Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for the decentralized control of respective video cameras at a plurality of subscriber stations. According to the invention, there is provided a telephone, video camera, input device and camera control module at each subscriber station. The camera control module includes the input device and has a communication section for providing intelligence to the system, a control section for controlling respective video cameras, and a user feed-back section to identify a respective camera, its station and a camera function being controlled.