Year

2020

5
Nov
2020

November 4, 2020 Minutes

CTAC Meeting Minutes   November 4, 2020 – ZOOM TELECONFERENCE
            (due to virus pandemic)

Attending members:

Peaches Quinn – (New Haven) – Acting Chair
George Alexander – (Hamden) – Treasurer
Yvonne Manning-Jones  – (New Haven) – Advisor
Johnes Ruta – (New Haven) – Acting Secretary

Sharon Codeane – Comcast Represntative – not in attendence.
Joe Schofield      – CTV Represntative – not in attendence.

  1. Call to order 6:13 pm.   Teleconference members on Zoom.a. Peaches notes request for contact from Christian Robles, reporter for The Yale Daily News.b. Peaches asks George if he would prefer to delegate the or have assistance with the
    incoming webmail. George defers, but Peaches determines to make the webmail
    available to all CTAC members, when time allows her to do this task.

    2.         Treasurer’s Report   – George Alexander

    Treasurer’s Report. Peaches asks if any news to report for October. George” “Not at this
    time.”

  2. October 2020 Minutes – Submitted by Yvonne Manning-Jones.a.   September meeting Minutes – George requests clarification from Yvonne’s Minutes.
    Peaches says that she will fill in and distribute.4.       COMCAST       Sharon Codeanne – Comcast Representative – not in attendance.

    Johnes notes that Comcast has discontinued the 5 non-Premium commercial-free STARZ
    chanels from the Preferred Channel tier and transferred them into the STARZ Premium tier.

    5.         Old Business

    a.   CTAC Facebook Page – Yvonne speaking of the CTAC Facebook page that she                              implemented earlier this yeaer, she notes that the first Facebook page created by
    Johnes in 2017 still remains online, and shows when CTAC is Googled.
    Johnes notes that he was unable to delete this page, and requests advice to do this.

  3. Regarding the Letter to the New Haven Mayor proposing free WiFi in the city
    submitted by Johnes in September, Peaches state that she will appropriate this letter
    for Hamden and West Haven Mayors’ offices.
  4. New Business
    a.   Comcast has expanded their Internet Essentials program for poor household that qualify.
    The Sign-up for subscription is $9.99 per month. Comcast offered 3 free months for
    any member of any Public Assistance program such as State, Food Stamps, or Rental
    subsidy. Eligibility for anything equated to financial need.b.   Peaches asked Sharo n Codeanne about certain needy people who have been rejected
    from the Essentials program. It was discovered that these individuals were not
    formally signed up in be eligible for this program. Peaches recommends that we
    go back to correct this proposal. Her concern is also for aging people.7.     COMCAST Report (Comcast Rep. Sharon Codeanne is not in attendance.)

    Subscriber issues: re correspondence received by George Alexander:
    #1 Courtesy Sports Adjustment for this month from Comcast were a $23 credit on each
    subscriber bill.
    #2 Credits given for periods when there was no Comcast service due to electrical power
    outages.   Comcast bill contract guarantees 24/7 Service Restoration.

    #3 Exceptions: Interruption of service caused by “Acts of God,” and extenuating             circumstances.

    8.     CTV Report     Joe Schofield – Executive Director CTV – not in attendence.
    No report.

    9.   Other

    Chairperson Peaches Quinn opens discussion about the annual December Dinner Meeting,
    “what to do during the pandemic crisis?” It is decided that the restaurant Nolo on State Street,
    New Haven, be contacted by Johnes regarding delivery of items from their take-out menu.
    All CTAC members who wish to participate will supply their personal delivery address and
    their menu selections (BYOB only) to Johnes, for the Wednesday, December meeting at    6:00pm. Peaches makes Motion to accept this plan; Yvonne seconds. Motion carried.

    November 4th , 2020 CTAC Meeting Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta, (New Haven)
    Acting Secretary, November 27, 2020.

10
Oct
2020

October 7, 2020 Minutes

CTAC Meeting Minutes October 7, 2020 – ZOOM TELECONFERENCE

Attending members:

George Alexander – (Hamden) – Treasurer
Yvonne Manning-Jones  – (New Haven) – Advisor
Anthony Cardo – (Hamden) – Advisor

Johnes Rhuta – Not in Attendance

John Jessup – Not in Attendance

Laurel Coleman – Not in Attendance

Peaches Quinn – (New Haven) –  Acting Chair

 Sharon Codeanne – Comcast Representative.
Joe Schofield      – CTV Representative – Not in attendance.

 

Call to order 6:05 pm

 

  1. Comcast Report – Sharon Codeanne gave her report.

She elaborated on Comcast’s Community Impact Internet Essentials Partnership Program designed to accelerate internet access and enhance distance learning for school districts and organizations- as well as expanding access to broadband at home

Peaches said some people were complaining of being declined for internet services. Sharon requested that all correspondence should be sent to her for follow-up

George reiterated his concern from the September meeting that all those subscribing to internet and/or television services subscribers be included in the count of Comcast customers, thus maintaining the fee paid to CTAC.

As this requires a modification of Connecticut Law, it is recommended that Joe Schofield appeal the old law which is no longer applicable.

Peaches made a motion to email Joe with recommendations.

The motion was seconded by Anthony. Vote carried.

Peaches recommended changing Subscriber Correspondence (Item VII of Agenda) to Subscriber Issues, sub topics. A. Correspondence and B. Complaints /Other.

The motion was seconded by George and the vote carried

  1. September Minutes – The minutes were clarified to
  2. Old business
    1. CTAC Public Service Announcement: L. Coleman reported there had been no update from CTV regarding the release of the CTAC PSA recorded in the summer of 2019.
    2. Anthony Cardo reports that there are no updates on the development of the CTAC Community Award
    3. CTAC Facebook page. Yvonne says she continues to post notices from Comcast and other cable related information. She posted an abbreviated notice of the Comcast policies regarding phishing and internet security and a link to the detailed documentation that George placed on the CTAC web page.

 

George made a motion to delete the Facebook Group page administered by Johnes.

Yvonne seconded the motion. The motion carried.

 

  1. Review of Johnes Ruta letter to the Mayor of New Haven

It is noted that the letter is addressed to the mayor of New Haven but should serve as a template for letters to go to both the mayors of Hamden and West Haven. George made a motion to remove paragraph 3 of the letter as the CTAC group lacks the expertise to offer technical guidance.

 

The motion was seconded by Anthony. The vote carried.

 

  1. New Business

Peaches made a motion to ask John Jessup to develop a second draft based on his understanding of the need and knowledge of resources already in place and for John to follow up with the Hamden and West Haven libraries.

 

Anthony seconded the motion. The Vote carried.

 

Next meeting set for November 4th, 2020 as ZOOM teleconference.

Peaches Quinn makes Motion to Adjourn, seconded by Yvonne Manning-Jones
Adjourned 7:00 pm.

 

October 7th, 2020 CTAC Meeting Minutes draft respectfully submitted by
Yvonne Manning-Jones, New Haven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5
Sep
2020

September 2, 2020 Minutes

CTAC Meeting Minutes   September 2, 2020 – ZOOM TELECONFERENCE
            (due to virus pandemic)

Attending members:

George Alexander – (Hamden) – Treasurer
Yvonne Manning-Jones  – (New Haven) – Advisor
Laurel Coleman – (Hamden) – Advisor
Anthony Cardo – (Hamden) – Advisor
John Jessen – (New Haven Library System Delegate)
Johnes Ruta – (New Haven) – Acting Secretary

Peaches Quinn – (New Haven) –  Acting Chair (absent from meeting, but has set up the Zoom call.)

Sharon Codeane – Comcast Represntative – not in attendence.
Joe Schofield      – CTV Represntative – not in attendence.

Call to order 6:05 pm.   Teleconference members on Zoom.

1.       July Meeting Minutes            No changes proposed.
Yvonne makes Motion to accept.   Anthony 2nd this Motion. Vote carried.

2.       COMCAST       Sharon Codeanne – Comcast Representative – not in attendance.
George Alexander reports that Comcast has lost of 90,00 of its cable television subscribers,
and Comcast is not counting as subscribers customers without television and therefore
reducing its required monetary grants to dependent agencies such as Citizens Television
and the CTAC.

George makes a recommendation that ALL Comcast company customers – not only those
subscribing to television services, but those subscribing to internet and/or telephone services
– should be included in the count of Comcast customers. Therefore, the current 90,00 count
of subscribers “lost” would change to only include those who canceled all Comcast services.        This would require a modification of Connecticut State Law of 20 years.standing which
George states is out of date,

George proposes this change be proposed to the Connecticut Legislature, and proposes that
Joe Schofield write to the Legislature and that other agencies and customers write to their
legislators.

3.         Old Business

(a) Laurel reports that she does not have an update from Andrew at CTV regarding the                      release of the CTAC Public Service Announcement recorded in the CTV studio in
the summer of 2019. The CTAC PSA has not yet been released to be shown on CTV.

(b) Anthony Cardo reports that there are no updates on the development of the
CTAC Community Awards. This us due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
(c) Yvonne reports on the status of the new CTAC FaceBook page. An inivtation has been                  posted for members of the publis to join. George compliments Yvonne that the
FaceBook page “looks very nice.”     George requests Johnes to delete the old FB page.

4.     CTV Report     Joe Schofield – Executive Director CTV – not in attendence.
No report.

5.     New Business
   (a)   Yvonne says that each child in the New Haven School System has been provided
with a laptop computer or a tablet with WiFi services in order to enable them to
attend virtual classes during the pandemic.

(b)   John Jessen states that kids will be given Chrome Books and also XBox by the
New Haven Library System. A new technology is being implemented that will
push WiFi three city blocks out from the school location.

(c)   George asks: “Does Hamden have WiFi for students?”   Status is not known.

(d)   Peaches asks Johnes for the status of Comcast Abuse Department investigating
fraudulent “phishing” emails directing Comcast/Xfinity subscribers to “validate
their email address and personal data” for the new Comcast Email roll-out.
These emails come largely from email addresses that decode as ****@comcast.net
Johnes reports that he receives receipts from Comcast Abuse Department for most
of the phishing emails that he forwards to them.

George expresses doubt that these emails can be identified, but Johnes explains
that most email program inboxes shows the decoded email address.

(e) Discussion ensues regarding Comcast trade policies. Johnes relates a conversation
with a client who complained “Comcast is a total ripoff, with poor customer relations
and no government restraints on rate increases.
Other members offer personal suggestions for Johnes’ cultural preferences. Johnes
states that he is not solely concerned for his own viewing, but for the community.

Note: Earlier in the week, Peaces has spoken to Sharon Codeanne about this issue and tells         Johnes to expect a telephone inquiry from a person in the Comcast Administration.

Next meeting set for October 7, 2020 as ZOOM teleconference.

John Jessen makes Motion to Adjourn, seconded by Yvonne Manning-Jones. . Adjourned 7:03 pm.

September 2nd, 2020 CTAC Meeting Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta, (New Haven)
Acting Secretary, September 24, 2020.

5
Jul
2020

July 1, 2020 Minutes

CTAC Meeting Minutes   July 1, 2020 – ZOOM TELECONFERENCE
            (due to virus pandemic)

Attending members:

Peaches Quinn – (New Haven) –  Acting Chair
George Alexander – (Hamden) – Treasurer
Yvonne Manning-Jones  – (New Haven) – Advisor
Laurel Coleman – (Hamden) – Advisor
Anthony Cardo – (Hamden) – Advisor
Johnes Ruta – (New Haven) – Acting Secretary

Sharon Codeane – Comcast Represntative – not in attendence.
Joe Schofield      – CTV Represntative – not in attendence.

Call to order 6:05 pm.   Teleconference members on Zoom.

1.     TREASURER’S REPORT
George. Alexander states that the bank balance for CTAC’s account is $4,778.35.
No expenditures (or account income) during June. Balance is same as previous month.

Johnes makes a Motion to accept the Treasurer’s report.   Yvonne Seconds the Motion,
Vote unanimous to accept.

2.   SUBSCRIBER CORRESPONDENCE.

     CTAC email box has only spam.

None this month as Post Office has not been visited.

3.   CTV Report     Joe Schofield – Executive Director CTV – not in attendence.

CTV Offices scheduled to reopen July 3.

4.     COMCAST       Sharon Codeanne – Comcast Representative – not in attendence.

Comcast Report received from S. Codeanne (received by Peaches Quinn):

Changes to Xfinity TV services per 6/15 notice:

  • A couple of channels rebranded (AMC Premier, Urban Movie Channel)
  • GSN, Investigation Discovery, Travel, TV Land are now part of Entertainment genre pack.
  • Cartoon Network and Tennis Channel now part of Expanded Basic service
  • New triple play and double play packages available to new customers 6/16 and existing customers 6/30. Other triple and double play packages will no longer be available to new customers but existing customers will continue to receive then until they make a change or Comcast announces cancellation.
  • Xfinity TV and Xfinity Flex HBO customers will now have access to HBO’s new streaming platform HBO max.

 

 

  1. Old Business
  2. a. CTAC Public Service Announcement: Update     L. Coleman – same status
  3. b. Community Awards – veteran : Update Cardo         – same status
  4. CTAC Facebook page : Update                           Y. Manning – no updates

    – Yvonne notes that the Facebook page has been visited.

  5. Draft letter to New Haven Mayor

Urging city-wide wi-fi for each town                 J. Ruta

– letter in progress
– Laurel makes Motion that this letter be distributed to all town mayors and town councils.
George seconds this Motion. Johnes makes Motion for Free city-wide Wi-Fi, and to note
in letter, to specify this Wi-Fi be Un-surveilled Access by police or other authorities.
Peaches seconds this Motion. Vote is carried by all.

  1. New Business

    a.   Johnes has brought up issue of phishing emails instructing email recipients to enter
    their personal information in order to update their email profile, such as “a new
    Comcast email version is being rolled-out.”   Johnes makes Motion to have Comcast
    Security Abuse Office investigate originating emails which addresses decode as
    ****@comcast.net which are Comcast subscribers. These are not official Comcast                    communications and misleading to the public, and to report to CTAC the general progress
    of their investigations.

    Johnes makes amended Motion to have Peaches request report on this from Sharon
    Codeanne. . Laurel adds to this Motion to post an Alert about these phishing emails
    on the Comcast monthly bill, and the CableAdvisory.org website. Anthony seconds
    this Motion. Vote carried, but for abstention by George Alexander.
    George will post this info as a separate window on the website.

    Next meeting set for August 5th, 2020, as ZOOM teleconference.

    George makes Motion to Adjourn, seconded by Anthony Cardo. Adjourned 7:03 pm.

July 1st   2020 CTAC Meeting Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta, (New Haven)
Acting Secretary, July 6, 2020.

3
Jul
2020

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6
Jun
2020

June 3, 2020 Minutes

CTAC Meeting Minutes   June 3, 2020 – ZOOM TELECONFERENCE
            (due to virus pandemic)

Attending members:

Peaches Quinn – (New Haven) –  Acting Chair
George Alexander – (Hamden) – Treasurer
Yvonne Manning-Jones  – (New Haven) – Advisor
Laurel Coleman – (Hamden) – Advisor
Anthony Cardo – (Hamden) – Advisor
Johnes Ruta – (New Haven) – Acting Secretary

Sharon Codeane – Comcast Represntative – not in attendence.
Joe Schofield         – CTV Represntative – not in attendence.

Call to order 6:06 pm.   Teleconference members on Zoom.

1,   MAY 6 2020     CTAC Minutes
a.    May Minutes – Anthony Cardo points out that “Anber Oakes” name in section 2, paragraph b     was misspelled. Should be “Abner Oakes”. Peaches indicates that “at VA” in that sentence
should be eliminated. Johnes will correct these items and resubmit.

2.     TREASURER’S REPORT
George. Alexander states that the bank balance for CTAC’s account is $4,778.35.
No expenditures (or account income) during May. Balance is same as previous month.

Johnes makes a Motion to accept the Treasurer’s report.   Yvonne Seconds the Motion,
Vote unanimous to accept.

3.   CTV Report

Peaches received a note from Joe Schofield that CTV studios will reopen by July 3.

4.     COMCAST

  1. Peaches received correspondence from Locke & Lord, regarding Comcast changes:
    starting May 5 CLIO Network will be moved to Expanded Basic. Force Entertainment
    will be renamed, and on or before June 30, Bases Loaded services has terminated
    Comcast.

    b.   Johnes ask if we can get more than just an announcement as to explain to the public
    (and to PURA) with detailed reasons for what reasons that Comcast eliminates service.
    Peaches states that this is out of our CTAC jurisdiction, that we have no control, and
    that these are their prerogative corporate marketing decisions. .
    c.   Peaches recommends that Johnes draft a private letter to Comcast to complain, and says
    that she has not had time to focus on. these issues during the Covid-19 pandemonium.
    Johnes notes that the Covid-19 situation has forced the public to remain in their homes
    for three months, unable to go to movies, concerts, or ball-games. Johnes is concerned
    that Comcast continually takes advantage of its captive franchise subscribers to
    inexplicably eliminate service channels (thus reducing their vendor costs) and
    annually raise their base rates and package rates. Johnes notes that actual cable
    service distribution circuitry costs have not been provided so that rates are
    substantiated.   Peaches presses Johnes to compose a letter to Comcast and
    Frontier to substantiate vendor, marketing, and service costs.
    Peaches states that she will not support this Motion.

    d     George talks about Wifi being offered by Comcast and how this will affect rates
    in the future. . Peaches talks about TeleHealth, a Wifi system foer home-based
    medical sevices, that will available in the future and needed by elder residents.

    e.   Johnes makes a Motion that CTAC will draft a letter to the Board of Directors of
    Comcast Xfinity requesting detailed substantive explanations for policies and
    practices and data about services and their vendor costs.

    f.   George notes that internet would not be a problem if the City of New Haven would
    have its own internet for all, such as “New Haven Internet.” Options for television
    services aside from Comcast, Frontier, and satellite services. Peaches also mentions
    Roku, Hulu, Youtube, and Google TV.

    Peaches makes a Motion to that CTAC should draft a letter to the Mayors and City
    Councils of New Haven, Hamden, and West Haven urging need for a free Internet
    service for all city residents of these three towns. Johnes second this Motion.
    Vote to accept Motion is unanimous.

    g.     George makes a further Motion to add instructions to the CableAdvisory.org
    website for input of public comments and complaints about cable television
    services. Laurel, acting on behalf of constituents, comments that people do not
    often complain about deficiencies in paid for services, but sometimes do not
    speak up.

    5.   OLD BUSINESS

    a.   Community Awards – Anthony Cardo: update of the Veteran Award;   Anthony states that
    the VA has not yet responded during this month period.

    b.   Yvonne as Administrator of the CTAC Facebook page now has full authority. The
    group page name has been changed as previously requested.

    c.   CTAC PSA – Laurel: updates last month’s status that work on the PSA still has not
    proceed because CTV studios are currently closed due to the pandemic.

    d. Peaches questions whether Joe Schofield and Sharon Codeanne are included on the
    [email protected] ?   They are not on the list because they are not members.

    e.      Johnes has proposed action to recommend Comcast Security & Abuse office to
    investigate for criminal fraudulent activity many emails which appear to come
    from Comcast demanding Comcast email user to log online and provide account
    “verification updates” with the user’s personal information.   Many of these
    fraudulent emails labeled as “Xfinity” and “Comcast” are decoded as being
    from Comcast email users themselves – as “[email protected].”

    Johnes has contacted the Comcast Abuse office, and has received email responses
    from them, but with no explanation of how that office will handle these abuses
    sometimes five or ten per day.   Johnes’ concern is for Comcast customers who will                   be drawn into providing critical personal information to fraudulent perpetrators.

    Peaches has made follow up contacts with at Comcast to provide more feedback
    about actions being taken on these fraudulent email announcements and any malware
    being opened to by subscribers inadvertently accessing these links.

    George has identified the source of dozens of spams each day coming to the
    CableAdvisory.org webmail which are jamming the InBox . All these SPAM emails
    are identified as coming from [email protected].

    6. NEW BUSINESS
                None.

    7. SUBSCRIBER CORRESPONDENCE.

         None this month as Post Office hasa not been visited.

    8.   MAY MINUTES.

    Peaches makes Motion to accept the May Minutes with the spelling corrections stated in
    this report Item #1.   George seconds the Motion. All agreed.

    Next meeting set for July 1, 2020, as ZOOM teleconference.

    Meeting Adjourned by Peaches Quinn 7:02 pm.

June 3rd 2020 CTAC Meeting Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta, (New Haven)
Acting Secretary, June 16, 2020.

8
May
2020

May 6, 2020 Minutes

FINAL – CTAC Meeting Minutes   May 6, 2020 – TELECONFERENCE (due to virus pandemic)

Attending members:

Peaches Quinn – (New Haven) –  Acting Chair
George Alexander – (Hamden) – Treasurer
Yvonne Manning-Jones  – (New Haven) – Advisor
Laurel Coleman – (Hamden) – Advisor
Anthony Cardo – (Hamden) – Advisor
Johnes Ruta – (New Haven) – Acting Secretary

Sharon Codeanne (Comcast) and Joe Schofield (CTV) were both invited to participate in the
teleconference, but neither are present online.

Call to order 6:06 pm.   Teleconference members on Zoom.

1.     TREASURER’S REPORT
George. Alexander states that the bank balance for CTAC’s account is $4,778.35.

George paid the U.S Post Office Box charge for the year of $254 for the year 2020.

Partnership Adult Day Care of Hamden has deposited their check for $2000.
Hannah Gray Elder Residence in New Haven has deposited their CTAC check for $2000.

Johnes makes a Motion to accept the Treasurer’s report. Yvonne Seconds the Motion,
Vote unanimous to accept.

2.   OLD BUSINESS

a.   CTAC PSA – Laurel: states that work on the PSA has not proceed because CTV studios
are currently closed due to the pandemic. Status remains the same.

b.   Community Awards – Anthony Cardo: update of the Veteran Award;   Anthony states that
the VA has not responded during this month period. The Contact is Abner Oakes,
who is Chairman of the Hamden Veterans Commission.

  1. Neither CTV nor Comcast has contacted CTAC during this month since April 1.d.   Yvonne has become Administrator of the CTAC Facebook page with full authority.
    CTAC Cable televsion Advisory of New Haven, West Haven, Hamden.
    She has forwarded the March Minutes to George Alexander to be posted on the CTAC
    website CableAdvisory.org.

    e. Peaches questions whether Joe Schofield and Sharon Codeanne are included on the
    [email protected] ?   They are not on the list because they are not members.

    3. NEW BUSINESS

  2. Johnes has proposed action to recommend Comcast Security & Abuse office to
    investigate for criminal fraudulent activity many emails which appear to come
    from Comcast demanding Comcast email user to log online and provide account
    “verification updates” with the user’s personal information.   Many of these
    fraudulent emails labeled as “Xfinity” and “Comcast” are decoded as being
    from Comcast email users themselves – as “—[email protected].”Johnes has contacted the Comcast Abuse office, and has received email responses
    from them, but with no explanation of how that office will handle these abuses
    sometimes five or ten per day.   Johnes’ concern is for Comcast customers who will
  3.                      be drawn into providing critical personal information to fraudulent perpetrators.Johnes makes a Motion for Peaches to follow up with Sharon Codeanne at Comcast.
    George seconds this Motion, Vote carried.

    4 . APRIL 1st CTAC Minutes
    a.   April Minutes – Peaches has edited Johnes’s draft of the April Minutes to remove text
    pertaining to Comcast, as the Comcast Report has been appended separately.

    Motion to approve as revised from George. Yvonne seconds Motion.

    Johnes raises issue that Minutes should record not only that which is voted on in
    Motions. Discussion about amount of detail of text of Minutes, and the recording
    of the meeting in order to have an accurate record of meeting. . Johnes reminds
    members that the CTAC By-Laws allow the recording of CTAC by members of
    the public as allowed to attend, or members of the Council.

    George makes Motion to have Minutes be a summary of discussion which lead to
    Motions taken. Johnes seconds this Motion. Carried.

    Consensus now to adjourn this teleconference.     Next meeting set for June 3, 2020, teleconference. .

    Johnes makes Motion to adjourn. George seconds this Motion. All agreed.

    Meeting Adjourned 6:45 pm.

May 6th,, 2020 CTAC Meeting Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta, (New Haven) Acting Secretary, May 29, 2020.

7
May
2020

April 1, 2020 Minutes

FINAL

CTAC Meeting Minutes April 1, 2020 – TELECONFERENCE (due to virus pandemic)

Attending members: 
Peaches Quinn – (New Haven) –  Acting Chair
George Alexander – (Hamden) – Treasurer
Yvonne Manning-Jones  – (New Haven) – Advisor
Laurel Coleman – (Hamden) – Advisor
Anthony Cardo – (Hamden) – Advisor
Johnes Ruta – (New Haven) – Acting Secretary

Sharon Codeanne – Comcast Representative

Joseph Schofield – Not Present

Call to order 6:02 pm.

 

I . CTAC Minutes March 4-  J. Ruta
Motion: Peaches makes motion to accept March Minutes pending amendments by Laurel . Johnes seconds Motion. Vote unanimous.

 

  1. TREASURER’S REPORT – G. Alexander
    George states that, as agreed in the March meeting Motion, CTAC has now made gifts of $2000 each to Partnership Adult Day Center in Hamden and Hannah Gray Elder Residence in New Haven. Checks have been received and deposited by these agencies.

    CTAC current bank balance – $4778.35

    III. COMCAST REPORT – Sharon Codeanne

     Reference SC Comcast Report (Appended)

IV.   OLD BUSINESS

a. CTAC PSA – L. Coleman

Video not yet available

  1. Community Awards – A. Cardo

No response as yet from Vet groups. Continuing research.
.
c. CTAC Facebook page

Motion: Peaches makes motion to approve Yvonne’s designation as a
Facebook Administrator.   Laurel seconds Motion.   Vote unanimous
to accept.

d.   Frontier Subscriber Complaint — Update: PQ passed along the letter of Complaint to Mike
Cicchetti who is VP, Government and External Affairs at Frontier.

e.   Comcast statement for CTV received last month- PQ asked Sharon for direction;
notified re: $20 subscriber payment

V. NEW BUSINESS

  1. State Video Advisory Council Rep Designation

             Motion: George moves to designate Peaches Quinn as Representative to State Advisory
Council. Johnes seconds Motion. Motion approved.


Motion: John makes motion to adjourn. Peaches seconds. All agreed.   Meeting Adjourned 6:58 pm.

 

 

April 1st CTAC Meeting Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta, (New Haven) Acting Secretary, April 7th, 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Haven AREA CABLE ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING

April 1, 2020

Community Impact

  • We recently announced that we’re expanding access to and increasing speeds for our Internet Essentials customers as more students and families start to learn and work at home in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
    • We are offering Internet Essentials free for new customers for two months (see attached flyer for terms);
    • For all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, the speed of the service was increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream. That increase went into effect for no additional fee and it will become the new base speed for the program going forward;
    • We have opened our outdoor and small business-based Xfinity Wifi hotspots for free for the next 60 days to customers and non-customers.
    • As part of our commitment to keep customers connected to what matters most, Comcast will not disconnect Xfinity Internet or Xfinity Voice services for any customer through May 15, 2020.
  • For those with school-age students at home, we’ve created new educational collections for all grade levels in partnership with Common Sense Media. Just say “education” into your X1 voice remote.
  • To help keep customers informed, we also have created a collection of the most current news and information on Coronavirus. Just say “Coronavirus” into your X1 voice remote.
  • Underpinning all of these efforts, Comcast’s technology and engineering teams will continue to work tirelessly to support our network operations. We engineer our network capacity to handle spikes and shifts in usage patterns, and continuously test, monitor and enhance our systems and network to ensure they are ready to support customer usage. Our engineers and technicians staff our network operations centers 24/7 to ensure network performance and reliability. We are monitoring network usage and watching the load on the network both nationally and locally, and to date it is performing well.
    • Today is National Census Day and Comcast NBCUniversal and Telemundo are supporting the 2020 Census by encouraging Americans to participate in the first ever digital census.
      • Comcast produced and will air Census 2020 PSAs on Telemundo and NBC stations featuring Joy Reid, Host of AM Joy and Jose Diaz-Balart, Anchor of Noticiero Telemundo, with the goal of increasing general awareness of the census
      • Comcast has partnered with community organizations and leaders to create and air PSAs and short-form news segments to further explain the census and help individuals understand the significance of being counted, including PSAs translated into Spanish and several Asian languages.
      • We are also supporting local nonprofit partners who are working within cities to educate communities on the importance of completing the census and providing the training necessary to allow community members to complete the census forms online
      • Recognizing that communities across the country may have questions about the 2020 Census, Comcast will launch a Census 2020 Destination on our Xfinity X1 platform. X1 customers will simply say, “Census” into their voice remote to access the latest Census web clips, news segments, and more

 

Programming Updates

  • Through April 6, Xfinity customers can enjoy a free preview of Starz through our Xfinity On Demand platforms. This free preview is available to all Xfinity customers including non-Xfinity TV subscribers. Non-Xfinity TV customers can watch on Xfinity Stream using their Xfinity ID and password.
6
May
2020

March 4, 2020 Minutes

CTAC Meeting Minutes March 4, 2020 —–FINAL

Attending members: 
Peaches Quinn – (New Haven) –  Acting Chair
George Alexander – (Hamden) – Treasurer
Yvonne Manning-Jones  – (New Haven) – Advisor
Laurel Coleman – (Hamden) – Advisor
Anthony Cardo – (Hamden) – Advisor
Johnes Ruta – (New Haven) – Acting Secretary

Jeff Weiss – public (New Haven resident)

Meeting called to order at 6:01 pm.

1. Minutes

  1. PQ request: Attach Laurel’s questions re annual report to March minutes . Minutes to be amended accordingly, then move to approve at May meeting.

    2.   Annual Report

    a. Peaches noted last page of several monthly minutes were somehow truncated in collating process.

Laurel made motion for PQ to make any remaining correction from Laurel’s list, re-collate report and resubmit to PURA. George seconded motion. Motion carries.

  1. Treasurer’s Report

  2. George stated current CTAC Fund balance is $9,178.67.
  3. George received bill for CTAC US Post Office Box for the period March 2020 to 2021 in the amount $254.00. George made motion to pay bill.   Anthony seconded. Motion approved.
  4. Provider Reports
  5. Comcast – None
  6. CTV – None

PQ circulates summary description of PURA Docket 20-01-34 (declaratory ruling) described in an email from [email protected] 1/15/20 which is believed to be a threat to the financing and existence of CTV. PQ made motion to apply vigor to invitations to Joe Schofield to attend the next CTAC meeting to describe further and comment. Anthony seconded this Motion. Vote unanimous to accept.

  1. 4. Old Business
  2. CTAC   PSA
    PSA taped today. All participated except Anthony Cardo who did not receive notification (Anthony still does not receive CTAC emails) and John. Laurel and will review tape when it is ready.

PQ made motion to do second tape before August (8/5) meeting. Yvonne seconded and motion carried. All agreed more rehearsal needed.

  1. CTAC Community Giving
  2. In the February meeting, George Alexander made a Motion, and Johnes seconded for a CTAC Grant of $2,000 to Partnerships Adult Day Care in Hamden and Hannah Gray Elder Residence in New Haven.   The Motion was suspended at that time in order to identify a senior day care or residence in West Haven. None found. PQ remade original motion. Johnes seconds. Re-motion carries. George will send out checks.

    6.   New Business

    a. CT Statewide Video Advisory

A CTAC member is needed to attend quarterly Statewide Advisory meetings per State Statute 16-331i. (a)There shall be a State Wide Advisory Council, whose membership is made up of one representative from each of the existing advisory councils established pursuant to section 16-331.

Motion to designate not raised. Meeting ran too late.

b. CTAC Community Giving – Target Vets

After much discussion motion made to have Anthony continue researching possible not for profit groups or organizations that serve Vets. Johnes seconded. Motion carries.

  1. Face Book

PQ motion made to create or update a FaceBook page for the CTAC. Motion amended to request Yvonne to followup, designate herself as an administrator and start updating the page. Johnes seconds. All agree.

 

  1. 7. Subscriber Correspondence
    Check received for a subscriber payment to Comcast.. George made motion for PQ to forward check to Sharon, Comcast rep, for processing. Motion seconded and approved.

    c. Complaint letter sent to CTAC from a district subscriber to Frontier. Motion made to enter letter into the March Minutes. Johnes seconds this Motion. Motion approved. Motion also made for PQ to contact Frontier to request direction for forwarding letter. Motion seconded and approved.

 

 

 

  1. Other
  2. Non Agenda Item – Jeff Weiss , New Haven Resident, Self Intro and Request

    Jeff Weiss was welcomed and allowed to address Council to describe his credentials and desire to be appointed rep to the Statewide Video Services Council. Clarification made that per State Statute 16-331i representation comes from each local advisory council. Jeff would have to be on CTAC to be designated.

Peaches makes a motion to adjourn the meeting. Yvonne seconded motion. Motion approved.

Next Meeting to be Wednesday, April 1st at offices of CTV at 6:00pm.

Meeting adjourned: 7:30 pm. March 4th, 2020 Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta (New Haven)    Acting Secretary.   March th, 2020.

 

* Frontier subscriber’s Letter of Complaint, postmarked February 21, 2020.

Public Utilities Regulatory Agency

Complaint Department

Ten Franklin Square

New Britain, Ct. 06051

Tad Weinstein

New Haven Area Cable TV Advisory Council

P.O. Box 8415

New Haven, CT 06530

To Whom lt May Concern,

I am writing on behalf of my parents Ed & Lorrie Schaefer who both passed away last year.

I served as their caregiver during the last few years of their lives and managed all of their

matters.

My parents were subscribers to Frontier Communications.

I am writing regarding two separate issues with Frontier which demonstrate that Frontier is

poorly managed and has a terrible customer service department. Frontier Communications

service is unacceptable and they do not deserve a license in the state of CT.

lssue #1:

I’ll start with the most recent matter. My parents house was contracted to be sold and at the last

minute, the buyers reneged on the deal. I had previously disconnected service.

I called Frontier to re-install the telephone as I needed it for the security system. I scheduled an

appointment for the earliest possible date and made arrangements for a colleague to wait for

the Frontier Service installer to show up as I needed to be at work.

Despite receiving numerous texts from Frontier conflrming the appointment, no one from

Frontier ever showed up and no one from Frontier contacted me. I tried to call Frontier and

waited on hold for 35 minutes and finally gave up. To add insult to injury I paid the person to

wait for the Frontier service person as I was unable to be there.

I was so angry and frustrated I called Frontier to cancel the order. (Cancellation # 059988614).

Shortly thereafter, I received an invoice from Frontier for $116.37.

I called at least three times over the course of the next three months to request a credit as I

NEVER received service. Each time, I waited on hold for a very long time and was told that my

case would be referred to the dispute department. I was told I would hear from someone and I

never did. Finally, in January I called Frontier one last time and I was told that my request for a

credit was denied as they claim that they sent someone out to the house several days after my

original service date. No one was at the house, so there is no way that they could have entered

the house. Phone service was NEVER activated.

Two weeks ago, I received a letter from a collection agency. I called them and explained the

situation and stated that I have no intention of paying the $116.37.

lf anything, Frontier should pay me the $100 I paid my colleague to wait at the house for the

original appointment. Plus they should reimburse me for all of the time I have spent trying to

straighten out this matter.

Account # 203-387 -9 17 9-082419-5

Leslye Schaefer

420 Grove Beach Road North

Westbrook, CT.06498

For service at

40 Byron Place

New Haven, Ct 06515

lssue # 2:

When I originally cancelled my parents triple play service (phone, internet and TV), I looked

online (after waiting 40 minutes on hold for an operator) to find a location to return the Frontier

equipment. I went to the location on Orange street in New Haven, but it turns out the website

information was incorrect and it was not possible to return equipment at that location.

I called Frontier (and waited on hold a long time) and cancelled their service. Then I received

an invoice for the next month. Subsequently I called to say that my parents had passed away

and no one lived in the house, that the equipment had been disconnected and that I had called

a month earlier to disconnect (disconnect # 059451930). Frontier stated that I had to pay for the

next 30 days despite not having service. This seems completely unreasonable to me. My

parents were customers for many years and always paid on time.

I paid the invoice as I did not have the time or energy to argue.

Account # 203- 397-3596-0 507 17 -5

Edwin Schaefer

40 Byron Place

New Haven, Ct 06515

There is nothing to be done for issue #2, but I would appreciate your help on issue #1.

Frontier Communications does not deserve to have a service license. They are completely

incompetent, sloppy and disrepectful of consumers.

I request that you & the Cable TV Advisory Council revoke Frontier’s license.

Thank you in advance for your time and assistance.

Leslye Schaefer

1
May
2020

Continuing our commitment to you

Xfinity
Continuing our commitment to you

As staying home continues to be the norm in many parts of the country and many schools remain closed, we understand how important it is to have an Internet connection you can depend on. That’s why we want to make you aware that we have extended the customer commitments we made in March an additional six weeks through June 30. Click here for more details.

We are also pleased to share that starting on May 18 we will begin reopening more Xfinity Stores, aligning with state and local health guidelines. We will continue to promote social distancing practices within these locations and maintain a clean and safe environment for shoppers. Please visit xfinity.com/storesto find out hours of operation for a store near you.

And on the entertainment side, please look out for Xfinity Watchathon. From May 11-17, all Xfinity customers will have free access to TV shows and movies from great networks like Showtime and Starz. And – for the first time ever – Hulu and Peacock, the newest streaming service from NBCUniversal. Peacock is now available exclusively to all X1 and Flex customers at no additional cost. Just say “Watchathon” into your Xfinity Voice Remote.

Thank you for your trust and patience as we’ve adjusted our operations and found new ways to support you. As a reminder, we have expanded our digital tools to make it quick and easy to get answers and support 24/7. See below for details. For a comprehensive look at our overall response to COVID-19, please visit xfinity.com/prepare.