What is channel 99?
Channel 99 is a Government PEG Channel that provides Government Related Programming to the City of Gadsden on Comcast which is part of the franchise agreement the City of Gadsden has with Comcast.
What does GITN stand for?
GITN stands for Gadsden Informational Television Network.
Is this channel available by antenna or on a satellite system like DirecTV or Dish Network?
No, this station was developed as a partnership between The City of Gadsden and Comcast.
What is a PEG channel?
PEG stands for "Public, Educational and Governmental" Access Cable Channels.
FCC Fact Sheet, November 1994
Under Section 611 of the Communications Act, local franchising authorities may require cable operators to set aside channels for public, educational or governmental (PEG) use.
Public access channels are available for use by the general public. They are usually administered either by the cable operator or by a third party designated by the franchising authority.
Educational access channels are used by educational institutions for educational programming. Time on these channels is typically allocated by either the franchising authority or the cable operator among local schools, colleges and universities.
Governmental access channels are used for programming by organs of local government. In most jurisdictions, the franchising authority directly controls these channels.
PEG channels are not mandated by federal law, rather they are a right given to the franchising authority, which it may choose to exercise. The decision to require the cable operator to carry PEG channels is up to the local franchising authority. If the franchising authority does require PEG channels, that requirement will be set out in the franchise agreement between the franchising authority and the cable operator.
Franchising authorities may also require cable operators to set aside channels for educational or governmental use on institutional networks; i.e., channels that are generally available only to institutions such as schools, libraries or government offices.
Franchising authorities may require cable operators to provide services, facilities or equipment for the use of PEG channels.
In accordance with applicable franchise agreements, local franchising authorities or cable operators may adopt on their own, non-content-based rules governing the use of PEG channels. For example: Rules may be adopted for allocating time among competing applicants on a reasonable basis other than the content of their programming.
Minimum production standards may be required.
Users may be required to undergo training. With limited exceptions, cable operators may not control the content of programming on PEG channels. A franchise agreement may specify that obscene or otherwise constitutionally unprotected material may not be shown or may be shown only subject to conditions.
Franchising authorities and other governmental entities are not limited in their exercise of editorial control over governmental access channels.
A cable operator may be subject to civil and criminal liability for permitting obscene material to be aired over the cable system.
The 1992 Cable Act also specifies that a cable operator may prohibit the use of a PEG channel for programming which contains obscene material, sexually explicit conduct or material soliciting or promoting unlawful conduct. However, the Commission's regulations implementing these "indecency" rules have been held to be unconstitutional, and are therefore not presently effective.
PEG channel capacity which is not in use for its designated purpose may, with the franchising authority's permission, be used by the cable operator to provide other cable services. Franchising authorities are directed by federal law to prescribe rules governing when such use is permitted.
For additional information: Any questions or comments about PEG channels on a particular system should be directed to the cable operator or the local franchising authority, and not to the Federal Communications Commission. The name and telephone number (505) 768-5340 of your franchising authority should appear on your cable bill or should be available through your cable operator. With very limited exceptions, the Federal Communications Commission is not responsible for enforcing the federal statute governing PEG channels.
What is the difference between a public access channel and a PEG channel?
Public access television: Public access television channels may be run by public grassroots groups, individuals, private non-profits, or government organizations. Policies and regulations are subject to their own ordinances and community standards.
Services available at public access organizations are often low cost or free of charge, with an inclusive, content neutral, first-come, first-served, free speech ideology. Monies from cable franchise fees are paid to government for use of right-of-ways, hopefully allowing other general fund monies to be used to operate the facilities, employ staff and trainers, develop curriculum, operate training workshops, schedule and maintain equipment, manage the cablecast of shows and publish promotion materials to build station viewership. Funding and operating budgets vary significantly with the municipality's finances. Frequently it is left to the cable franchise to determine how they operate public access. The FCC does not mandate a cable franchise to provide any of the above services mentioned.
Users of public access stations may participate at most levels of this structure to make content of their choosing. Generally, anyone may have their programming aired on a public access channel. Users are not restricted to cable subscribers, though residency requirements may apply, depending on local franchise agreements or facility policy. Many public access channels try to favor locally produced programs while others also carry regionally or nationally distributed programming. In the event that a public access channel becomes filled up with programming a franchise may state that more channels may be added to suffice the demand.
Public access channels often allow programming that was produced outside of the municipality. A show that originates outside the municipality is often referred to as "bicycled" programming.
Government access television: Government access television is a resource of the city to address local municipal programming needs. Often the city or town may use the G channel to cablecast city council meetings, election programming, local emergency announcements and other events and programs as valued by the local government.
Educational access television: Educational access is the institution set aside for fulfilling the needs of the educational departments and organizations within the municipality. Educational access channels may be associated with a specific school, school district or even private organization that is contracted to operate the access station for the city.
Educational access centers usually operate a cable channel on the local cable system and often include elements and principle that echo Public access in terms of training and resources. Many school media and video training programs are based in the educational access centers. Programming distributed by these centers ranges from student or parent produced media to coverage of local school functions and bodies (such as the School Council or Committee). There are a number of notable Educational access organizations that produce programming for a national audience and experiences a very broad distribution.
Can a business or group advertise on GITN?
No, due to FCC regulations.
When do the City Council Meetings air?
Every day at 3 pm, 6 pm, and 9 pm.
Is their a guide for the programming on GITN?
Please see GITN.tv
Can I get a copy of a program that aired on GITN?
Yes, you can send your request to GITN@cityofgadsden.com or call Brian Cox at (256) 547-6107
What are the requirements for playing the online videos?
The high quality videos require an internet connection of 1.5 Mbps or higher to watch in real time while the mobile videos require an internet connection of 1 Mbps or higher to watch in real time. For an internet connection speed lower than 1 Mbps pausing the video should allow the video to load on to the computer with the amount of time it takes to load depending on the speed of the internet connection. To play the videos the computer will require Adobe Flash Player 10, the equivalent of a 2 GHz Pentium 4 or faster CPU, and at least 256 MB of RAM. The high quality videos are encoded at 640x480 resolution using H.264 Main Profile video and AAC audio while the mobile videos are encoded at 320x240 resolution using H.264 Baseline Profile video and AAC audio.
What are the requirements for downloading and playing the videos?
The requirements for the computer are the same as for playing the online videos and the computer requires a video player that is capable of playing mp4 video files such as QuickTime 7 Player, VLC media player, or Windows Media Player 12. The mobile videos can be played on the iPhone, iPod Classic, 3rd Gen iPod Nano, 5th Gen iPod Video, iPod Touch, BlackBerry Bold, HTC Hero, Motorola Droid, Nokia 5800, PSP, Samsung S8300, Zune, and many other mobile devices. The videos can be downloaded by right clicking on the link below the playing video called "Direct link to the video which is currently playing" and saving the video to the computer. In Internet Explorer this is done by clicking on "Save Target As", in Mozilla Firefox by clicking on "Save Link As", in Safari by clicking on "Download Linked File As", in Opera by clicking on "Save Linked Content As", and in Google Chrome as "Save link as".
What are video podcasts?
Video podcasts use RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds to allow for easy access to a list of regularly updated videos by using either RSS readers or web browsers with RSS support. Web browsers with RSS support include Internet Explorer 7/8, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, and Opera. By subscribing to a video podcast you can easily access the videos that are added to it. Web browsers with RSS support will automatically detect the two video podcasts on the GITN website and links to the two video podcasts can also be found on the GITN Videos section of the website.
How do I contact GITN?
City of Gadsden
Attn: Brian Cox
90 Broad St. Room B01
Gadsden, AL 35901
Phone M – F 8 am – 4:30 pm 256-547-6107
Email: GITN@cityofgadsden.com