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CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — The studio that broadcasts the Nevada Legislature's activities on television and online will get a nearly $1 million update over the next few months.
The studio system will change from low-definition, analog sound and pictures to high-definition digital. Much of the work will be done before lawmakers get back into full swing.
Legislative Counsel Bureau Director Rick Combs says the makeover is needed because the studio system's core equipment is outdated and won't be repairable after this year, the Nevada Appeal reported (http://bit.ly/1JZbSWB) Sunday.
"It's out of warranty and at the end of its useful life," Combs said.
The man who has kept the old system running for the past 15 years is retiring, Combs added.
"So we made the decision that this was the time to replace everything," Combs said.
Unappropriated money from the Legislative Fund will cover the roughly $970,000 cost.
The studio system juggles broadcast access for the Legislature's 11 meeting rooms as well as the Senate and Assembly floors during the regular session. In addition, it is responsible for video-conferencing meetings to five meeting rooms at the Sawyer Building in Las Vegas, to Elko, Ely and the University of Nevada, Reno.
"We're really a small version of C-Span," said Dan Dalluhn, who runs Broadcast and Production Services.
Executive branch agencies across the state also use the system. But now there will be better cameras and larger monitors, Combs said. So, those watching a committee will be able to read any PowerPoint presentation on their screen.
There will likely be times during the installation process that some parties holding meetings will not get full video-chat service. According to Dalluhn, there will be a period in January when the control can't video-conference meetings between meeting rooms in Carson City and Las Vegas.
Also, the studio plans to find a way to keep providing audio-visual services to residents in rural parts of Nevada who don't have broadband Internet service.
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Information from: Nevada Appeal, http://www.nevadaappeal.com
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