March 2, 2011 Minutes
MINUTES of CTAC of Hamden, New Haven, and West Haven – March 2, 2011
Tad Weinstein, WH chair
George Alexander, H treasurer
Sharon Codeanne, Comcast Representative
Peaches Quinn, NH
Richard Gay, WH
Carl Lambert, Sr., H
Joyce Listro, NH School System Representative
Johnes Ruta, NH
Joe Schofield, CTV Representative
Paul Scanlon, WH
(members listed alphabetically)
Meeting called to order at 6:04 p.m. by Tad Weinstein, Chairman.
Minutes approve by vote for January meeting.
February meeting was cancelled due to bad weather condition.
COMCAST REPORT – Sharon Codeanne
Sharon gave check received to George.
Community Relations issues:
JFK Presidential Library & Museum On-Demand channel now added to Comcast channel line-up.
Missing-Kids On-Demand channel now added to Comcast channel line-up.
Comcast launched free Xfinity iPad application enabling video streaming on customers’ iPads.
The Annual Notice was filed with DPUC and released to customers, via inclusion in Billing Statements.
Comcast Marketing:
On December 6, the new CPTV channel CPTV4U was added to Basic Tier at Channel 257.
Price changes of 2.6% increment become effective on March 21.
Network electronic upgrades are coming thins summer 2011.
Download speed of programming, and high-speed internet is determined by the number of users accessing a local “node” at any given time. v
Johnes asked again about time frame of possible approval for Comcast to carry Classic Arts Showcase (a free satellite feed to carriers), still under request since October 2009. Tad also believes that this programming would be of interest especially to the New Haven area community, and therefore recommended Comcast attention to this matter. Tad recommended initiation of a local petition to Comcast for inclusion of this free satellite-feed to cable and fiber-optic TV programming providers.
CTV REPORT – Joe Schofield
Joe indicated that the Rules and Procedures of CTV have been revised as follows, notable changes including:
1. Initial suspensions have been reduced from 90 days to 30 days.
2. Most suspensions (all Minor and some Major) may now be stayed pending final appeal decisions locally.
3. Producers may appeal to ED or to the Board of Directors.
4. The Major Violation of our current case is now a Minor Violation, subject to two warnings before a suspension is initiated.
Joe indicated that CTV also had carried the Classic Arts Showcase programming, on a but that the satellite dish for this purpose had been struck and damaged by lightning . Due to CTV seeking another office location, this dish will not be repaired, until replacement in a new office location.
Joe said that CTV carries a Dish Network subscription in order to distribute “Democracy Now!”
and other programming. (Note: Classic Arts Showcase is available on Dish Network Channel 9406.)
Regarding issue of Program Titles and program information, Joeexplained that CTV was not able to adapt to the new Information Display system in place on Comcast, performed by a third-party contractor, mainly because the contractor’s billing system cannot be setup to bill a third-party,
i.e. CTV.
Relocation issue:
Planning is underway to find new location for CTV offices and production studios. Office space of at least 6,000 square feet is needed. There are two more locations to be looked at: Westville, and a vacant former car dealership in West Haven. Proximity to an accessible bus route is an essential requirement. The CTV Board will continue to look at possible relocation spaces.
Paul Scanlon suggested the possible location space in the old Lorenzo’s Restaurant in West Haven.
Government Access:
The cities of Hamden and New Haven both pay for TV coverage services of their Town Council and City Council meetings. Hamden’s is tapes, New Haven’s is live. Expenses paid are for technical services and for personnel services.
AT&T – CTV responded to Docket 10-10-08 regarding costs. Actors’ Equity gave permission to tape productions only if they are broadcast in the same area. AT&T subscribers number 65,000 – 70,000 households. AT&T claims to be paying for community access to CTV but not be getting connectivity from CTV to carry CTV programming on AT&T. This refers to Dockret 11-01-03. Joe specified that CTV has all of the monies received from AT&T for connectivity (still not in effect, monies are still held in reserve until resolution of issues.
Paul Scanlon asked Joe to explain why the new CTV Rules and Procedures were needed ?
Joe indicated that out of 40,000 public contacts in 10 years there have been only 8 suspensions from CTV privileges.
A debate then took place regarding the events at the March 2010 CTAC meeting, Paul Scanlon questioning why the Hamden Police were called to eject a member of the public attending the meeting who had previously been banned from the CTV premises.
Regina Bond’s letter was discussed.
Paul Scanlon questioned the CTV Executive Director methodology of governance.
Joe stated that he has repeatedly attempted to accommodate problem situations with producers by practicing some flexibility in the CTV rules, rather than enforcing the rules to the letter. Such was the case with N’Zinga Shani who Joe said had bragged openly to other producers at the CTV studio that she had never paid sales royalties to CTV for CDs & DVDs produced at CTV.
A discussion took place regarding the threatening behavior exhibited at the January 2010 CTAC meeting by couple of members from ASIM.
Joyce Listro stated that people who entered the January 2010 came as a group and exhibited a high degree of tension, and that the apparent leader of this group made threatening statements to members of the CTAC Board and also to the CTV receptionist. Johnes Ruta (the present writer) concurred with this statement regarding the January and March 2010 CTAC meetings, and also described witnessing the threatening physical presence of Larry Czajowski at the December 2010 meeting at Leon’s Restaurant, which loomed as a physical confrontation when Larry C. closely approached and repeatedly shouted questions at George Alexander, causing Johnes to step forward and ask Larry C. to step back from his immediate proximity to George.
Carl Lambert stated that we must consider our actions in overview.
Peaches Quinn said that problems occurred most when we try to mediate discussion, rather than working strictly by the CTAC Rules and Bylaws.
CTAC OFFICERS REPORT — George Alexander
Postponed to the next CTAC meeting due to the lateness of the time following the CTV Report.
Meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. by Tad Weinstein, Chairman.
(Minutes noted and typed by Johnes Ruta, NH)
January 5, 2011 Minutes
MINUTES of CTAC of Hamden, New Haven, and West Haven – January 5, 2011
Tad Weinstein, WH chair
George Alexander, H treasurer
Sharon Codeanne, Comcast Representative
Shalita Sampson, H
Peaches Quinn, NH
Richard Gay, WH
Carl Lambert, Sr., H
Joe Schofield, CTV Representative
Johnes Ruta, NH
Paul Scanlon, WH
Meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Tad Weinstein, Chairman.
COMCAST REPORT – Sharon Codeanne
Annual Notice filed with FCC – Presented Price List effective December 6, 2010.
New channels included in Channel Line-up: CPTV4U, Discovery Health.
Analog channels have all been discontinued.
Up to three Digital Adapters are available to Digital customers.
Johnes asked question about channel switching issue sometimes occurring on Digital Preferred subscription, requires pressing OK to enable subscription of access channel already subscribed to. Sharon will forward concern to Comcast tech department.
Johnes also asked about time frame of possible approval for Comcast to carry Classic Arts Showcase
(a free satellite feed to carriers), still under request since October 2009. Tad recommended Comcast
attention to this matter.
Joe Schofield asked if there has been any public input or reaction to the Program Descriptions showing
on Digital channel display. He characterized these as questionable personal opinions of program quality, others present agreed. Sharon indicated these descriptions are carried from TV Guide source.
CTV REPORT – Joe Schofield
Joe indicated that CTV management has been preoccupied with the issue before the DPUC, as CTV was brought before the DPUC on a complaint by N’Zinga Shani. DPUC issued a Procedural Order to perform certain functions, in lieu of moving forward to a Hearing. DPUC issued a Procedural Order for a Technical Hearing. CTV was advised by their attorney to not respond as yet, but CTV is willing to abide
by DPUC requirements. Problem also had started last January, 2010, with producers of “America Speaks Its Mind” when a conflict erupted in the CTV office over the immediacy of CTV staff availability to assist their production, as has been regularly provided. The show was cancelled that that one day, but “America Speaks Its Mind” believed that their show had been permanently cancelled. Paul Scanlon requested further information on this and George indicated reference to this is on Docket # 10-10-08.
Joe reported on December 9 meeting of CTV Board (also attended by Peaches Quinn as CTAC representative) : suggestions heard on how to tweak certain management and technical functions of CTV operation. Sharon assisted in rewrites of CTV Rules and Procedures. Draft of this will be submitted to CTV and DPUC. By March 31, 2011, new CTV Rules and Procedures are hoped to be in place. Next
CTV Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 13.
Joe mentioned that the new CTV Digital Server crashed in early December, and that as a result all CTV channels carried on Comcast were off the air for one week, until parts arrived late and repairs completed.
The relocation of CTV studios is still undecided. CTV is looking at possible locations in Westville, the old Mauro Motors building in Hamden, the abandoned Staples on Whalley Avenue, New Haven. Paul Scanlon suggested the old Montesi Motors building in West Haven, Joe will consider. CTV requires
6,500 square feet for studio and office needs and has to be on a bus line. Some considered locations do not have ATT wiring available needed in order to carry CTV on ATT.
George asked about CTV offerings for Comcast On-Demand. Joe indicated all government programs will be automatically included as a priority. Other programs offered for Comcast On-Demand will be discussed and recommended. Joe also discussed general administrative difficulties at CTV.
ATT still has not effected connections to carry CTV Community Access. Joe is lobbying ATT to pay the
expenses of the line connection, as does Comcast. Johnes and others agreed that ATT has better financial resources for this purpose than CTV.
CTAC OFFICERS REPORT — George Alexander
George stated that the attorneys have submitted the report:
(a) CTV is behaving according to requirements.
(b) N’Zinga Shani’s program is no longer under suspension.
(c) “America Speaks Its Mind” had also been previously reinstated.
(d) CTV is now in compliance with issues (b) and (c).
(e) All reports and legal correspondence are in the Docket.
Tad proposed that the CTAC budget submitted by George be accepted. George made a Motion that “the 2011 Budget should be the same as the Budget for 2010 and 2009, with a fixed income of $2,000 per year.
Annual Costs are also usually fixed expenses, with the exception this year of the payment of the
CTAC website Domain Registry and Web Hosting that has been renewed for $401.20 until Nov. 2017.
Peaches stated that “CTAC has no basis for increasing it revenue.”
Tad stated that he has not yet had time to review the Annual Report , but will do so.
George stated that the current balance of the CTAC Checking Account is $8,665.78 as of December 31, 2010.
George made a motion to have the Budget for 2011 the same as that for 2010 and 2009. Motion seconded by Peaches Quinn. Motion was voted and carried.
George stated that “Budget is not needed for Annual Report
DECEMBER MINUTES
Peaches made a Motion to accept the December Minutes. Richard Gay seconded the Motion.
Motion voted and carried.
January meeting Agenda item:
NEW BUSINESS – CTAC Goals for 2011
Tad proposed that due to lateness of hour, this agenda item be postponed to the February meeting.
Motion agreed by all.
Meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m. by Tad Weinstein, Chairman.
(Minutes noted and typed by Johnes Ruta, NH)