HOUSTON (Feb. 27, 2012) -- During a press conference held on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced the public beta launch of Houston's Voice, an initiative in partnership with Comcast. Houston's Voice (www.houstonsvoice.com) is the locally branded website under the Project Open Voice (POV) initiative dedicated to the delivery of local content, including public, educational and governmental (PEG) programming in six U.S. markets. Mayor Parker is the first mayor to publically announce the beta launch of a POV website for her city.
"Houston's Voice is a welcomed local resource and I am proud to announce that it is available to all of Houston and beyond," said Houston Mayor Annise Parker. "Through the incredible vision of Houston community groups, members of my office, public access, educational institutions and with Comcast's support, millions of Houstonians from across our vast city and surrounding areas can unite online, share resources, and discover a Houston they never knew. Our city is rich with diversity, a can-do spirit and limitless possibilities. Houston's Voice will deliver the exciting content to our desktops and mobile devices to showcase the talent and vibrancy of the place we call home."
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| Houston Mayor Annnise Parker Announces Houston's Voice |
Houston is one of six test markets selected by Comcast for this innovative local program because of its large, diverse community and geography, and its strong PEG environment. The five other markets are: Fresno, CA; Hialeah, FL; Peterborough, NH; Philadelphia, PA; and Medford, MA. Each market's online presence is distinctively named.
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| More than 50 City of Houston officials, stakeholders and members of the press attended the Feb. 27 Houston's Voice press conference |
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| L-R: Craig D'Agostini (Comcast); Paul Wright (Comcast);Houston City Council Member and Mayor Pro-Tem Ed Gonzalez; Sheila Willard (Comcast); Ross Wells (Zenfilm); Ray Purser (Comcast) and Houston Mayor Annise Parker |
Houston's Voice is an open, social environment featuring programming and content in four key layers: My Houston, My Neighborhood, Events and Channels. My Houston may be used to find content based on categories that are important to the viewer, such as education, faith, the arts and more. My Neighborhood may be explored for videos or events that are connected to specific locations or categories of interest around the city. The Channels section makes it easy for the viewer to find and follow his or her favorite organizations.
The public is invited to visit and explore Houston's Voice (www.houstonsvoice.com), become a member of the online community, or apply to become an approved organization partner. The website is still in its beta period. The public is also encouraged to complete the feedback form to help identify new areas of opportunity and enhancement.
