Subscribing to podcasts is easy and allows the public to get the information it wants. As webcasts of city council, planning and parks and recreation meetings are published to the Web, podcast feeds are automatically delivered and downloaded into an RSS reader, like iTunes, for remote and mobile viewing on handheld video players, like video-enabled iPods, and some mobile phones.
"It is our goal to continue to use technology, like that offered by Granicus, to improve city communication with residents," said Cupertino City Manager David Knapp. "Increasingly, there is a need to deliver municipal information through a medium that is both effective and convenient." With this new service, Cupertino staff and residents can personalize their audio/video library with content by subscription. Granicus RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is an XML-based format for sharing and distributing webcasts. RSS feeds collect information and intelligently routes it to the desktop for quick and easy access.
"Podcasting is a natural addition to our communication programs," said Rick Kitson, Cupertino's public communication manager. "We are offering our residents every opportunity to find out about their city and about the decisions that will affect their quality of life."
