|
|
 |
|
|
Tuesday, June 13, 2000
After a year-long study, a joint Senate-Assembly Task Force today recommended that legislative proceedings be broadcast over the Senate and Assembly Internet web sites making New York the 23rd State to provide web-based audio and/or video coverage of its legislative sessions.
The Task Force recommendation was endorsed by Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
�I want to congratulate the members of the Task Force and the staff which conducted a thorough and comprehensive study of what other states are doing in this area and what is possible utilizing cable television and Internet technologies,� Senator Bruno said. �Using the Internet is the best alternative, right now and in the future, to increase people�s access to legislative sessions.�
�Recent technological advances allow us the historic opportunity to open State government up to millions of people throughout New York and the entire world,� Speaker Silver said. �I commend the members of the Task Force on their hard work on this issue and look forward to their continuing input on ways to bring the people of this State closer to the work of their Legislature.�
The Task Force was created by Senator Bruno and Speaker Silver to examine the feasibility of televising legislative proceedings. Today the panel issued a report which recommended the Internet as the fastest, most cost-effective way to bring legislative sessions into people�s homes.
�More states are turning to the Internet to enable citizens to learn more about their State legislative proceedings,� Senator Owen H. Johnson (R, Babylon), Co-Chairman of the Task Force, said. �It�s much less expensive than using television and allows for much greater coverage.�
�As we begin the new century, we have a remarkable opportunity to bring government right into schools and homes throughout this State in a way that was never even imagined even just five or ten years ago,� Assemblywoman Elizabeth Connelly (D, Staten Island), Co-Chair of the Task Force said. �Our report highlights the best way to accomplish this and allow people in every corner of our State to hear legislative proceedings and learn more about our activities.�
The report notes that as more and more people have access to computers at home, school, libraries and work, they are getting more of their information over the Internet. As a result, more states are moving to web-based coverage of State government over the Internet.
Currently 12 states offer audio coverage of legislative proceedings via the Internet and 10 offer audio and video coverage. Nineteen states carry legislative sessions via television, although the coverage is often limited to certain regions of each State.
The Task Force report concluded that there were obstacles to televising sessions on cable that could limit the number of homes that could actually view legislative proceedings. The greatest obstacle is the inability of most cable operators to provide additional channels and programming because of limited capacity. As cable providers convert from analog to digital format, it is anticipated that channel capacity will grow in the future and the Task Force recommended that cable television coverage of legislative proceedings be reexamined at that time.
In addition, serious concerns were raised about the cost of establishing televised cable coverage. New Yorkers for Public Affairs Television estimated that $20 million to $30 million would be necessary to establish an independent operation to televise legislative sessions. The most recent attempt to televise certain legislative events, such as public hearings (NYSCAN), was budgeted at $500,000, but access was limited to the Capital District.
Audio from both the Senate and Assembly chambers will be available on the Internet web site of each house beginning this week. The Task Force also recommended that the feasibility of adding video coverage of legislative proceedings over the Internet be examined in the future.
In addition to Senator Johnson and Assemblymember Connelly, other members of the Task Force include Senators Dean G. Skelos (R, Rockville Centre), Guy J. Velella (R, Bronx/Westchester) and Richard Dollinger (D, Rochester) and Assemblymembers Ron Canestrari (D, Cohoes), Clarence Norman (D, Brooklyn) and Minority Leader John Faso (R, Kinderhook).
[BIOGRAPHY] [DISTRICT MAP] [PHOTO GALLERY] [LEGISLATION] [CONSTITUENT SERVICES] [YOUR OPINION COUNTS] [GUESTBOOK] [PRIVACY POLICY] [SENATE INSIDER] [CONTACT INFO] [HOME/NEWS]