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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: August 22, 2006 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~-y <br />SUBJECT: Authorization to Enter into Technical Agreement to Support Livecasting BOCC <br />Meetings from Southern <br />DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Technical Equipment to Enhance <br />Livecasting Capabilities <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Gwen Harvey, 245-2300 <br />Pam Jones, 245-2650 <br />PURPOSE: To request BOCC approval to entering into an agreement with David Guthrie, <br />Systems Integration Specialist, to acquire, install, certify, and train County and The People's <br />Channel representatives on technical equipment necessary to enhance capabilities and outputs <br />in preparation for planned livecasting of BOCC meetings. <br />BACKGROUND: As part of the cable television franchise renewal process, Time Warner Cable <br />(TWC) agreed to fund the installation of technical equipment to enable live casting of BOCC <br />meetings from its two meeting locations -Chapel Hill (Southern) and Hillsborough (F. Gordon <br />Battle Courtroom). <br />The Cable Advisory Committee, The People's Channel, and County staff (including the <br />Manager's Office, Clerk's Office, Purchasing & Central Services, Public Works, IT, and <br />Planning) has consulted at length with TWC and its retained technical production advisor, David <br />Guthrie, to develop and negotiate the initial specification of technical equipment. The proposed <br />technical equipment list was shared with the BOCC as an appendix to the approved franchise <br />agreement. <br />The group decided to proceed with the "activation" of Southern Human Services Center first, to <br />be followed by the F. Gordon Battle Courtroom, in close coordination with the Justice Facility <br />expansion project. <br />TWC Engineering has completed the requisite infrastructure to livecast at Southern, and <br />installation of the equipment inside the meeting room has been occurring over the course of the <br />BOCC summer break. <br />Under the new franchise agreement, the installation of the technical equipment inside the <br />building is a "turnkey project" whereby TWC covers the cost of the equipment, installation, <br />testing, and training; no County funds are needed. In reviewing the contents of the technical <br />equipment package provided by TWC, County staff learned there was an opportunity to further <br />enhance the video product and audio output experience for the BOCC, the meeting room <br />