Will Ventnor, Margate and Longport ever get local cable access from Comcast? At stake, is homeowners and businesses ability to view live commission meetings via a local ‘cablecast’. This video feed could also be made available to those who would prefer to watch online and on-demand. In Ventnor, the newly elected administration pledged to broadcast the meetings via the web.
It’s been noted that, at least in Ventnor, the city receives a $50,000 ‘franchise fee’ each year from Comcast.
Should these franchise dollars be used for web-casting the local commission meetings? Many think so.
Our view: ensure that meetings are view-able over the Internet in order to reach the majority of Downbeach taxpayers with a primary residence off island. These residents have no easy access to watching local cable television from their homes in Philly, Cherry Hill or North Jersey. Technology has advanced, costs have decreased. Getting this done is a no-brainer.
Using a popular webcasting service like U-Stream would accomplish this valuable task for about $100 per month, complete with the added feature of archiving meetings to YOUTUBE for on-demand viewing at a later time.
EXAMPLE: The City of Brigantine uses U-Stream for recording & archiving council meetings. This allows the 75% of Brigantine taxpayers (2nd home owners) to keep an eye on the Council & the Brigantine City Manager. With no voting rights, part-time residents of Brigantine are extra-interested in viewing live & archived council meetings via the web. This process has been very successful in stopping a variety of questionable expenditures, hires and decisions by a very small group of long-time, Brigantine politicians / insiders.
See: Greenhead Politics
Equipment purchase & set-up….like cameras and wiring would have a nominal start-up cost of approx $850.
In Ventnor, it has been common to see elected officials sitting before a small group of 10 citizens – at best.
What do you think? Should Margate, Ventnor & Longport commission meetings be webcast, recorded & archived to the web?
