Misawa to get cable TV

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jamal Sutter
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Misawa is currently gearing up to provide residents more television options as the Army and Air Force Exchange Service is scheduled to bring cable television to the base this October.

"It is very important for us to provide the best level of service we can for everybody, wherever they live," said Michelle Priester, AAFES chief of new business within the strategic partnership directorate division. "We care about improving quality of life here."

The cable service will be provided by the same company who has supplied Yokota Air Base, Japan, with television, internet and phone services for the past three years.

"Misawa has really been a tough nut to crack, because you're so remote, so small and a really long way from all the other facilities in Japan," Ms. Priester said. "We've been trying for a long time to improve services here."

AAFES was able to negotiate a cable television contract here after issuing a competitive, packaged solicitation containing both Misawa Air Base and Camp Zama, Japan, she explained.

The 35th Communications Squadron, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron and base contractors have already begun to install the necessary equipment and cables to ensure base-wide compatibility.

The base's current cable plant is made up of a mixture of coaxial cable and fiber optics parts, Ms. Priester said. The contractor will replace and upgrade certain pieces of equipment.

"Yokota was a test bed," Ms. Priester added. "We learned many lessons at Yokota which will make the installation here a lot easier."

People who sign up for the paid cable service will not lose their free American Forces Network channels. The cable channels will be additions to what base residents already receive and will come in various packages to choose from.

Packages start off with basic cable, which includes 45 standard specialty channels. Customers can upgrade that package to one of two or both movie package deals that will be offered. Another upgrade will give customers those same movie channels in high definition, which will be a first for Air Force installations in Japan, said Ms. Priester.

Channels will contain current programming but will be delayed 10 hours from the U.S. The time shift is done so shows that play during primetime and other time periods will remain in their correct slots when played here. However, news and sports channels will air in real time, said Brett McCormick, AAFES local on-sight project manager.

A sales office will be located at the base exchange and is scheduled to open in August. During that period, customers can sign up and receive their cable box.