Starting March 20, the Port of Tacoma will make Commission meetings and study sessions available for viewing live and on-demand anytime via the Port’s Web site, according to a statement released yesterday.
By utilizing streaming media to broadcast public meetings over the Internet, the Port can deliver high quality content and archived meetings to a broader audience. “Delivery over the Internet will ensure greater access to our meetings and will also provide the public with better understanding of the Port’s decision-making process,” explained Port Commission President Dick Marzano.
In addition to Port Commission meetings and study sessions, The Port will make its quarterly television program, “Pierce County Port Report,” historical videos and other non-meeting content available over the Internet.
The Port has contracted with San Francisco-based Granicus, Inc., a leading provider of webcasting and public meeting management to nearly 400 government bodies spanning 39 states throughout the United States.
Fife-based A.C.T. Video will work as a Granicus subcontractor, handling on-site camera management and video production.
Starting in April, the Port, working with Rainier Communications Commission (RCC), will broadcast Commission meetings and study sessions on local cable television. RCC, a cooperative effort among regional cities and towns in Pierce County, will make the broadcasts available on Comcast and Click! Cable TV. The Port is also exploring making these broadcasts available on Click! Cable TV’s video-on-demand service.
On Dec. 20, the Port of Tacoma Commission authorized Port staff to implement webcasting and television cable broadcasting. The first year cost will be approximately $170,000 which includes the purchase and installation of video equipment and the first year of Granicus and cable broadcast.