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[Copy of P A G email sent to the Clerk of Tynwald 27th October 2008]

Dear Mr Phillips

In its first report this year (February 2008) one of the recommendations made by the Committee was "that further study of the best means of enhancing the existing webcasting of Tynwald at present done by Manx radio should be undertaken and a report made to the Court by December 2008 sitting"

The Committee had considered detailed proposals submitted by Positive Action Group.We write once more to urge you to consider full and proper webcasting of theproceedings of Tynwald Court, its Branches and various Committees.

The need for this was evident last week when the eyes and ears of the world were on the Isle of Man, in relation to the amended Depositors Compensation Scheme.

The momentous three hour Tynwald debate (23.10.08) was available only at the time on Manx Radio website, for listeners around the world. Had there been a true webcast of this session it would have been possible for people to recall the debate at perhaps a more convenient time.

True webcasting allows, via an index facility, for flexible recall of individual contributions to any debate or session. It avoids any confusion in what was said and can disprove any interpretation by the media. It is an easily accessible record available worldwide.

Members of Tynwald recently received Radio Manx Limited Annual Report 2007/8 in which the Company questions the appropriateness of the existing AM broadcast channel. It advocates a Manx Parliamentary Channel on DAB.

This would require major investment and would still not provide the flexibility that webcasting gives. Webcasting is a visual medium and something that the public expects from a country that claims to be in the forefront of e-technology.

In the UK at least 26 councils webcast their various Committees. It is a well proven and developed technology that enables the public to easily engage with the political process. Such an easily affordable investment can only be to the benefit of our society.

P A G is concerned that of the 5 members of Tynwald Management Committee not one was able to attend the presentation about webcasting given a year ago. It is unlikely that the members have seen a live system and so are being asked to make a decision on something outside their experience. We do hope we are wrong in this assumption.

Finally can we ask the Committee to revisit the submission we made last year (21.09.07)so that all the reasons for requesting webcasting can be fully considered. Should it be felt necessary we are prepared to appear before the Committee to explain any questions that may arise. We understand that the committee next convenes on 3rd November 2008.
 

Update by email on 19th February:

From: Malachy Cornwell-kelly

Date: 19 February 2008 10:42:08 GMT

To: PAG

Subject: Broadcasting & Webcasting

Mr Tomlinson

Tynwald Management Committee are reporting to March Tynwald on this. The papers will be available next Thursday and will be on the website.

Kind regards

Malachy Cornwell-Kelly

On the 11 December we received the following email from the Clerk of Tynwald in response to our request to 'webcast' Tynwald.

Dear Mr Tomlinson

This is to offer you a brief update on the proposals which PAG put forward.

Tynwald Management Committee has now considered them twice, the last time being yesterday 10th December, and they will do so again at their next meeting at the beginning of February. This looks, I know, like taking a very long time to reach a conclusion and I would not be surprised if you were impatient about it.

The reason is that the Committee have decided that webcasting and the arrangements for broadcasting generally are interlinked and that they should make a comprehensive report to Tynwald on them both; this means consulting all the media. Moreover, we have come up against a legal problem relating to webcasting and we are awaiting advice on it.

Please let me or Paul Ormond-Smith know if we can give you further information while this process takes its course.

Kind regards

Malachy Cornwell-Kelly

It's encouraging that Tynwald Management Committee is seriously considering our request but at the same time disappointing that a possible legal problem looms over it. What on earth can it be? For some time many elected Councils and Local Authorities in the U K have been broadcasting their proceedings this way. Similarly other National Parliaments and Assemblies use the medium. Tynwald is already broadcast, via Manx radio, on the internet. Will this service be withdrawn we wonder? More information when we know it. In the meantime ask your own M H K to support the webcasting of Tynwald.

On the 21st September PAG made a submission to Steve Rodan as Chair of the Tynwald Management Committee on our desire to see Tynwald to adopt the principle of webcasts. This is reproduced below.

1. Covering Letter:

 21st September 2007

Dear Mr Rodan

Request to ‘Webcast’ proceedings of Tynwald Court, its Branches and Various Committees

You are aware that as a political lobby group PAG takes a close interest in Island politics.

Given the global advances in local broadcasting of political processes, PAG is conscious that Tynwald is not currently taking advantage of modern broadcasting techniques – especially when we have an Island political culture that openly welcomes businesses involved in Telecommunication and E-Society technological development.

Accordingly, we submit a request for more convenient access for people to listen and observe Tynwald, its Branches and Committees.

We believe that our request is the next logical step for Tynwald if it is to take a pro-active approach towards the emergence of an E-Democracy. It will also support the government’s previous attempts to promote greater awareness of and involvement in Island politics.

Could you please place PAG’s request before your Committee, in order to hopefully progress our proposal through Tynwald Court as a Recommendation.

Yours sincerely

W Roger Tomlinson

Chair

2. Request to Tynwald Management Committee

Request to Tynwald Management Committee

To ‘Webcast’ proceedings of Tynwald Court, its Branches and Various Committees

A - Background

• 1 In June 2001, "The E-Commerce and E-Society Strategy Report" received the unanimous endorsement of Tynwald. This signalled a commitment to develop the Island as one of the world's foremost E-commerce centres and to promote an exemplary E-society.
• 2 Much progress has been made since then, although predominantly in the commercial sector e.g. E-gaming, E-banking and innovative telecommunication technology.
• 3 Initial government support for broadband connections also enabled swift penetration of broadband throughout the Island.
• Paragraph 19.4 of The I O M Government Report (October 2006) was able to announce:
• "With regard to increasing the number of businesses and individuals using broadband technology, the Island's current performance is 10.19 per 100 head of population which is the top quartile of Point-Topic Ltd rankings as required by target"
• 4  In support of the progress made, Manx Telecom recently told us:

“Broadband coverage on the Isle of Man is around 99.9% - there are a few remote communities such as Ronague without broadband which we will connect in the next couple of months

• The number of businesses and households with Broadband is around 15,500 a further 9,000 are connected with dial up”
• 5  The 2006 Census Report states that the Island has 33,390 households, thus indicating that 46% have broadband internet access, with existing broadband coverage theoretically available to the rest

• B - Proposed Development

• 1  The UK Parliament is in the privileged position of being able to televise and broadcast its parliamentary proceedings via terrestrial and satellite TV Channels. PAG accepts that such an expensive exercise is not justifiable for the size of the Island. However, Tynwald Court Sessions and House of Keys 'Questions' are broadcast live on Manx Radio. 
• 2  Unfortunately, without individually recording these proceedings, the Island’s radio broadcasts do not enable easy automatic retrieval and referral by the listener.
  Admittedly, Hansard written records can subsequently be consulted. But, those records are only publicly available two or more weeks after the event.
  This is a major disadvantage and compares badly with Westminster Hansard records which are available in 24 hours.
• 3   PAG believes that the government is now in a position to take advantage of our current E-technology position and capitalise upon the Island’s major advances in this area by the video broadcasting (webcasting) of Tynwald Court and the Branches via broadband. And if thought appropriate, this inexpensive yet accessible technology could be extended to Tynwald Select Committees when matters of general public interest are being subjected to parliamentary scrutiny.
• 4  Indicative prices are listed on Page 6 of Appendix A. It is estimated that annual cost would be £30,000 to £40,000, depending upon equipment used and the number of hours broadcast.
• 5   About 40 UK local authorities have currently taken advantage of available technology to provide live webcasting of their meetings. Consequently, the webcasts are available at a later date for the viewer.
  A major advantage of this latter facility is that the replayed webcast can be “indexed” - so that a particular topic or speaker can be instantly retrieved by individual viewers.
• 6  Also other jurisdictions like The Welsh Assembly,The Scottish Parliament and The Irish Parliament have demonstrated their own commitment to apply E-technology to improve public access to parliamentary proceedings by operating such a system.
• 7  The easiest way to understand the simplicity and convenience of webcasting is to visit a website devoted to and experienced in providing such a service e.g.  www.public-i.info in order to view some of the explanatory videos. We must emphasise that P A G is not endorsing this provider’s service in suggesting this link.
• 8  It is also worth reading an independent evaluation of webcasting at Appendix B
• 9  The Committee may also wish to consider an investigation into the use of on-line technologies for interactive dialogue between government and the public – “Digital Dialogues – Interim Report” (commissioned by UK Government Ministry of Justice)  http://www.digitaldialogues.org.uk/interimreport It is a recent and important, ongoing, project and illustrates the steps being taken by a competitive jurisdiction on this topic.

• C - Conclusion

1  PAG would ask that Tynwald Management Committee consider seriously the need to apply the latest E-technology in communicating to the public the work carried out on its behalf.

2  In applying E-technology to the broadcasting, archiving and retrieval of parliamentary proceedings PAG believes that the political process becomes far more immediate, accessible and transparent to the public. It also facilitates easier retrieval of particular speakers, topics, discussions and debates.

• 3  Such developments also encourage greater interest, involvement, engagement and appreciation of the Manx parliamentary process. PAG believes that this can only enhance further the ancient standards of democracy often heralded as a major Manx contribution to the rest of the world. Webcasting would not only raise the profile of our political process locally, but would enable it to be admired internationally as well.
• 4  PAG is concerned that failure to grasp this dynamic and fast growing aspect of E-technology could inadvertently undermine the Island’s claim to leadership in this ever changing area.
• 5  We hope that you will find this request helpful in formulating your policy for greater public interest and participation in the democratic process and that Tynwald Management Committee will view it as an exciting opportunity to positively influence the future direction of parliamentary engagement on the Island.
• 6  PAG believe that Political Webcasting is:
• Proven technology
• Available now
• Easy to implement and operate
• Inexpensive
• The next step forward in communicating our political processes.  
•  

POSITIVE ACTION GROUP

Date: 21^st September 2007