Cable or Internet? Peru aldermen consider the best way share city council footage
Posted by wlpo on August 22, 2012
Cable and Internet are services you probably have in your home, but some people have chosen other providers for TV and some people don’t want anything to do with the Internet.
Peru City Officials are trying to figure out which is more popular- cable or Internet. They ask because Alderman Rodney Perez has been researching what it would take to record, broadcast or share the city council meetings.
Recording and posting meetings on the city’s website would cost an extra $91 a year for web hosting plus an estimated $2,400 to by a camera and software. That’s according to a quote from Connecting Point Computers.
Broadcasting the meetings on a public access channel provided through Comcast would be free but the city would probably have to spend at least $25,000 for cameras and equipment. That’s according to a quote by Comcast.
While the aldermen and mayor consider the price they’re also wondering which would reach more people- cable or Internet. The conversation will likely continue when they meet next Monday night.
22 comments:
We should use modern technology. There is no way to guarantee that everyone will be able to watch the video. However, I think for the money - a pretty good job can be done using the Internet. I have not looked into it very deep - however, most businesses use You Tube to host the video file. You Tube is free. The only thing the web developer would need to do is upload the file and provide a link.
I don't have Comcast and don't get channel 13 on my satellite. At least I won't have to pay the extra fee on my Comcast bill. Lol
good luck
If meetings are on channel 13 can we still get it if we don't have comcast? Comcast cable is a rip off compared to satellite. Internet seems like it would be more accesible to everyone and could view it anytime without being obligated to get in front of the tube at a certain time of the day to watch a meeting. Who in the heck doesn't have internet anyway. I would bet more people have internet than channel 13? sure looks like tv would be a huge cost to us taxpayers, can't we use that money elsewhere? unless of course the city sticks the channel 13 subscribers with that cost but that doesn't do us that don't have that channel anygood.
Rodney recommended Connecting Point because there would be no tax to the citizens and cost tens of thousands of dollars cheaper, so of course Harl and the gang want to go the other way. We don't need any more taxes. Spend our money you have wiser! ! Get a brain Harl! !
Perez is anti-Comcast and the rumor I heard he thru them under the bus. Transparency is both most older citizens don't have the speed to livestream the video so won't hold back either one to me senseless to not use both it satisfies all involves parties and it's not a tax is a fee for 2 years and lots of benefits to local programming football, basketball and local events big fail if we don't get both...them Perez can put his operation promise on their too
He wants to be on TV. Now he wants to be only on the internet? Any price is worth having a open televised meeting. Now its too costly to go on TV? More of the same yes, no, yes stuff.
To: 1:56
From:Rodney Perez
Don't believe, or spread rumors... it doesn't do anyone any good. The fact is: I'm not "anti-comcast" I use Comcast Internet service.
I simply stated a fact that "not all citizens of Peru are Comcast subscribers."
people such as myself have switched to a Dish network because of high costs from Comcast. If the city adds an additional fee of .35 it may ruffle feathers with those on a fixed income.
I don't oppose taking this route with Comcast, especially if the opportunity was available to also attach it to the city web-page. However, we need to keep in mind that in today's economy people, especially seniors are living paycheck to paycheck, and .35 added to a bill may not mean anything to some but may add additional stress on someone else.
The whole point of recording our council meetings is simply for "Transparancy." the more people we can reach, the better.
People and businesses from other communities visit our our web-page for information.
Adding links of present, and archived recorded council meetings to our NEW fully transparant web-site that Clerk Bartley is working on will place our city as a class "A" Transparent community; which is coming soon:-)
Thanks for your input and hope I cleared the Rumor;-)
Rodney Perez
Today, a day of high tech, rapid change and specialization why hasn't the Mayor stepped up and formed another super committee to advance the broadcasting of city information. Brian Foster for example seems to be very knowledgeable and highly capable of deciding with whom and how to accomplish this task. I am sure Peru has many independent and knowledgeable individuals who would step forward and take a interest if the opportunity was presented. A group such as this would open technological information to the city, create interest and have fun doing it.
Didn't the council approve two years to add a tax to everyone's utility bill for the pool? What happened with that? Let's just keep adding extra hidden taxes to our bills. Have you looked at all of the hidden taxes on your phone bill, television bill, on and on and on???? My advertised 9.95 per month phone bill was nice until I got my first bill and saw all the hidden taxes. Sure just throw on another 30 cents to a bill and round it up to the next $!! No to my television bill increase!!!!!!!!
So I guess Queen Lois didn't care for my comment...not surprised.
Norm I did not receive a post signed by you that you are complaining I did not post. Please explain.
Are we being serious here? According to the Trib headline there was a DEBATE on what to do? If my tv bill goes up even a dime to pay for this I will cancel it. I work nights and can't watch live stream council meetings. I would watch it on my PC when I can but not home to watch it. Besides my bill is high enough. Comcast does not need to steal any more money from us. And now they want $27,000.00 are these officials insane to debate such a thing? STUPID STUPID
NORM, you need to go to
CHEERS. Or have you already been there today. You blog regarding Lois makes no sense.
Video coming soon...
Kristy
In my opinion it would make the most sense to put it on the Internet. More people these days have smartphones/tablets and are getting increasingly more mobile each day. It would be nice to watch the videos if I was out of town, but that is my opinion.
To: Justin
From: Rodney Perez
Great Point!
A person can pull out their tablet or smart phone and watch it wherever they are.
Just think... Want to review the full details of meeting minutes? just pull up the full meeting on your smart phone.
Bravo!!
Rodney
The people who want to view the meeting will find a way.
Yes but people also need to consider if you can afford cable is $0.34 going to break the bank? The small monthly charge is in place only to cover the price of equipment start-up. Recall the Comcast channel is for a 24 hour Local channel which would include hosting all little league games, high school football (baseball, basketball, football) soccer games, parades, band concerts, graduations, council meetings, school board meetings, township meetings, etc. The Comcast residents in the City pay the fee for the service so doing a survey to the entire City is a waste of money since not everyone has Comcast. I agree this topic needs to be researched a bit further, but it is worth exploring from a COMMUNITY aspect and not just necessarily for transparency but more of a type of community development if performed properly.
Also the charge for Connecting Point is minimal (under $3000 I believe) and I am sure it cost more on JUST the signs for the Venture Drive fiasco and to promote the highly advertised "Peru Road Infrastructure" project. This project would be about transparency.
Kristy
Kristy. so who would record all of those events and post them?
I guess i shouldn't be asking you, so i'll reference this to alderman perez.
The city should look into several things here.
1. Who would record the events Kristy is speaking of, and posting to cable?
2. If Channel 13 is a local channel why can't that be done now, does the city need to provide cameras to travel around town with a technician to shoot these events?
3. If people like me don't have cable can we still get this channel from a sattelite service, if so cable subscribers would get ticked for paying for something we would get by them paying that fee? worth looking into.
4. If Comcast is charging $27,000.00 for equipment only, and the other company was charging under $3,000.00 what kind of magical equipment would the city be getting from Comcast, multiple cameras?
5. Doesn't the city currently have rights to a cable channel? if so then wouldn't the city be better off purchasing the $3000,00 equipment from the other company and figuring something else out with the public service channel to do the other things?
I'm all for the city providing a service for us to watch these meetings but regardless who is paying for it $27,000.00 is a huge chunk of cash at a company that provides horrible customer service and high prices.
Kristy and Alderman Perez I would appreciate a response whenever you can, I think this is worth asking.
Mrs.B
To: Mrs.B
From: Rodney Perez
Thank you for your great questions and comments.
These are very good questions that I will be researching. We should be able to accept videos from our local schools and events and have them viewed from the Comcast local channel, along with our pre-recorded council meetings and televise them. If the City of Peru currently has rights to that channel we may be able to do all of that for free or a fee. The $24000.00 + is for equipment, training and support.
Of course these are my thoughts and opinions but I will look into this more and update while I get the information.
Thank you for your input, this is exactly the type of input and thoughts that it takes to make this happen.
Thank you,
Rodney Perez
What is the city's webpage?
10:03 AM
There is a link on the left side for the peru web site.
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