Federal Communications Commission Headquarters, The Portals Offices
Source: Federal Communications Commission

Instructional Television Fixed Service

1991 - 2004


In late 1991, Clarendon Foundation began to submit applications for broadcast licenses reserved by the Federal Communications Commission for educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. “Instructional Television Fixed Service” (ITFS) thus became a new focus for the Foundation, which has had a successful track record in acquiring ITFS licenses. This new nonprofit activity was carried out for the purpose of providing free instructional television programming to accredited educational institutions. The Foundation leased the “excess” airtime on its channels, which was not used in providing free instructional programming to accredited educational institutions, to wireless cable operators. Under the terms of the spectrum lease contract, the wireless operator agrees to carry the Foundation’s instructional programming on its subscription television service, and provide to free reception equipment and service to the Foundation’s “receive site” schools and colleges. To date, Clarendon has assisted over 70 educational institutions in the legal and technical aspects of preparing applications for educational broadcast spectrum. In 1996, the Foundation worked with the North Carolina Community College System to develop a statewide network, and helped over 40 community colleges submit license applications. Most of the applications were granted.		California Amplifier's high performance parabolic antennas for ITFS service use a proprietary feed design, the "Quasi-Log Periodic End Fire Array." This patented feed provides more high inter- ference and multipath rejection than any other parabolic antenna combination.

The History Channel (1991 - 1993)

In order to operate its instructional television service, Clarendon Foundation, which was located in the Washington, D. C. area, obtained programming that featured American history and government that was transmitted to its receive site schools and colleges. The free service was branded by Clarendon as The History Channel, an original idea of the Foundation’s President, Kemp Harshman.

The History Channel was registered as a federal service mark in 1992. The service mark was later assigned to the Arts and Entertainment Networks and used for its cable and satellite television channel about history.

TV America® (1993 - Present)


Retro Logo		Clarendon then selected a different theme and brand for its instructional television service, by registering a service mark for “TV America.” This new service produced and transmitted public interest programming about American history, culture, and ideals. The Foundation has produced or provided funding for documentaries and special event videos for three Presidential Libraries. Clarendon is developing a high definition video streaming service that transmits full screen video programming over the Internet, using "multicast" routing.