Fireside21

YouTube has made a number of changes lately. First of all, videos can now be uploaded in a wide-screen and HD format that significantly improves video resolution. Also, the big news in DC is the launch a new “official” congressional channel.

The “House Hub” has been developed to make it easy for constituents to find their representative’s videos. Having a channel on the “House Hub” gives you expanded branding options including the ability to upload a custom banner and remove related videos.

This PDF will help you set-up a channel for your office and demonstrates the expanded options (Thanks to YouTube for their permission to publish this PDF!).

After you have set-up your account, contact me and we can assist to get your channel added to the official “house Hub” section of YouTube. We can also help in customizing the look and feel of your channel to match the banner and color scheme of your web site!

Per Emily Yehle’s Roll Call article, the Senate has revised its rules to allow Senators to post YouTube videos (and other content generated by third-party Web sites) to their official Senate Web sites. It is interesting to note that the Senate reversed its course since I last blogged on this issue:

Earlier this year, Senate officials planned to go the route of the House franking commission and keep a list of “approved Web sites” that agreed to provide pages free of advertisements or partisan leanings.

But after the complaints in the House, Senate officials switched gears, and the approved rule change now mimics the Republican plan. Senators have the discretion to use whatever third-party Web site they want, as long as it follows the Senate’s Internet Services Usage Rules and Policies.

Hooray, but what about the House!?

Today, the Committee on House Administration held a business meeting (likely their last one for the year) where Rep. Vern Ehlers submitted a motion to adopt the Senate rule. Unfortunately, Rep. Brady blocked the consideration.

New Tele-Townhall Rule

The Committee did adopt a rule to allow allowing for a one-time approval of “Tele-Townhall” scripts. Basically, every Tele-Townhall begins with a Member pre-recorded invitation. That invitation is subject to Franking rules, but the new policy will free offices up to have more impromptu Tele-Townhalls (because they won’t have to wait for Franking approval of a script they have previously used).

Integrated Flash Video

Our video player features the latest flash technology to allow videos to be played directly in any browser. This is a great tool to share floor speeches, news clips, or personal messages recorded by the Congressman with your constituents.

Plus Fireside Web™ video tool provides video embed code to be shared just like YouTube.

Animated Photo Slideshows

Reorganize your photo albums in a clean, attractive and engaging new interface. Instead of clicking to new pages, this photo slideshow lets you browse hundreds of photos with no delays.

The intuitive user interface displays previews, captions and smooth transitions.

Social Bookmarking Tools

Social bookmarks allow constituents to “tag” web pages they find interesting and share them with their friends. Fireside Web™ social bookmark integration provides one-click shortcuts on documents in your new room for all the popular social networds including: Facebook, Digg, Newsvine and Yahoo News.

Through these networks, your site’s content will spread virally through your constituents friend networks.

Interactive Google Maps

Google maps are an engaging and interactive feature for any web site. These maps will not only dress up your site’s district page, but also enhance up your “Visiting Washington” page or be implemented as an “accomplishments” map.

Last week the Washington Post picked up on the franking rules story too. My favorite part is about when Rep. Kevin McCarthy…

…discovered that embedding YouTube videos on his official Web site violated his commission’s prohibition on links to commercial sites, he brought the issue to the commission’s chairman, Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.).

Capuano’s response may have been a tad cavalier — “just go ahead and do it; everyone else does”

An article in today’s Roll Call highlights progress being made in revising House rules that hinder web site functionality. I’m glad to hear that these discussions are finally happening and hopefully new recommendations will be implemented soon.

In particular, members of the franking commission who met this week discussed options that would allow YouTube videos to be compliant with the rules:

The commission has asked the House Administration Committee to develop a policy that allows Members to post videos on an outside Web site that “meets requirements which ensure the integrity of the House,” according to an e-mail from commission Chairman Mike Capuano’s (D-Mass.) spokeswoman, Alison Mills.

“It’s a good first step,” said Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who is a member of the commission. McCarthy first brought the issue to the commission a year ago, after revamping his Web site and realizing he couldn’t post YouTube videos.

Still, McCarthy said he hopes the commission eventually finds a longer-lasting solution. With new technology and new Web sites popping up every day, the commission should recommend rules that would allow Members to keep up with their constituents, he said.

As the article mentions, there is widespread disregard for the current rules. The fact remains that most of the rules regarding web site and email communication are derived from decades-old language drafted to regulate franked mail and other physical advertising.

The YouTube example is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of how these regulations don’t make much sense.

If you want to edit or compress Windows media video files you can use Windows Movie Maker. It is free and easy to use. Windows Movie Maker should already be installed on your computer, if not, you can download it here. Below are step-by-step instructions on how to use the software.

1. Open Windows Movie Maker
2. Click on Import Video under the “1.Capture Video Tab” on right side.
3. Browse for the Windows Media File on your Computer and then click Import. Note: It will take a few seconds/minutes to import depending on the size of the file.
4. The video/clips should be in Windows Media Player under Collection (in the center of the page)
5. Drag video/clips to the timeline below.
6. Under “3.Finish Movie” Tab click on Save to my Computer.
7. Fill out the File Name.
8. Browse for a location to save your new file. Then click next.
9. Click on the third radio button that says: Other settings. Click the drop down box and select: Video for broadband (150 Kbps). Then click next.
10. Check or uncheck the “Play movie when I Finish” button. Then click Finish on the bottom of the screen.
11. Go to the folder that you saved your video in and play the video.
12. Then Upload the video into eManager under the files section.