Public access television channels offer the public a view of what goes on in communities by televising various government meetings.

The public access channel set up by Comcast deals with government issues. These channels are technically called PEG, a Public Educational Governmental access channel.

Third Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan believes the public could get more use out of the public access channel by televising meetings like the Plan Commission.

“I think the cable customers deserve more,” Kapitan said. “There should be more coverage of city meetings, because there are some important issues that the public should be aware of.”

City Manager Jim Connors said they already televise the city council meetings, which are held twice a month. These meetings can be viewed on local cable channel 14 in DeKalb.

“If a meeting is going to be televised, there has to be a request from the group to have the meeting televised,” Connors said.

Kapitan said the Plan Commission was against televising the meetings but said now there are all new commission members.

Assistant communication professor Laura Vazquez is in charge of televising the city council meetings. Vazquez said a team of three students televise the city council meetings live for the public access channel. The work is done by students, who receive credit for classes to cover the meetings.

“We have two cameras recording and one person who directs the show,” Vazquez said.

“It’s really nice for people to be able to sit at home and watch these meetings,” Vazquez said. “It’s a good experience for us, too, because I’m interested in the community and the students learn a lot about the city.”

Vazquez said there is no way to tell how many people view the city council meetings, but there has been a lot of feedback in the newspaper.

Another reason for not televising these meetings can be linked to budget problems.

“There is a budget crisis right now, but there is a lot of potential for it,” Kapitan said.

The budget, which will be put together in January, will be passed on to the city council in the end of June for evaluation.

Kapitan said the problem is that there is a 5 percent tax on top of the utilities tax for cable customers.

“This is a problem because other utilities like gas, phone and electric don’t have to pay this tax,” Kapitan said.

Televising the city council meetings has gotten good reviews, Connors said.

“The response I’ve gotten from the public is good,” Connors said. “The people usually respond the day after the meetings with questions on the meetings.”

Kapitan said the issue debated when deciding to televise the meetings were that people may hold back or play up to the camera.

“My experience with these meetings before the camera and after hasn’t been much different,” Kapitan said. “If a speaker is nervous, they would be with or without the camera there.”