One of the most promising applications of cable television (CATV) is municipal surveillance of public areas for protection against crime, fire detection, control of air pollution, and traffic. Thus far, however, the CATV industry has made minimal efforts to realize the potential of CATV for community protection--the use of cable for public safety purposes has been confined to a handful of communities. For example, several Florida CATV systems operate weather bureau hotlines, Kansas has an "Emergency Alert" channel which is often used for locating lost or runaway children, a station in West Virginia has devised an efficient fire alert and public address system, closed circuit street surveillance and burglar alarm systems have been initiated in Olean, New York, and apartment house surveillance systems have been installed in Sarasota, Florida. These modest applications of cable technology for public safety purposes make it evident that considerable innovating and technological development will be necessary for some of the predictions for its use to be realized. Further, consideration will have to be given to psychological and social consequences of applications such as intense police surveillance of high crime areas. It is clear, however, that the medium holds considerable promise for public safety improvement. (SH)