A Finite Analogue Of Fine's Function $F(a,b;t)$

We initiate a systematic development of $F_N(a, b; t)$, a finite analogue of Fine's function $F(a, b; t)$. Our results are transformations between $F_N(a, b; t)$ and $F_N(aq^{\ell}, bq^{m}; tq^{n})$, where $\ell,m$ and $n$ take the values $0$ or $1$.