Closed captioning is a feature of most scopists' stenographic machine software for people with hearing loss. Boston City Council webcasts lack an up to date stenographic service...

_ _ _ _ _ From: ann.braga at cityofboston.gov _ _ _ _ _ _ _
SICUT PATRIBUS SIT DEUS NOBIS.
CIVITATIS REGIMINE DONATA A.D.1822.
BOSTONIA.
CONDITA A.D.
1630
[ official seal ]
http://www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/pdfs/appen_h.pdf

BOSTON CITYCOUNCIL
www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil
city.council at cityofboston.gov

One City Hall Square 5th Floor <>
Boston, MA 02201
Phone 617 635-3040
Fax 617 635-4203
TRANSMITTED VIA EMAIL

August 28, 2007
        I am writing in further response to your public records request
for the word processing computer output of the stenographer's records.

You are in receipt of my previous response detailing the cost
associated with receiving the hard copy print out of the
stenographer's machine output.

        Please be advised of the following:

            >         The stenographer's contract is a bid contract,
                under Massachusetts General Laws, and is published for
                bid every three years, as it is above the statutory threshold.
                http://www.cityofboston.gov/purchasing/bid.asp

                It was most recently bid in 2007 and Fritch and Associates was
                the only bidder.
http://resources.martindale.com/mhes/categoryHome.jsp/1010005/

            >         The electronic machine output is not a word processing
                document, simply an electronic record of the same characters
                produced on the tapes.

                The characters are recorded in a proprietary software
                specialized to the machine, and furthermore, the stenographer
                uses her own shorthand when typing into the machine.

                The only word processing document created from the stenographer
                is the weekly Council minutes that are available for viewing on
                the City's web page
                http://cityofboston.gov/citycouncil

Sincerely,
Ann Hess Braga
Staff Director
ann.braga at cityofboston.gov
http://cityofboston.gov/citycouncil