20 for (1) two-way audio-visual telecommunication at the one person-to-one, oneto-few, and few-to-few levels (videophone and videoconference), (2) one-way audio-visual telecommunication at the one-to-few and one-to-many levels with digital or audio response capability (teleconference and broadband cable television), and (3) retrieval and teleprocessing of stored or real-time information with multi-dimensional input/output capability (broadband cable television including cable TV polling and information retrieval). While recognizing that the actual rates of development and penetration will vary by use and location, and depend in part on uncertain regulatory, institutional, and political factors, this research proceeded on the assumption that the specified emergent channels are likely to become available for potential use in the congressional-constituent communication process within ten years. C. Potential Role for Emergent Telecommunications 1. Awareness of emergent channels. The level of congressional awareness and understanding of the emergent channel configurations was higher than initially anticipated. In discussing the teleconference and videoconference, congressmen and staff evidenced considerable awareness and understanding by frequent reference to related but already available constituent communication channels, including principally the speakerphone and conferencephone, with the television or radio talk show, closed circuit television, and the videotaped interview also receiving some mention. Congressional awareness of cable television appeared to be based more on a general familiarity with broadcast television than specifically with cable, which in the most basic sense simply provides additional television channels at lower cost. Likewise, while only a few respondents made direct reference to 21 All the AT&T Picturephone, the most publicized videophone in the United States, it was clear that congressman and staff easily grasped the basic concept. offices of course make extensive use of the standard audio telephone, which the videophone extends into the visual dimension. However, most respondents did not grasp the more sophisticated uses of the videophone, such as for graphics display and information retrieval. Congressman and staff had little difficulty understanding the basic idea of polling constituents via cable television sets in the home. The level of general awareness was high because many use written polls themselves and almost all are familiar with the use of professional public opinion polls. Finally, congressional awareness and understanding of information retrieval appeared to be significantly enhanced by recent activities of the House Information Systems office and earlier studies carried out by what was then known as the Working Group on Automatic Data Processing for the House.23 While discussing the potential of information retrieval for constituent communication, many respondents made specific reference to HIS, as well as to the community information center concept, computerized mailing, the Republican National Committee's computer system, plus miscellaneous references to computers for Congress. 23For a discussion of the current status of HIS, see n. 30. On the earlier activities of the Working Group, see U.S., Congress, House, Committee on House Administration, First Progress Report of the Special Subcommittee on Electrical and Mechanical Office Equipment, 91st Congress, 1st Session, prepared by the Working Group on Automatic Data Processing for the House (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, October 1969); Second Progress Report, 91st Congress, 2nd Session, October 1970; and Special Report on a Computerized Addressing and Mailing System for the House, 91st Congress, 2nd Session, December 1970. See generally Robert L. Chartrand, "Redimensioning Congressional Information Support," Jurimetrics 11 (June 1971): 165-178; and Bruce R. Hopkins, "Congressional Reform: Toward A Modern Congress," Notre Dame Lawyer 47 (February 1972): esp. 452-59. 22 22 2. Perceptions of overall potential usefulness. Analysis of the interview data on relative potential usefulness of the emergent channels- summarized in Figure Three--indicated that, as a group, the congressmen perceive cable television and information retrieval as the most useful configurations. The videoconference and teleconference rank closely behind. The videophone and cable TV polling are viewed as least useful. Cable By comparison, the senior staff (primarily administrative assistants) perceive information retrieval as clearly the most useful configuration. television, teleconference, and videoconference rank lower but are still of significant perceived usefulness. Finally, as with the members, cable TV polling and the videophone rank as least useful. First, While these rankings of relative overall usefulness are similar for both congressmen and staff, the actual data reveal greater differences. except for the videophone, the staff as a group perceive the emergent configurations as potentially more useful than do the congressmen. The greatest discrepancies are for information retrieval, which 81.9% of the AAs as against 60% of the members perceive as useful, and for cable TV polling, which 52.5% of the AAs as compared with 29.7% of the congressmen view as useful. Further evidence of these differences is revealed by the percent agreement scores for the member-AA pairs. Agreement by congressmen and staff from the same office is quite good on the usefulness of cable television, videoconference, and teleconference. ment is only fair. And for information retrieval, agreement is little better than fifty percent. However, regardless of some disagreement, the But for cable TV polling and videophone, agree emergent channels--with the exception of the videophone and cable TV polling--are viewed as potentially useful by a significant sample proportion. |