WINNEMUCCA — Rod Stowell was before the Humboldt County Commissioners on Monday (Nov. 7) to promote the potential for broadcasting public meetings using cable television.  He said the broadcasts might start as early as January.

Stowell has joined forces with CalNevada Broadband, who’s putting together a local origination station on channel 7, the local cable channel.

He pointed out not everyone can take three hours off of work on a Monday morning. He commented, “We believe that television is just the modern answer to bringing in the whole community.”

According to Stowell, the company currently serves about 1,000 homes, but there’s room for as many as 5,000.

The goal for organizers is primarily public service and during the first phase they planned to broadcast the meetings of the Humboldt County Commission, Winnemucca City Council, School Board, etc.

During the first phase the broadcasts would not be live, because of the expense, but they planned to do live broadcasts in the future.  During the second phase the plan was to offer more commercial endeavors, such as live broadcasting of Lowry High School sporting events, etc.

He pointed out several advantages of the program, which included employment of at least three people. Additionally, about 90 percent of the county’s 1200 hotel/motel rooms have cable television as  their main source for television, he reported, so the many travelers staying at local hotels would be able to learn more about the community.

In answer to a question from the commission, Stowell said organizers do plan to stream the meetings over the Internet. Also, they would make disc recordings of the meetings available to the commissioners and anyone else who would like one.

Stowell said it would cost approximately $17,000 - $20,000 to get the ball rolling on the project. The second phase, which includes live broadcasts, would cost another $15,000-$20, 000.

Since organizers view the project as community service, they hoped the commissioners would chip in $700 - $1,000/month to help offset the costs.  He said there was some concern once companies accept money for their services there’s an implied bias, which organizers hoped to avoid.

While the commissioners praised the project, they weren’t ready to commit cash.

Commission Chairman Garley Amos noted the community appeared to be keeping up with what was going on in local government.

He pointed out the county has a website, which features the agendas and minutes, and the meetings are covered by two media sources.

However, Stowell was advised he could revisit the issue with the commissioners during budget discussions.