If the RMA CATV changed, ...

[Jack T.]

IF the RMA BOD decides to go to making CATV optional rather than mandatory, what will become of the televised BOD meetings?

If I remember correctly, there is some kind of FCC rule about giving access to certain TV channels, but its been over a decade since I was involved in that, so I don’t really know.
But the question remains, what would happen to the televised BOD meetings?

One thing I would truly hope would be investigated is, we could do the BOD meeting on-line, similar to what the Co Supes do. Actually, I think that would be great because it would allow people to view it in real time, and that would open the door to all kinds of things, like real time opinion polls, or live Q&A’s.

That’s just the nubbin of a passing thought.

[LisaT]

I wondered that myself. I would hope that something could be done to keep the RMA meetings available for all to view *and* add CSD board meetings, security meetins, etc. to that mix.

[DBCooper]

Good point Jack. If there was someone at the RMA that knew tech stuff this could be a reality overnight with mpegs of the proceedings and hopefully better audio. I wonder is it some sort of convoluded requirement that they be televised though. It wouldnt surprize me at all.

[Wilbur]

If I choose not to be an RMA cable TV customer then RMA of course has no duty to beam any channels to me.

If a private provider wants to come out here as the Plan B replacement for RMA - only voluntary this time - under federal law they'd ostensibly need a local govt cable franchise, which is where the must-carry-local stuff jack is thinking of comes from. CSD has been deputized by the County as the cable franchising authority out here. Providing local access channels is ordinary stuff taken in stride by cable providers, and they'd get off ultra cheap out here because all we need is access to a channel, I don't imagine we would be jacking them up for studio facilities and studio time like the City and County do to them in town.