JUNEAU, Alaska — A new system of webcams at the Capitol is offering Alaskans a front-row seat to state politics without ever having to travel to leave home.
This week, the House Transportation Committee is hearing legislation like the gasoline tax bill and a variety of road projects -- which you can watch live from the convenience of a computer.
Under the initiative, called AlaskaLegislature.tv, web cameras have been placed in nine committee rooms. They’re linked to a site which can live-stream up to five meetings at once.
The cams are showing everything from oil tax hearings in the House and Senate finance committees to testimony on a bill which would provide school lunches. The state Legislature has been testing the system for at least a year, but this session is the official launch.
The total cost for AlaskaLegislature.tv is $150,000.
“It started out kind of slow -- people weren't aware of it, but as the days go on, we're a couple weeks into session, we see more and more traffic,” said Legislature web specialist Jake Carpenter.
