MIAMI VALLEY COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL
Cable subscribers in the Miami Valley will now have enhanced viewing choices when watching local government programs on the Miami Valley Communications Council (MVCC) Channels 5 and 6. Beginning in January of 2022, residents of Centerville, Germantown, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Springboro, and West Carrollton can select Closed Captioning for a video option when watching virtually any program on these two Government Access channels.
In October of 2021, MVCC’s eight member cities and the MVCC Council approved a resolution to invest approximately $100,000 for this technology. The resolution ensures that MVCC is compliant with the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, providing accessible television services to all Americans with disabilities.
ENCO, a leading captioning solution in several industries, has been selected to provide the service.
Enco’s enCaption technology allows for live real-time captions and identifies when someone new is speaking. Captions can be created in foreign languages, and also produce live, foreign language translations.
“We’re always looking at innovative ways to enhance our television channels for the Miami Valley viewers, and closed caption technology is the next step forward,” said Ray Gambrel, MVCC Government Programming Supervisor. “Residents will now be able to watch live city council meetings with subtitles, along with all of the 24/7 programming content that MVCC’s provides on our government channels.”
The Miami Valley Communications Council currently operates four cable access channels with cable providers Spectrum TV and AT&T TV. Complete program schedule listings, as well as on-demand viewing, can be found at www.mvcc.video. MVCC was formed in 1976 as a council of governments representing the eight member cities of Centerville, Germantown, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Springboro, and West Carrollton.
For more information, contact Jay Weiskircher, MVCC Executive Director, at ten.ccvm@rehcriksiewj.
History
Miami Valley Communications Council is a municipal communications and technology organization representing the eight member cities of Centerville, Germantown, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Springboro and West Carrollton. The council also has affiliate agreements with other Miami Valley cities. MVCC was formed in 1975 as a council of governments to monitor, regulate, and administer common cable television franchise agreements, manage the operation of the council's cable access television channels, and develop and implement intergovernmental projects designed to strengthen communications between member cities and their citizens. A policy-making body consisting of delegates representing member cities governs the council.
Funding
MVCC is funded through franchise fees paid by the cable service provider. Franchise fees are rent that the cable company pays for placing its wires over or under the public rights-of-way (streets.) MVCC uses these franchise fees to support its community access television activities, cooperative intergovernmental projects, and to explore new and changing technologies that will benefit member communities. The council, in turn, provides many services to our communities at little or no cost.