RALEIGH, N.C.  – A state House panel moved closer on Monday to recommending that the chamber air video of its daily sessions and some committee meetings and place no restrictions on how the footage could be used.

The House should broadcast meetings on the Internet first before attempting to expand to cable or satellite, according to a draft of recommendations getting support from committee members.

The panel will vote on the final proposal Dec. 18 and present it to House Speaker Joe Hackney before the Legislature reconvenes in Raleigh next month. The full House likely would be asked to vote on turning on the cameras before it could happen.

Hackney, D-Orange, created the committee to consider the feasibility of televising sessions as a way to improve public access and transparency to state government. The Senate isn’t participating in the committee but chamber leaders are interested in the TV idea.

Media outlets already bring cameras to the floor of both chambers to record debate, but the Legislature provides no streaming live video floor coverage – only audio from the House and Senate floor and two committee rooms – on its Web site.

The committee’s choice, which would include buying high-end video cameras and other equipment and hiring new staff, could exceed $1 million upfront and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. It could be 2010 before gavel-to-gavel coverage is aired given the setup time and tight fiscal times in state government.