The green light was recently given to WisconsinEye, a new public access channel, to install broadcast equipment in the State Capitol. The network will air C-SPAN-style broadcasting of legislative affairs.
The Wisconsin Department of Administration approved WisconsinEye's plan, along with the State Capitol, Executive Residence Board and the State of Wisconsin Building Commission.
Broadcast operations are set to begin running in May 2007 and will include coverage of the Senate and Assembly Chambers and select legislative committee hearing rooms.
Chris Long, president of WisconsinEye, expects the Capitol construction to be finished within three months, while a separate production facility for the Capitol broadcasts is simultaneously being worked on.
Long said there are about 24 states who carry legislative channels, but WisconsinEye is unique in the sense that ""we receive no funding from the state.""
He emphasized WisconsinEye is allowed to control their own cameras, as well.
According to Michael Schoenfield, legislative assistant for Rep. Marlin Schneider, D-Wisconsin Rapids, ""It will be Wisconsin's version of C-SPAN. It will allow viewers from across the state to see live gavel-to-gavel action in the state Legislature.""
The installation of the project will cost $650,000 and includes behind-the-wall cabling and upgraded wall fixtures to ensure camera coverage from various rooms of the Capitol.
""Citizens have every right to see their government in action, but, unfortunately, not every citizen can make the drive into Madison,"" said Todd Allbaugh, communications director for state Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center. ""This is going to be a remarkable accomplishment for the state and legislators.""
Schultz and Schneider are both members of SCERB. When asked whether legislators' actions will be affected by their being on camera, Schoenfield said that elected officials generally behave as rational adults. However, on the rare occasion when they do not, Schoenfield said, constituents have a right to know and see their behavior.
""An informed electorate is one that has control over the political process,"" Schoenfield said.
Dhavan Shah, a UW-Madison journalism and mass communication professor, said the new public access channel will create public accountability for legislators and benefit the people who follow and care about local and state politics.
""The degree to which people can seek out information in the virtual environment has allowed them to focus specifically on issues they care about,"" Shah said.
""[WisconsinEye] will bring a bright light to the citizens of Wisconsin,"" Allbaugh said. ""They can see their legislators in action.""
