[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 120 (Tuesday, August 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1554-E1555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE CITY OF ROCK HILL FOR WINNING THE ``EXCELLENCE IN 
COMMUNICATIONS AWARD'' FROM THE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN M. SPRATT, JR.

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 10, 2010

  Mr. SPRATT. Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate the city of Rock 
Hill, South Carolina for receiving a Municipal Achievement Award from 
the Municipal Association of South Carolina for excellence in 
communications. MASC established these awards in 1987 in an effort to 
encourage innovations and excellence in local government.
  The city of Rock Hill won this year's award for RH19, the city's 
government access channel, which not too long ago was in a dire state. 
With no upgrades since the 1980s, malfunctioning cameras, a signal that 
did not meet broadcast specifications, and inadequate audio 
capabilities, the result was an unimpressive broadcast that was not 
taken seriously.
  What RH19 did have, however, is a dedicated staff that responded with 
urgency when the Rock Hill City Council decided in 2008 that one of its 
strategic goals would be to provide ``open and effective 
communication'' to the citizens of that community.
  After doing an inventory of the city's existing means of 
communication, the staff decided that the public access station was the 
most deficient and in need of modernizing. According to the Municipal 
Association of South Carolina, RH19 staff took a ``modest budget and a 
rebate from a terminated franchise agreement with the local cable 
provider'' and went to work, fixing existing equipment and buying new 
software and equipment to replace those items beyond repair. Moreover, 
they developed a ``branded'' look for the channel and established 
standardized production schedules, opting for ``short, well-executed 
messages'' to ensure the most current information was aired to the 
public. RH19 also recruited students from local colleges and 
universities to work as interns, providing them a significant and 
lasting experience in media production and journalism.

[[Page E1555]]

  With the equipment updated and the quality of the broadcast signal 
enhanced, the city of Rock Hill began to air several programs of public 
interest and even posted the videos on YouTube to maximize exposure. 
These changes have met with widespread praise and appreciation across 
the city of Rock Hill, and are a perfect example of what can happen 
when people in our community see a problem, set a goal and carry out 
the arduous work necessary to achieve those goals. I congratulate RH19 
for this impressive achievement.

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