PEG Channel ConsolidationTHE CITY OF
Dui
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: PEG Channel Consolidation
DATE: July 2, 2014
Dubuque
band
AI -America City
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2007 • 2012 • 2013
Cable TV Coordinator Craig Nowack is recommending approval of a recommendation
from the Cable TV Commission for the PEG (Public, Educational, and Governmental)
Channel Consolidation. Dubuque's two public access cable channels would be
combined into one, and the vacant channel would become a second government
access cable channel providing City of Dubuque graphic announcements coupled with
audio from the local NOAA weather radio station. This project provides an opportunity
to upgrade the audio-visual routing in the City Hall Annex TV Control Room to handle
digital signals and to provide the capability of broadcasting live from the Municipal
Services Center and Fire Training Facility. The Cable TV Commission recommends
that funding for this come from the Capital Grant for Access Equipment and Facilities.
In order to physically create the signal of the second government access channel in this
project, it is necessary to do some re -wiring in the routing system in the TV Control
Room at City Hall Annex. However, the existing routing system is analog and should be
replaced with a system that can accommodate digital television signals.
The Digital Router Upgrade will cost $24,279 and the Fiber Optic Connectivity
Expansion and Upgrade will cost $20,490. An additionional $3,000 has been added for
shipping and contingencies, for a total projected cost of $47,769.
Cable TV Coordinator Craig Nowack is recommending approval of the Cable TV
Commission recommendations for funding from the Public, Educational, and
Government (PEG) Capital Grant for Access Equipment and Facilities in the amount of
$47,769.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
iitit44 ,
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Craig Nowack, Cable TV Coordinator
2
THE CITY OF
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Craig Nowack, Cable TV Coordinator
DATE: July 1, 2014
RE: PEG Channel Consolidation
Dubuque
Vila
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to forward a recommendation from the Cable TV
Commission for the PEG (Public, Educational, and Governmental) Channel Consolidation. In
this proposal, Dubuque's two public access cable channels would be combined into one, and
the vacant channel would become a second government access cable channel providing City of
Dubuque graphic announcements coupled with audio from the local NOAA weather radio
station. This project provides an opportunity to upgrade the audio-visual routing in the City Hall
Annex TV Control Room to handle digital signals and to provide the capability of broadcasting
live from the Municipal Services Center and Fire Training Facility. The Cable TV Commission
recommends that funding for this comes from the Capital Grant for Access Equipment and
Facilities.
BACKGROUND/PEG Channel Consolidation Project
The municipal cable franchise agreement that went into effect in 2005 stipulated that Dubuque
have five local PEG channels: one government channel (CityChannel Dubuque, Channel 8), an
educational channel for the Dubuque Community School District (Channel 16), a shared
educational channel (Channel 15), and two public access channels (Channels 80 & 81). The
2005 franchise gave the City the ultimate authority to oversee these channels while requiring
Mediacom to originate and provide studio facilities for the two public access channels. It also
required Mediacom to install fiber to make both The Forum and Loras College access
origination sites. Early in 2006 the DCSD educational channel began broadcasting from The
Forum, and in 2010 Loras College began originating the shared educational access channel
from its facilities in Hoffmann Hall.
The PEG Channel Consolidation proposal combines Dubuque's two public access channels into
one (onto Channel 81) and uses Channel 80 to air the CityChannel Dubuque graphics bulletin
board with NOAA weather radio station WXL64 as the accompanying audio. Here are some
benefits for doing this:
• One channel for all public access shows. One of the complaints about PEG
television in general is that programs run too often. Putting all public access
programming one on channel means shows will run less often, and viewers tuning in are
more apt to see something new.
• Better program listings. Currently, one graphics bulletin board server handles both
public access channels and shows only the next program airing on each channel. With
just one channel to cover, these on-screen listings could be expanded to show upcoming
programming for a couple of days. Since there is no program guide — printed or web
based — for the public access channels available anywhere, viewers will finally have a
way to see a list of upcoming programs in case they see a title that piques their interest.
• CityChannel Dubuque graphics always available. The City's PEG channel airs
significantly more programming each day than it did a decade ago, meaning that the
graphics bulletin board airs significantly less. Some people like to tune in CityChannel
Dubuque to see the downtown weather data and are disappointed when a program is
on. Breaking news now communicated via bulletin -board graphics, a train car
derailment or the implementation of the City's odd/even snow parking restrictions, is also
not available when a program is on. As its own dedicated channel, the CityChannel
Dubuque graphics would always be available to local cable viewers.
• A weather radio in every cable home. By making NOAA weather radio station WXL64
audio the soundtrack for Channel 81, every cable home would have access to the
weather radio information (cable viewers would have to tune in to hear it; their
televisions would not automatically come on like an all -hazards radio does when an alert
is issued).
• Less Mediacom involvement. Since Mediacom is no longer required to originate any
PEG channels, it can opt out of operating the two public access channels at any time.
Reducing their involvement now would lessen the impact of their deciding to stop
altogether at a later date.
Feedback from local access users was solicited. Local Mediacom access representative Jim
Barefoot posted a notice requesting input from access users at the Mediacom studios on Asbury
Road. No feedback was received. On April 8, 2014, I mailed a letter requesting feedback to 11
organizations that regularly submit public access programming. I received three responses,
from Dubuque County Right to Life, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, and the Archdiocese of
Dubuque, all in favor of the proposal. In early May I received an e-mail from Darin Dean at
Mediacom informing me that this proposal can be implemented for little or no cost on their end.
Background/Digital Router Upgrade
In order to physically create the signal of the second government access channel in this project,
we need to do some re -wiring in the routing system in the TV Control Room at City Hall Annex.
However, the existing routing system is analog and should be replaced with a system that can
accommodate digital television signals.
Upgrading the routing system in the TV Control Room puts us in the realm of digital television
and includes the following facets:
• Two new equipment racks to replace the two aging units, one of which is technically not
a rack and requires extra work to hold standard rack -width components.
• Converters to turn HD -SDI signals into HDMI to feed the TV Control Room's flat panel
monitor, eliminating the need to purchase an expensive monitor that accepts HD -SDI
inputs.
• New HD -SDI recording devices in the TV Control Room, Federal Building Media Room,
and Dubuque County Courthouse to replace existing aging and problematic recorders.
• Necessary equipment and re -wiring to create the second government access cable
channel.
Fiber Optic Connectivity Expansion & Upgrade
In order to be able to send digital signals to the new routing system, we need to upgrade our
2
fiber optic gear, including:
• Transmission gear at the Historic Federal Building for City Council and Zoning meetings.
• Transmission gear at Five Flags to enable live broadcasts.
• Transmission gear at the Dubuque County Courthouse to enable live broadcasts. Even
though the County Supervisors meetings will no longer be live once they take over
recording them, I recommend that we upgrade to have the ability to broadcast live from
that building.
• Fiber receiving gear at City Hall Annex. One fiber receiver will be dedicated to the feed
from the Historic Federal Building; the second receiver will be patchable from Five Flags,
the County Courthouse, the Municipal Services Center, and the Fire Training Facility.
• The installation of fiber transmission gear and audio -video cabling to enable live
telecasts from the Municipal Services Center, sometimes an Emergency Operations
Center.
• The installation of fiber transmission gear and audio -video cabling to enable live
telecasts from the Fire Training Facility, also an Emergency Operations Center.
Project Costs
The Digital Router Upgrade will cost $24,279 and the Fiber Optic Connectivity Expansion &
Upgrade will cost $20,490. I have added $3,000 for shipping and contingencies for a total
projected cost of $47,769. The Capital Grant for Access Equipment & Facilities currently has a
balance to be awarded of $484,170.
Recommendation
At their meeting on July 1, 2014, the Cable TV Commission considered both the PEG Channel
Consolidation proposal and the Digital Router Upgrade/Fiber Optic Connectivity Expansion &
Upgrade. By a vote of 6 — 0, the Commission approved the PEG Channel Consolidation
proposal, and by a vote of 6 — 0, they approved the funding request for the two upgrade
projects.
I respectfully request that these projects be forwarded to the City Council to receive, file, and
approve.
cc: Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
Jenny Larson, Budget Director
Chris Kohlmann, Information Services Manager
3
(6/27/2014) Craig Nowack - Online Form Submittal: PEG Fund Grant Application Page 1
From: "noreply@civicplus.com" <noreply@civicplus.com>
To: <cnowack@cityofdubuque.org>
Date: 6/27/2014 9:38 AM
Subject: Online Form Submittal: PEG Fund Grant Application
The following form was submitted via your website: PEG Fund Grant Application
Organization Name:: City of Dubuque
Address:: 1300 Main Street
City:: Dubuque
State:: IA
Zip Code:: 52001
Organization Contact:: Craig Nowack
Email Address:: cnowack@cityofdubuque.org
Telephone Number:: 563-589-4181
Fax Number::
Total Amount Requested:: $47,769
Provide a general description of what you are requesting and why:: This multi -faceted request upgrades
the routing system in the Annex TV Control Room to an HD -SDI router to handle digital signals. At the
same time it creates the signal for the proposed new PEG channel consisting of City bulletin board
graphics and weather radio audio. Another facet of the proposal converts the fiber feed from the Historic
Federal Building from analog to HD -SDI. Finally, the proposal puts HD -SDI fiber transmitters at the Fire
Training Facility and Municipal Services Center along with video drops to enable live telecasts from these
two facilities on CityChannel Dubuque.
Describe how the community will benefit from your request:: The community gets a new PEG channel
with City information and weather radio audio. This proposal is a necessary step in CityChannel Dubuque
going HD by enabling the routing of digital signals, and the City will be able to more quickly get
information to the public in times of emergencies.
Item #1:: Annex Digital Router Upgrade
Price:: 24,279
Item #2:: Installation of HD -SDI fiber transmitters & receivers
Price:: 18,865
Item #3:: AN drop at the Fire Training Facility
Price:: 800
Item #4:: AN drop at the Municipal Services Center
Price:: 825
(6/27/2014) Craig Nowack - Online Form Submittal: PEG Fund Grant Application Page 2
Item #5:: Shipping & Contingencies
Price:: 3000
Item #6::
Price::
Item #7::
Price::
Item #8::
Price::
Item #9::
Price::
Item #10::
Price::
Additional Items/Comments:: Thank you.
Please attach all applicable quotations:: No file was uploaded
Additional Information:
Form submitted on: 6/27/2014 9:37:43 AM
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