In 1992, Clarendon Foundation began applying for broadcast licenses to transmit free educational television programming to accredited schools and colleges under the FCC's Instructional Television Fixed Service. The Foundation leased a portion of its channel capacity to wireless cable television operators. Under the terms of the spectrum lease, the wireless operator agreed to carry Clarendon’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.

In order to operate its instructional television service, Clarendon Foundation, which was located in the Washington, D. C. area, obtained programming from cable television networks featuring American history and government. This programming was transmitted on Clarendon’s licensed broadcast spectrum to accredited educational institutions that had been designated as “Receive Sites."

The free television service was branded by Clarendon as “The History Channel,” which was an original idea of Clarendon’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 television channel about History.

Original TV America® Logo (1993) - 13 red and white stripes represent the raster scan lines of analog television.
Click on the audio player to hear eagle screech that is played during credits of TV America® television productions.

Bald Eagle, Reproduced by Permission: (c) 2009 Jason McLean Photography, London, England