• How do I setup a VideoCast?
• How do I contact ORS and CIT?
• Is there a fee to have my event VideoCast?
• How do I get a CIT Account Code?
• Can I request a Podcast?
• How do I decide to use VideoCast, Web Collaboration with Web Collaboration or Video Conferencing for my event?
• Can viewers send comments during a live VideoCast?
• I'm using slides. Will they show up clearly on the VideoCast?
• Do I need captions?
• Can I get statistics for my VideoCast?
• Can I put a link to my Videocast event on my website?

How do I setup a VideoCast?

NIH clients schedule VideoCasts

• NIH stakeholders (all 27 Institutes and Centers)
• Customer Billing - contact AO to
  • get a CIT Account number for CIT live streaming and archiving services
  • get a CAN number for ORS camera work, captions and video distribution services
• Contact NIH Events Management (ORS) to
  • Obtain work order number with multimedia services (camera work, captions, distribution, etc.)
  • Route live video and captions to CIT
• Schedule the event at http://videocast.nih.gov/info
  • Provide event details such as the title, description, date and time etc
  • Provide access control
    • World Accessible

      (Video will stream live with an on-demand archive and file download to any computer on any network throughout the world which includes the NIH and HHS networks)

    • NIH Only

      (Video will stream live with an on-demand archive only to computers on the NIH network including satellite campuses in Baltimore, Frederick, Raleigh-Durham, and Hamilton, Montana)

    • HHS Only

      (Video will stream live with an on-demand archive only to computers on the HHS network including ACF, AoA, AHRQ, ATSDR, CDC, CMS, FDA, HHS, HRSA, IHS, NIH, PSC, and SAMHSA)

HHS clients schedule VideoCasts

• HHS stakeholders (ACF, AoA, AHRQ, ATSDR, CDC, CMS, FDA, HHS, HRSA, IHS, PSC, and SAMHSA)
• Customer Billing - contact AO/Funding Official to
  • Establish an Inter Agency Agreement (IAA) with ORS
• Contact NIH Events Management (ORS) to
  • Obtain work order number with multimedia services (camera work, captions, distribution, etc.)
  • Route live video and captions to CIT
• ORS staff schedule the event at http://videocast.nih.gov/info using ORS's CIT Account number for billing
  • Provide event details such as the title, description, date and time
  • Provide access control
    • World Accessible

      (Video will stream live with an on-demand archive and file download to any computer on any network throughout the world which includes the NIH and HHS networks)

    • HHS Only

      (Video will stream live with an on-demand archive only to computers on the HHS network including ACF, AoA, AHRQ, ATSDR, CDC, CMS, FDA, HHS, HRSA, IHS, NIH, PSC, and SAMHSA)

• CIT Billing
  • CIT bills ORS directly for streaming services

How do I contact ORS and CIT?

ORS - Contact NIH Events Management (301-496-4700) for an estimate and work order number so they can provide room support and send CIT live video and captioning for the VideoCast.

CIT - Contact CIT Video Services (301-496-4357) for streaming and Podcast services. Please try to contact us at least two weeks in advance of the VideoCast.

Is there a fee to have my event VideoCast?

You need to make arrangements in advance with CIT to pay for streaming services and with ORS to pay for camera work, captioning  and room support.

ORS - Camera and caption rates are at http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/pes/dma/events/multimedia/Pages/Multimedia-Services.aspx.
Please call 301-496-4700 for an estimate and work order number so ORS can send CIT live video and captioning for the VideoCast.

CIT - Live VideoCast encoding and archiving is $205 per hour. Podcasting is optional at $140 per hour.

How do I get a CIT Account Code?

A CIT Account Code is required for all billable accounts. A CIT account code is tied to a CAN, but centralizes account management with the CIT Financial Management Office. A CIT account takes the form of 3 letters, or 3 letters and a number (e.g. ABC or ABC1).

If you do not know your CIT Account Code, contact the person responsible for CANs in your office, possibly your Administrative Officer.

If you need a new CIT Account Code set up, please fill out the attached form and return it to the NIH/CIT/Financial Mgmt Office as indicated on the form.

CIT Account Code Request Form: Download the CIT Account Request Form (PDF, 158 kb)

• Requesting Institute/Center (IC) - IC requesting the new account.
• Primary/Alternate Sponsor - The Sponsors are federal employees. The Primary/Alternate Sponsors are responsible for the management of the account being issued and for the proper professional use of their account and users. They will add and remove users, change sponsors, titles and CANs when necessary. The sponsors and deregistration officials are assigned by the IC at their discretion. Since the account officials can be responsible for budgetary and financial issues, the appointed person many not be a contractor.
• Deregistration Officials - Government employee designated to be responsible for the accuracy of computer access information.
• Account Information: Account/Project Title - Means of identifying the account or what it's being used for. Common Account # (CAN) - Every IC at NIH uses CANs as the mechanism to pay for services. Each CIT account number that is opened for NIH customers has one CAN associated with it for billing of services provided by CIT.
• Authorization - Sponsor's signature
• Send the completed form to the NIH/CIT/Financial Mgmt Office as indicated on the form.

Can I request a Podcast?

CIT can make your event available for download so viewers can access content whenever they want from portable media players. The service includes video and audio files, an RSS feed for programs such as iTunes, a Podcast web portal directly linked to the NIH VideoCast page and a link to USA.gov Podcasting. For more information, go the Podcast FAQ. CIT's standard Podcast fee is $140 per hour.

How do I decide to use VideoCast, Web Collaboration or Video Conferencing for my event?

Answer a few questions and the Decision Tool will recommend a service for your event.

Can viewers send comments during a live VideoCast?

CIT has developed a live event feedback form that can forward requests to a specified email address. Messages can be retrieved in real time at your event with your notebook or wireless handheld.

Sample Live Event Feedback Form

I'm using slides. Will they show up clearly on the VideoCast?

Slides can be very hard to read on a VideoCast screen. Some ways of alleviating the problem are to:

• Set your font as large as possible.
• Use 24pt type or larger for bulleted items and any additional text on the slide, with 30pt type or larger for headings.
• Have plenty of white space between groupings of text.
• Avoid more than three bulleted items on a single slide.
• Make graphics as large as possible, but try to keep your slides uncluttered.

Figure 1. A white background with large dark text limited to a few words on three or less bullets looks best.

Do I need captions?

VideoCasts require captions for Section 508 compliance. For more information, visit http://www.hhs.gov/od/508policy/508_policy.html

§ 1194.24 Video and multimedia products.

All training and informational video and multimedia productions which support the agency's mission, regardless of format, that contain speech or other audio information necessary for the comprehension of the content, shall be open or closed captioned.

Can I get statistics for my VideoCast?

If you need to know how many connections your VideoCast had, you can view the numbers on the [More Info] page for the event. If the event was prior to October 2011, contact the NIH IT Service Desk.

Can I put a link to my Videocast event on my website?

Each Videocast has a permanent link assigned to it. You may place this link on your webpage if you desire. The permanent link for an event can be found at the "more info" page for the event.