Cox Communications Inc., recently donated $200,000 to the Hank Greenspun School of Communication at UNLV to help upgrade TV production equipment, according to Martha Watson, dean of the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs.

Cox Communications also has pledged $150,000 per year for use in establishing a new cable television education channel that will be operated by a partnership that includes UNLV, the Community College of Southern Nevada, and the Clark County School District. A matching $150,000 will be contributed by Cox's five local franchising authorities -- Clark County, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City -- for a total yearly contribution of $300,000.

"We are absolutely delighted that Cox Communications has taken the initiative to help improve our production facilities and to create this new education channel for Southern Nevada," Watson said. "This is an extremely generous way for them to reach out to the community, and it is an enormous step forward for the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and School of Communication."

Cox, which acquired 80 percent ownership of Prime Cable, began local operations in October as Cox Communications of Las Vegas. The gift was presented to UNLV President Carol Harter and Watson by Brian Greenspun.

"The Cox family and Greenspun family share a strong interest in and commitment to the future growth of communications across the Las Vegas Valley," said Greenspun. "Helping to create the finest possible school of communication at UNLV is a major part of that commitment. Cox Communications has demonstrated a long term interest in education by initiating this new partnership with UNLV."

David Henry, director of the Hank Greenspun School of Communication, stated that the "one-time" gift of $200,000 will be used to acquire two nonlinear digital editing systems, upgrades to UNLV Studio A, and two field production units that will include cameras, microphones, and lights. Details concerning the establishment of the new educational channel, the funding and the organization of the partnership among Cox, UNLV, CCSN, CCSD and local government will be the subject of meetings planned for early next year.

"The new education channel has enormous potential for everyone involved and particularly for this community," said Henry. "Our goal is to move very carefully to ensure that the program is organized to gain the maximum benefit from this outstanding opportunity provided by Cox Communications and the local franchising authorities."