Support Grows for Legislative TV Channel by Support grows for legislative TV Channel By Amanda Cedrone - LegislativeGazette.com

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From left: Sen. John J. Bonacic, Sen. José M. Serrano, Assemblyman Ronald J. Canestrari and Assemblyman Darryl Towns listen to comments about how to expand an existing legislative television channel. Photo by Bob Bennett, Gazette photo.

The New York State Legislature Joint Advisory Board on Broadcast of State Government Proceedings met last week to discuss the future of the current legislative television channel.

The board, which is co-chaired by Sen. José M. Serrano, D-Bronx, and Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari, D-Cohoes, has been appointed the task of expanding the content of the existing New York state Legislative channel. To accomplish this, the board recommends expanding the channel into a fully independent New York state government affairs channel modeled after C-SPAN.

"For too long the inner workings of the legislative process have been shrouded in secrecy," Serrano said. "By lifting the curtain, not just on legislative sessions, but on other important parts of the legislative process, we are providing programming that enables the public to become engaged in the workings of government and to take informed positions on the issues that matter to them."

The existing legislative channel was created in January 2006 when the Legislature sought to increase transparency and provide New Yorkers with greater access to proceedings in the Senate and Assembly chambers.

The channel broadcasts Assembly and Senate sessions. The board recently announced that beginning in January, all legislative hearings will also be broadcast. Serrano said his "highest priority for the channel is that it be completely free of any government appointees" and "completely nonpartisan."

Canestrari noted that the board's goal is to broadcast a full spectrum of governmental affairs content on the channel, including committee meetings, Court of Appeals hearings and hearings by the Board of Regents.

"Now we're not going to do just budget meetings, we're going to do Assembly hearings," said Canestrari.

The majority leader said the channel now remains dormant when the Legislature is not in session. With the expansion of the channel, much more content will be broadcast, regardless of whether the Legislature is in session.

"Why couldn't we [broadcast] Court of Appeals hearings when we aren't in session?" said Canestrari.

Board members hoped to achieve a better idea of the timeline of the project and the cost of the project through the hearings, in addition to soliciting ideas and opinions on how to improve upon the channel from those who testified.

Members of Common Cause/NY, a government watchdog group, have applauded the work of the board "to open up the legislative process with a public affairs channel."

Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause/NY spoke at the hearing to offer advice on the expansion of the channel. Lerner emphasized the importance of involving the public in the hearings, saying that it is "crucial they be involved" if the channel is truly to benefit them.

"Often times, the public has strong opinions and good ideas," said Lerner.

Blair Horner, legislative director for the New York Public Interest Research Group, who also spoke at the hearing, emphasized a number of factors important to the success of the channel including that it be accessible to all, involve all three branches of government and be non-partisan.

Tim Rooney, president and CEO of The Cable Telecommunications Association of New York, Inc, answered questions from the board regarding the estimated timeline of the project as well as the cost.

Rooney said that initially expanding the channel will not take long.

"As soon as [the Senate and Assembly] are ready to provide hearings for us we'll put them up," said Rooney.

The cost of the channel has not been estimated as the board is still developing ideas through hearings around the state.

"I know the state doesn't have a lot of spare change to be throwing around on this," said Rooney. "And the business community doesn't either but, from what I've gathered at the meetings I've had to date, I think we're going to be able to have a really dramatically improved product in a little while. You are already producing the content and that's the most expensive part."

Eventually, members of the board hope the channel will be as comprehensive and successful as C-SPAN, though they acknowledge that channel took 25 years to get to where it is today.

"We have to start with the lowest hanging fruit first," said Horner. "We have to draw people into the process to get them to know what's going on."

Serrano also noted that all committee rooms are currently being hardwired for broadcast and that the process should take another four to six weeks.

"We've been able to get away from politics and truly decide the best way to put together this channel," said Serrano.

Other members of the board also include Sens. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers, David Valesky, D-Oneida, John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope and Assembly members Darryl Towns, D-Brooklyn, Margaret Markey, D-Maspeth, and Jane Corwin, R-Williamsville.

Digital Television Transition Information by Heidi Harrison Chain

The federal government (FEMA) has asked that our Community Emergency Response Team let the community know that the transition date for the digital TV transition has been delayed until June 12, 2009.

The Digital Television Transition is considered a critical public safety issue and the Citizen Corp Council (of which Our Forest Hills-Rego Cert Team – cb6 CERT- is a member) has been asked to assist in ensuring uninterrupted service. Analog TVs will need to be connected to a DTV converter box or a paid TV service. Digital TV will be unaffected and do not need a converter box.

On June 12, 2009 analog TV service will end based on the Act passed by the House of Representatives on Feb. 4, 2009. The DTV Delay Act also extends the TV Converter Box Coupon Program until July 31, 2009 and requires the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to issue upon request, replacement coupons for each coupon that expires without being redeemed.

To ensure uninterrupted service, consumers with analog television sets have three options:

• Purchase and install a DTV converter box
• Purchase a TV set with a built-in digital tuner
• Subscribe to cable, satellite or other paid tv service.

Our CERT team and CERT teams throughout the country are being asked to help make sure that the most vulnerable in emergency situations know about the Digital Transition. The loss of emergency communication via television could jeopardize an someone ‘s ability to respond appropriately in a crisis.

Following the transition, the FCC estimates up to 20 million individuals could be left without television communication.

Please share this information with everyone so that our community is protected.

Rep. Weiner Calls for Delay in National Switch to Digital TV Signal

Weiner Calls for Delay in National Switch to Digital TV Signal Millions Nationwide and 300,000 in City Not Ready for Digital TV Switch $650 Million in Stimulus Funds to Help Consumers Buy Converters

New York City – With less than a month until the national switch from an analog to digital television, Representative Anthony Weiner (D – Brooklyn and Queens), a member of the House Commerce Communications, Technology, and the Internet Subcommittee, today called for extending the transition date to June 15, 2009 due to the large number of Americans who are still unprepared.

Weiner released new data today showing that more than 300,000 New Yorkers who have applied for federal funds to purchase digital converter boxes for their televisions still have not used those resources. More than 2 million people nationwide are waiting for federal funds.

Highlights of the Problem with the National Switch to Digital Television

§ Approximately 1,040,000 households in New York requested federal funds to purchase converters
§ At least 319,245 New Yorkers, or 32%, who have received funds still have not used them to buy converters
§ 2 million people nationwide have applied, but are still waiting, for federal funds
§ 375,000 New Yorkers have used federal funds to buy converters
§ Nearly 300,000 New Yorkers have expired funds, but many owners do not realize

Weiner announced that Congress is working to extend the conversion date by 115 days (to June 15, 2009) due to the large number of Americans who are still unprepared. The stimulus package also includes $650 million to help subsidize the purchase of the converter boxes, which are needed to allow an older, analog TV to receive a digital signal.

In order to modernize its broadcast system, the government is requiring all television signals to switch from analog, as received by TVs with “rabbit ears”, to digital. Individuals who fail to convert will not be able to access the digital transmissions, including emergency government announcements, on analog televisions – creating a major public safety problem.

The government is offering $40 coupons to subsidize the purchase of the technology. Many seniors and low-income people may still face problems accessing and installing the new technology. Converters cost between from $45 – $75.

Rep. Weiner said, “A major change is coming to the way we provide New Yorkers with emergency information. We want everyone to be prepared. New Yorkers need to know that coupons cover this change, and the feds need to fund the program.”

Sue Simmons F***s Up on Live TV by Verne Gay - Newsday

On-air expletive raises question about Simmons' future

BY VERNE GAY

What the -- -- was Sue thinking?

WNBC news anchor Sue Simmons dropped an expletive on startled viewers Monday night, leaving thousands gasping and probably the same number laughing. But in the wake of one of the biggest on-air gaffes in Channel 4 history, a question was left hanging: What was she thinking?

And this one too: Will she survive?

An industry source confirmed yesterday that Simmons directed the expletive at her longtime co-anchor Chuck Scarborough, seated to her left when the "tease" for the 11 p.m. news aired just after 10:30; viewers couldn't see his reaction because a shot of a cruise ship was on screen when Simmons yelled, "What the -- -- are you doing?" at him.

He returned solo to the air about 20 minutes later for another tease, although both anchors were on the 11 p.m. broadcast, where Simmons apologized. On yesterday's 5 p.m. newscast, Simmons made no mention of the day's most talked-about story.

Sources also added Tuesday that Simmons had believed the "tease" -- an industry term for a brief cut-in that promotes a later broadcast -- was being taped. Scarborough, who looked distracted during the segment, also appeared as if they were in a rehearsal.

"It was supposed to be a pre-taped piece and wound up live," said one source. "She didn't know it was live and blurted that out." Industry sources say that Scarborough may have missed a cue, prompting Simmons' outburst.

New York TV stations have what they call "zero tolerance" for on-air expletives, but it was unclear yesterday whether Simmons would be disciplined or even fired. What is obvious, however, is that she stumbled at the worst possible time. Channel 4 is in the midst of near-draconian cutbacks after a new management team took over within the last month. There have been widespread reports in recent weeks that Channel 4 is looking to cut expensive anchor talent, and after Scarborough -- believed to be the highest-paid local anchor in the country -- Simmons is second highest on the Channel 4 food chain.

Channel 4's behind-the-scene upheavals have occasionally leaked out on air, too. In the midst of a mistake-plagued 7 p.m. broadcast a few weeks ago, the usually implacable Scarborough followed up a piece about financial woes with an angry aside that perhaps Channel 4 was suffering financial travails of its own.

"Everyone's waiting for the earthquake to stop," said a Channel 4 veteran yesterday. Staffers "don't really know what's happening. It's a whole new world they're trying to reformat."

Observers Tuesday said Simmons may have caught a break because the gaffe occurred well after 10 p.m., or outside what's considered the FCC's so-called "safe harbor period" for objectionable content from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Arthur Chi'en, a onetime street reporter for WCBS/2 and now with WPIX/11, uttered the same word during an early morning broadcast for Channel 2 almost exactly three years ago and was fired by the station. However, an arbitrator later ruled that the station had no basis for the termination.

Simmons' image may be Channel 4's biggest concern. For nearly 30 years, she has been a veritable portrait of amiability -- mischievous, occasionally puckish, though early in her run, prone to on-air gaffes. Viewers saw, or rather heard, a different Simmons Monday night: Raw, angry and profane. A station source adds, however, that she and Scarborough have been friends for years and frequently banter off-air.

On-air cursing "absolutely happens once a year somewhere and usually it's a situation like this, where something is being recorded and the wrong version is cued up and gets on the air," says Rick Gevers, president of an Indiana-based company that represents anchors and on-air news reporters. "But to someone with her track record? She's not a 23- year-old just out of college."

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