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• Unlike Chapel Hill subscribers, Carrboro subscribers do not receive CSPAN-2 <br />in the absence of locally originated programming. Carrboro subscribers see <br />either a black screen or a message board. <br />Cost Estimate for Running Live Feeds to T'wo BOCC Meeting Sites <br />Mr. Hourigan showed in a sketch how a live signal from BOCC's two meeting <br />sites could be sent to Chapel Hill and unincorporated subscribers through a <br />single hub and ahead-end. He estimated the cost of linking the two meeting sites <br />to the hub at $i65,oo0. He estimated additional external electrical equipment to <br />make the arrangement functional at the two orgination points and the hub to be <br />$30,000, (This does not include the inside infrastructure, such as lighting, <br />sound, video equipment, and environmentals). The signal would then have to <br />move in and out through the hub, head-end and Chapel Hill node. This could be <br />accomplished by sending the signal from the hub to the node, and then back out <br />to the head-end, or by sending the signal from the hub to the head-end and then <br />to the Chapel Hill node. In either case, since cable already runs between these <br />three points the only remaining cost of the external set up would be for the added <br />electronics at the node and head-end, which he estimated at between $20,000 <br />and $22,000. Thus, he said, the estimate for running a live feed to the two BOCC <br />meeting sites using the assumptions noted above is about $zr5,ooo. <br />Mr. Hourigan noted that Carrboro has a switcher that allows it to accept or block <br />programming coming from the head-end. Mr. Patrick said that it would be a <br />good idea to equip the head-end with a switcher that could be shared by the <br />County, Carrboro and Chapel Hill and used to regulate the flow of programming <br />going into either the Carrboro or Chapel Hill/unincorporated nodes. Mr. <br />Hourigan warned against each jurisdiction opening and closing-off programming <br />to and from the others without any coordination, "like having three entities with <br />the codes to the bomb." If'the signal were run from the hub to Chapel Hill and <br />then back out to the head-end, then Chapel Hill would be in control of the signal. <br />If the signal were run from the hub to the head-end and then into Chapel Hill, a <br />shared arrangement would be needed. The latter option also allows for remote <br />access to the switcher. Ms. McCausland suggested that the three,jurisdictions <br />agree upon fixed times when certain programming would be allowed for all, and <br />then agree on a mechanism for all other times by which switching would occur <br />and by whom. Mr. Hourigan said that the switcher at the head-end already <br />existed and could be easily expanded (it is currently under utilized); his cost <br />estimated included the switcher. All agreed that the preferred option was to run <br />the signal from the hub to the head-end, and then into Chapel Hill. Ms. <br />McCausland offered to draft language on this matter for the franchise agreement, <br />Mr. Hourigan called to the group's attention the element of'time. Permits will be <br />needed to cross two limited access highways controlled by the NC Department of <br />Transportation and a railroad right-of-way. The cost of obtaining those permits <br />are included in his estimates. In the worst case scenario, it would take six <br />months to obtain the permits. On average, it takes four months. He said that <br />