Farewell, ‘Fuzzy TV’

 

New technology enhances government access channel

 

By Cortney Dueweke

C & G Staff Writer

     HARRISON TOWNSHIP — The days of “Fuzzy TV” — as Trustee Michael Rice so fondly dubbed the township’s government access channel — are over.

     The installation of new equipment at Rosso Memorial Hall, including a whole new audio system and new cameras, is intended to eradicate the picture and sound quality problems that have plagued re-broadcasts of township meetings for years.     

     “We’ve got the system up and running,” said Treasurer Darrin York. “It’s working beautifully.”

     The majority of the equipment was installed in late March, but the final touch — DVD playback decks — just recently arrived in early May, said York. Overall, the items cost about $15,000, and were funded by cable franchise fees earmarked for that particular purpose, he said.

     Among the improvements are new microphones with on/off switches on the officials’ tables; three new cameras, attached to the ceilings and staggered throughout the room; all new wiring; new audience speakers; a new computer to run the township’s public bulletin board system; and three new monitors for Rosso’s broadcast booth.

     The cameras are so powerful that “if I were standing at the podium, you could zoom in on my button,” said Deputy Treasurer John Gabor, demonstrating the equipment’s capabilities.

     New camera controls also allow the operator to save a number of positions for instant snap-back to commonly filmed parts of the room, such as the board table and the podium.

     The township’s new DVR decks are capable of storing about 160 hours worth of video digitally, and after each meeting, officials burn one DVD for backup and one to use on the DVD playback decks, said York. Residents requesting copies of meetings can now receive them either on DVD or VHS.

     The addition of a single $25 cable has given the township the capability to broadcast the biweekly board meetings live, which it began doing a few months ago, he added.

     “I’m pleased with the fact that everything seems to be running well,” said Bill Servial, chairman of the township’s five-member Cable Commission. “It’s not completely done yet, but it’s a heck of a lot better than it was.”

     Servial said lighting upgrades may be necessary in the future to further enhance the picture quality. With the installation of the new, more sensitive microphones, he urged those who speak at the meetings to stand naturally in relation to the mics — not leaning back or moving in too closely — and refrain from pounding on the podium to help improve the sound quality experienced by viewers at home.

     With an educational channel dedicated to local schools recently started for WOW subscribers, the Cable Commission also hopes to move forward in the near future with a public access station that would accommodate broadcasts of various non-governmental programs, said Servial.

     The situation is a bit more complicated with Comcast, which currently controls its own public access station, he said. The commission currently is in the process of clarifying what the community’s rights are in regards to that station.

     In terms of the quality of the township’s access channels, “I believe we have a little ways to go,” said Servial, “and I believe we’ll eventually get there.”

     Government access can be found on Channel 6 on Comcast and Channel 10 on WOW.

     You can reach Cortney Dueweke at cdueweke@candgnews.com