News

By Rich Pollack

    For many years, Highland Beach residents who subscribed to cable television service through Comcast could watch live Town Commission meetings and get relevant town information on their public access television station, Channel 99.
    Subscribers to AT&T U-verse, however, did not have access to the channel — until now.
    After more than two years of trying to resolve the issue, town officials last month announced that the public access station is now available to the growing number of residents who receive cable television service from AT&T.
    “There are many people who like to watch our meetings on television but couldn’t because they don’t subscribe to Comcast,” said Commissioner Lou Stern. “Now, they can.”
    Although archived commission meetings have been available online for several years and the meetings are streamed live, Stern said there are many residents who don’t have computers or who prefer seeing the meetings on a larger screen.
    In addition to watching commission meetings, viewers of Channel 99 can watch recordings of town board meetings and see important town information provided on a loop.  During the threat of Hurricane Matthew, for example, evacuation notices were posted on Channel 99. The channel also provides information to residents on how they can sign up for the Code Red emergency alert system.
    “This has been a priority for the town,” said interim Town Manager Valerie Oakes. “It’s important to provide information to all of our residents via every available platform.”