SECURE TV

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01066A001400180002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 26, 2005
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: June 25, 1973
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release
Executive Registry
C 0 N F I D E N T I A L
2005/03/24: CIA-RDP80M01066M01400180002-
DCI/IC 73-0618
2 5 JUN 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR:
Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
Mr. Ray S. Cline
Vice Admiral Vincent P. de Poix
Lt. Gen. Samuel C. Phillips
SUBJECT Secure TV
1. Members of my staff, in coordination with
members of your staffs, have been investigating the
possibility of providing secure TV between operations
centers. RCA has developed a system called Videovoice
(See Enclosure) which allows the use of normal black
phone lines to pass black and white still TV pictures
(every 55 or 30 seconds) or voice. At our request
has determined that the
system may be used on both the gray and green phone
systems.
2. Representatives of your agencies have witnessed
a demonstration of the Videovoice system and have
participated in a meeting to discuss potential use and
benefits a system of this type will provide to the com-
munity. Consequently, each of the operations centers
has indicated an interest in participating in a 90 day
test. Although Videovoice provides a limited resolution
capability, and is not to be construed as a final system,
a test of the system will permit the operations people
to use the system and determine more specifically the
requirements for transmitting some textual material,
graphs, maps, images and charts between operations centers.
25X1
4. Upon receiving your concurrence I will initiate
action to immediately lease five (5) Videovoice units
from RCA Global Communications Division for a 90 day
test program using internal funds.
C O N F I D E N T I A L
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 C 0 N F I D E N T I A T.
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5, of my staff (IDS Code
will be my project
officer. Assuming that you concur with this proposed
action will you please designate representatives of
your organizations and have them contact him. A re-
port will be prepared at the end of the tests that
will delineate the actual and potential utilization
of a secure TV Video system to be used by operations
centers.
6. I would appreciate receiving your concurrence
or nonconcurrence on this project quickly since there
is an availability problem of the Videovoice units and
I am also planning to use FY73 funds.
,eon
Major General, USAY
D/DCI/IC
25X1
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RCA Global Communications, Inc., Public Affairs, 60 Broad St., New York 10004
New System
provides capability of
sending TV-type picture.
RCA Global Communications, Inc.,
now provides Videovoice, a system
which adds the capability of sending
TV-type picture information over
communications links using stand-
ard voice-bandwidth facilities and
requiring only standard television
monitors for viewing.
Videovoice utilizes slow-scan and
frame-freeze techniques to provide
pictures in sequence 30 or 55 sec-
onds apart over regular voice-band-
width circuits. Standard television
transmission requires 4 Megahertz
(MHz), more than 1000 times the
bandwidth of Videovoice which uses.
only 3 Kilohertz (kHz).
The visual telephone system pres-
ently under development by AT&T
actually has a signal bandwidth of
1 MHz which is 300 times the capac-
ity required by the Videovoice system.
Videovoice can operate on 2-wire
circuits typical of the public tele-
phone systems in the United States
and abroad, by utilizing a Data Ac-
cess Arrangement which is supplied
by the telephone company, or by
using an RCA Globcom produced
acoustic coupler (optional). Interna-
tionally, the equipment can be "hard
wired" into 4-wire C-2 conditioned
circuits.
Videovoice offers the business-
man and others the ability to "shoot"
subjects with a television camera
and have them converted from the
standard scanning rate to a slower
one for transmission over voice-
bandwidth circuits. At the receiving
end, the Videovoice system stores
the received picture and presents it
to the distant office for display on a
standard TV screen.
The use of motion in standard
television requires paying a huge
penalty in bandwidth. Since most
visual communication is not affected
by the absence of motion, still sub-
jects such as documents, equipment,
charts and blueprints are ideal for
transmission directly via Videovoice.
When the subject matter is live
and in motion, RCA Globcom's sys-
tem captures the information by em-
ploying a frame-freeze unit that stops
the action. The subscriber views the
information on that particular frame
on his own monitor and then the de-
sired frame is transmitted.
When a new picture is ready, the
frame-freeze unit is reactivated to
store another frame. The new frame
then erases the previous view, and
the new frame is then transmitted.
At the distant location, the person
receives the call in the "video" mode
and views the transmitted picture.
The same material can be viewed for
several minutes or until the presenta-
tion of the succeeding frame. Full
voice conversation can be carried
on during the entire viewing period.
Voice conversation, however, is dis-
continued during the picture trans-
mission.
Videovoice can provide subscrib-
ers two-way video exchange by
equipping both locations with basic
transmitting and receiving units. If
the application is such that video is
required in only one direction a sim-
plex system can be supplied.
An option that greatly enhances
the applicability of Videovoice in-
volves utilization of a stereo tape re-
corder. This allows storage capabil-
ity atthe receive end for viewing at
more convenient times and, of
course, a permanent record. Pre-tap-
ing for transmission at more appro-
priate times is also possible with the
stereo tape recorder option.
A photographic print of a selected
frame can be provided for record
purposes within ten seconds after it
has been received using another op-
tional unit, a hard-copy printer. Aux-
ulliary monitors, remote camera kits
and a carrying tray (table) are also
available on an optional basis.
There is no limit to the kinds of
visual information that can be ex-
changed by the use of Videovoice.
They include:
? Airline departure and arrival
information
? Brokerage and stock quotation
information
? Cardiograms and other medical
data
? Data printouts and readouts
? Educational and training
materials
? Graphic matter, such as docu-
ments, schematics, blueprints
? Identification of people and
signatures
? Sales promotion and direct
selling
? Parts identification and mainte-
nance instructions
? Fingerprints and "mug" shots
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VIDEOVOICE RENTALS
Terminal
Type VV-1 Terminal (Transmit/Receive)
with live camera and frame-freeze capability $225/mo.*
Options
Hard Copy Printer (Photographic).
Hard Copy Printer (Electronic)
Stereo Tape Recorder,
Acoustic Coupler
Remote Camera Kit
22-inch Television Monitor
ing Tray
Carr
y
There is a one-time, non-recurring installation charge
of $100 per terminal, including options. Minimum
rental of 3 months is required and cancellations will
be accepted on 30 days advance notice thereafter.
* Includes service and maintenance.
$30/mo.
$125/mo.
x. $25/mo
$1 0/mo.
$1 0/mo.
$10/mo.
$10/mo.
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Is that all there is?
Certainly not. There's optional
equipment capable of extending the
flexibility and usefulness of your basic
Videovoice installation.
Television Monitor
A large, auxiliary television
monitor is available to permit viewing of
transmissions
by six to eight
people in a
conference
room atmo-
sphere. Monthly
rental, $10.
Stereo Tape Recorder
A stereo tape recorder is available
.to record both audio and visual material
for storage, or
playback or
transmission
at a later date.
Monthly rental,
$25.
Hard-Copy Printer (Photographic)
A hard-copy printer (photographic)
allows you to obtain 4"x 5" Polaroid"
positive prints
video frames.
The negatives
can be projected
on viewgraph
machines, enlarged, or used to make addi-
tional positive prints. Monthly rental, $30.
Remote-Camera Kit
A special remote-camera kit permits
you to detach the TV camera from your
basic Videovoice unit, mount it on a tripod,
and operate it at distances of up to 25 feet
from the basic unit. Monthly rental, $10.
Carrying Tray
A carrying tray or table is available
which permits
all Videovoice
components to
be packaged
in one neat
bundle. Monthly
rental, $10.
Other options are a hard-copy
printer (electronic) at $125 a month, and
an acoustic coupler for $10 a month.
There is a one-time installation
charge of $100 per terminal, including
options. Minimum rental period is three
months. Cancellations require 30 days
advance notice after the initial three-
month rental period.
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What's the secret
of Videovoice?
In standard TV, 30 full pictures or
frames are transmitted every second.
A full picture is displayed on the screen,
then erased and replaced by the next
picture 30 times in one second. This
sequential display of full frames creates
the illusion of motion in the picture.
The problem is that it takes the
equivalent of 1000 voice-grade telephone
circuits to transmit those 30 frames in
one second.
So, we took a different approach.
We started with a single voice-grade
circuit and asked ourselves how much
video we could transmit over one
economically feasible circuit. The
answer was one "motionless" frame
every 55 seconds, or ore "freeze" frame
every30 seconds - and that's Videovoice.
Our approach not.only makes
Videovoice economically feasible
for virtually any corporation, it makes it
possible to hold a desired frame of video
in a moving sequence which would pass
on and be lost in regular TV
How do you go about getting .
Videovoice installed in
your office?
Call or write George Shawy, our
Videovoice man. His address is RCA
Global Communications, Inc., 60 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10004. His
phone is [phone]. George will be
more than glad to put you in the picture.
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 ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO.
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DATE 25,
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
RECEIVED FORWARDED
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
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FORM
3-62
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