[UCIMC-Tech] Streaming again

[Mike Lehman]

RFU hasn't been streaming since the Great March Server Meltdown, so it 
hasn't been an issue lately in any of the problems, except in planning 
for possible future overall capacity needs -- and even that is problematic.

Unless the proposed copyright licensing fees set for internet 
broadcasters are substantially reduced to something that is actually 
affordable, we will likely not be streaming again.

In all discussions at RFU about streaming, I've always pointed out that 
some way needs to be found to fund streaming on an ongoing  basis, both 
the licensing fee (which was originally proposed as around $800/year, 
plus bandwidth costs) as it was never expected that the IMC as a whole 
should pay for RFU's streaming. Given the uncertain nature of the whole 
streaming enterprise, there has been virtually no such fundraising done 
(I think there is about $200 set aside for streaming so far and I have 
urged that we not begin streaming until we have enough to cover a yera's 
worth, plus a workable fundraising plane to fund it.) As for priorities, 
getting the permanent tower up will reach more listeners at a much 
smaller (and non-recurring) cost per listener than streaming will. 
Streaming is a luxury and, like all luxuries, we should only pursue it 
if we're sure we can afford it.

Given all these pitfalls associated with streaming, concentrating on 
what the IMC's needs are WITHOUT any streaming from RFU is probably the 
way to go for planning purposes for overall bandwidth needs. Ideally, 
ALL working groups would contribute some minimal amount to support IMC 
internet services, since we all benefit from the various IMC websites 
and wireless connectivity in the IMC. Even at $10/month, this would 
cover a substantial chunk of the $160 current cost. Combine that with 
urging others using chambana.net services to  make their own 
contributions, we should be able to fund the service we currently have. 
Upgrades to a T1, etc, would obviously increase these financial 
requirements.

Of course, knowing where all working groups are financially so we can 
appeal to them for help with funding bandwidth depends on getting the 
internal working group fund reconciliation done, which is close, but 
still not quite there.
Mike Lehman

Bob Illyes wrote:
> I should say that the IMC as a whole should support the WRFU web
> site as a part of the UCIMC web site. It is only streaming that
> concerns me.
>
> Bob