"
By John Kocpmnn
"Excuse me."
No, not Steve Martin, but Lincoln
Cablevision. During March, Lincoln Cable
vision will give people with illegal hook
ups a chance to excuse themselves
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with no questions asked, no prosecution
and no $150 tampering fine.
Dick Bates, general manager for Lincoln
Cablevision, said the idea for the "Excuse
Me" month came from the National
Business Crime Information Network.
The concept, he said, has been used
successfully in other parts of the country.
Bates said about 35 tampered conver
ters had been turned in during the first
two days of March. He said he expected
many more throughout the month,
especially after March 15, when the
second cycle of bills will be sent to
users. Each bill carries a notice explain
ing "Excuse Me" month.
By conservative estimates, Lincoln
Cablevision lost about $500,000 last
year through the theft of services, with
things like converter tampering, Bates
said. Cable companies in the nation
lost about $700 million, he said.
Bates said the theft of cable services
has increased significantly with the
use of cable converters.
"In the past, we could just look and
see who was hooked up," Bates said. "It
was easy to detect and to prosecute."
Since Cablevision began using conver
ters for expanded channels, he said,
service theft has become much more
difficult to detect. Bates said there are
three ways converter tampering is disco
vered: a technician finds one on a
service call, a user brings the converter
in hoping that Cablevision will overlook
any irregularities and concerned citizens
volunteer information.
Bates said the last is the most effective
way of detecting and deterring tam
pering. He said subscribers have access
to a toll-free number which connects
them with the National Business Crime
Information Network. They can give
information concerning tampering and
are guaranteed complete anonymity.
The system is similar to that of Crime
Stoppers, he said. '
Most of the informers are subscribers
offended by having to pay for cable
services while others dont, Bates said.
Bates said Lincoln Cablevision prefers
not to prosecute tamperers. That's
why the company uses the "Excuse
Me" project, he said.
"We'd prefer to change them into
paying customers" he said. "Maybe
someone who never thought of tamper
ing as a crime would come in and take
advantage of it."
Bates said Cablevision is more con
cerned with prosecuting people who
tamper with converters continually.
He said some people alter converters
"as a profession." Some people import
previously altered converters into the
city and some charge fees to alter
peoples' converters, he said. Of about
26,000 converters in Lincoln, 25 to 30
percent are operating illegally, he said.
Lincoln Cablevision, as well as nearly
as every other c?vtt company, is trying,
to find techniques to combat tampering.
Bates said the ultimate system is an
"addressed system "which is activated
from a central office. However, that .
technology is still being developed, he
said, so companies are finding other
solutions.
Currently, the best prevention tool is
to make the converter box as impreg
nable as possible, Bates said. As any
tamperer knows, the key to altering a
converter lies with the microchips inside
the converter. To combat this, Cable
vision's boxes have special screws which
require special tools to loosen. This has"
been helpful, but is not completely
adequate, he said.
Terry Santos, Cablevision's security
administrator, found a converter which
was crudely cut apart by tamperers
attempting to gain access to the circuitry.
In the past, Bates said, converters
that people brdught to the office were
checked only if there were obvious
signs of tampering. Now, he said, every
converter will be checked against the
subscriber's file to see if any tampering
has been done.
Also, Bates said, Lincoln Cablevision
will be more aggressive in civil and
criminal prosecution for tampering.
He said current and future state legisla
tion will toughen laws concerning theft
of cable services. "
Attorneys for Lincoln Cablevision
have been in contact with the county
and city attorneys and have discussed
prosecution of perpetrators, Bates said.
Since theft of cable services is not consi
dered a serious crime, hesaid, Cablevision
will do most of the investigating prior
to taking a case to court
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NigM vowing, NSSA receive attention ofASUN candidates
(Editor's Ncte: This is the third in a fsaivpart
series cn the issues in the ltZl presidential can-pd-n)
Question Three: What is your position cn the
towing? Are, these problems?
Aim (Kcspc idate Hark
Ccudder and first vice presidential candidate Curt
Oltmans)
NSSA "We see it as a three-year-old group that
had some momentum going. We'd like to see them
testify or lobby on some specific issues that relate
directly to UNL, and other state colleges if the need
comes up.
"We don't want people to think we're trying to get
rid of NSSA. We just think that any organizaiton
should not be afraid to undergo scrutiny and take
suggestions for changes."
Night towing "Yes, we feel it's a problem if it
i
Inside
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inconviences people. We're not in favor of abolishing
night towing though, because it serves as a deter
rent. We shouldn't chuck it until a viable alternative
is found."
Fashin (Responding: Presidential candidate Tim
Burke and first vice presidential candidate Mike
Cassling)
NSSA "We really like what they're doing, the
way they're lobbying. We think UNL should have a
little more input because we are mostly what NSSA
should be representing. We think just by the ASUN
president getting on a one-on-one basis with (NSSA
Executive Director) Deb Chapelle, we could work
Goal is to help adults
something out. If financially possible, we'd like to
have NSSA get a larger staff." ,
Night towing The solution is simple. I don't
think towing at night is a good idea at all, due to the
fact that assaults do happen, and it's a terrible
inconvenience.
"The university should just withhold grades, with
hold any kind of grant or any kind of loan."
United Students (Responding: Presidential can
didate Kevin Goldstein and first vice-presidential
candidate Julie Meusberger)
NSSA "Every student on campus Votes on it
every election. It's not our choice to say. One thing is,
NSSA needs to have a more itemized budget, and
hopefully that won't be confused with an audit.
We're not in any way saying that money is being
misused. We're saying that there needs to be increased
accountability. Overall, NSSA does a good job repre
senting students, for a 3-year-old organization."
Night towing "It's a potential danger situation.
We're not trying to relieve students of their respon
sibility for paying tickets we're just saying there
are better ways to take care of the situation.
Ccntinned on Pae 6
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Adults considering enrolling or returning to UNL
can attend a free "Back to School" workshop today
at the Nebraska Center for Continuing Education,
33rd and Ilokiredge streets.
The workshop will be from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and
will offer information on financial aid, general
admission, registration, evening classes and inde
pendent study courses offered by correspondence
and television, said Ruth Harper, college adult
counselor in the UNL Division of Continuing Studies.
"It saves a lot of effort," Harper said.
Chuck Havlicek, coordinator for evening pro
grams and adult learning services, said the work
shop is a "one-stop shopping center" for adult
undergraduates and graduate students.
"It is a unique and valuable service," Havlicek said.
"It is one of the few times when a student can find all ..
these resources in one room." '
Because it is free, no pro-registration is necessary,
Havlicek said. The sponsors are the Office of Student
Affairs and the UNL Division of Continuing Studies.
Harper said that although no figures are available
on increases or decreases in adult enrollment at
UNL, the number; of adult students is "steadily
"increasing."
Sometimes, she said, finding time to enroll is. the
least of the problems facing adults. Many have a lack
of self-confidence which, Harper said, is the main
obstacle. -
But this problem usually is solved easily, she said.
"They're well-motivated students," she said. "Once
they're back in school, they do very well."
To help adults adjust to campus life, the Non
Traditional Student Association offers information
and support, Harper said. Non-credit courses" design
ed to help students brush up on study skills also are
available at low costs, she said. ,-. -
"We give as much support as we can," Harper said.