PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island General Assembly has made another leap into the 21st Century, with live-streaming of both committee hearings and Senate sessions which have not, until now, been broadcast until after the House is done each day.
According to a General Assembly news release, "Capitol TV will be live streaming up to four committee hearings simultaneously, which will allow members of the public to see votes and hearings in real time. Those hearings, as well as the House and Senate sessions, will then be archived so they can be viewed through the Rhode Island General Assembly website on demand.''
"Now there will be more ways than ever for the public to access information and follow bills that they care about," House Speaker Gordon D. Fox said. "It was important to me this year that we do what was necessary to make live streaming and archiving a real possibility.''
Echoed Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed: ""Live streaming and archiving of video is among the most significant steps we have taken to use technology to make it easier for the public to engage in the legislative process. This initiative will enable the public to watch in real time video what they previously had to wait to see, and to view past hearings on legislation of interest to them with the click of a button."
To access archived or streaming videos, go to the General Assembly website at rilin.state.ri.us and click on the "Capitol TV" tab. Videos will be posted there, along with the regular Capitol TV schedule.
The General Assembly will continue to show the live House session, and select committee hearings, on Channel 15 for Cox Communications and Full Channel customers, as well as Channel 34 for Verizon customers.