Start Up of the Pentagon Channel
This MARADMIN announces the launch of the Pentagon Channel, a Department of Defense satellite television broadcast system that began operations on May 14, 2004. The message requests that 13 major Marine Corps installations immediately complete an online questionnaire to receive free satellite receiver dishes, while other Marine Corps locations may also request equipment as it becomes available.
Issued: June 28, 2004
1. THIS MARADMIN ANNOUNCES THE START UP OF THE PENTAGON CHANNEL, AND REQUESTS INFORMATION TO PROVIDE SATELLITE RECEIVER DISHES TO MARINE CORPS LOCATIONS. REF (A) DOD NEWS RELEASE, NO. 395-04, APRIL 30, 2004, INFORMS DOD SERVICES OF THE PENTAGON CHANNEL CONCEPT. REF (B) ANNOUNCES THE PENTAGON CHANNEL AND THE BEGINNING OF A 24/7 BROADCAST SIGNAL DELIVERED TO ALL 50 STATES. REF (C) INFORMATION QUESTIONNAIRE USED TO IDENTIFY REQUESTING UNITS AND PROVIDE SHIPPING INFORMATION. THE QUESTIONNAIRE IS LOCATED AT HTTP://WWW.USMC.MIL/MARINELINK/MCN2000.NSF/TPS_SURVEY 2. THE PENTAGON CHANNEL IS A DOD, OSD INITIATIVE THAT PROVIDES A SATELLITE DISTRIBUTED, 24/7 TV BROADCAST SYSTEM CONNECTING CONUS U.S. MILITARY INSTALLATIONS INTO ONE DOD NETWORK. THE PENTAGON CHANNEL LAUNCHED ITS FIRST BROADCAST ON MAY-14-2004 FROM ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE DURING THE ARMED FORCES DAY FESTIVITIES. IT CONTINUES TO BROADCAST TO THE INITIAL NETWORK OF 35 MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. AS THE PENTAGON CHANNEL DEVELOPS, IT WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DELIVER PROGRAMMING TO HUNDREDS OF CONUS U.S. MILITARY INSTALLATIONS, INCLUDING MAJOR MARINE CORPS BASES, COMMANDS, RESERVE ACTIVITIES AND RECRUITING OFFICES. THIS SATELLITE SIGNAL NETWORK WILL PROVIDE CURRENT NEWS UPDATES, TOP-OF-THE-HOUR NEWS MINUTES, UNCLASSIFIED DOD BRIEFS, INTERVIEWS WITH SERVICE LEADERS AND DAILY SERVICE NEWS PROGRAMS. 3. THE MARINE CORPS' INSTALLATIONS/ACTIVITIES THAT NEED TO RESPOND IMMEDIATELY BY COMPLETING THE ON-LINE QUESTIONNAIRE CONTAINED IN REF (C) ARE: (1) CAMP PENDLETON/ CA/ (2) CAMP LEJEUNE/ NC/ (3) MCCDC (QUANTICO)/ VA/ (4) MCAS MIRAMAR/ CA/ (5) MCAGCC 29 PALMS/ CA/ (6) MCAS CHERRY POINT/ NC/ (7) MCAS BEAUFORT/ SC/ (8) MCAS YUMA/ CA/ (9) MCRD PARRIS ISLAND/ SC/ (10) MCRD SAN DIEGO/ CA/ (11) MCLB ALBANY/ GA/ (12) MCLB BARSTOW/ CA/ (13) MARFORRES HQ NEW ORLEANS/ LA. 4. EVERY ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE TO SUPPORT OTHER MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS/ACTIVITIES THAT REQUEST PENTAGON CHANNEL SATELLITE DISH EQUIPMENT. WE EXPECT SATELLITE RECEIVER DISHES TO BE PROVIDED TO EACH MARINE LOCATION AT NO COST TO THE INSTALLATION BY THE PENTAGON CHANNEL. THIS WILL BE AN INCREMENTAL PROCESS AND INSTALLATION/ACTIVITIES WILL RECEIVE THE ADDITIONAL DISHES AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. LOCAL SET-UP IS REQUIRED AND MUST BE FUNDED BY EACH MARINE CORPS LOCATION. HOWEVER, THE SATELLITE DISH SET-UP SHOULD REQUIRE ONLY A NOMINAL COST. ALL MARINE INSTALLATIONS/ACTIVITIES NOT IDENTIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS MARADMIN THAT DESIRE THIS SATELLITE PROGRAMMING, MUST PROVIDE DELIVERY INFORMATION TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE DELIVERY OF THE SATELLITE RECEIVERS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH REF (C). 5. POC AT HQMC (PA): J. ARSENAULT/MAJOR/HQMC/-/TEL:703-692-1872 /EMAIL:ARSENAULTJL@HQMC.USMC.MIL