July 1, 2009 Minutes
MINUTES of CTAC of Hamden, New Haven, and West Haven – July 1, 2009
Tad Weinstein, WH
Jennifer Sacco, H
George Alexander, H
Gabriel Michael, NH
Joyce Listro, NH
Sharon Codeanne, Comcast
Joe Schofield, CTV
Peaches Quinn, NH
Meeting called to order 6:00 p.m.
Introduction of guests Matt Lafferty, potential replacement for Gabriel Michael, and Larry McDonald, New Haven Board of Education.
Presentation of Stuart Arotsky Memorial grant funds to Larry McDonald of New Haven BOE.
Sharon presented July report from Comcast.
Jen asked Sharon about the establishment of “Police Blotter on Demand” on Comcast, and about whether Tivo interface would be made available to DVR customers with Comcast. Sharon said the blotters have been very popular in other states and she believed Comcast approached the state to see if they wanted to make it available in our area. She also said she did not think Tivo was planned for our area soon, but that she would inquire.
Joe gave CTV report: CTV engineer is contacting counterpart at Comcast to try to get the return line at the Field House functional.
George asked about digital boxes that will be free for a year from Comcast, if they had been given out yet. Sharon will look into it to see if they are being distributed.
Update to last month’s issue of: “Joe asked about the availability of boxes because Comcast called CTV and asked them to take the bulletin about their availability from Comcast off the air.
Sharon will email appropriate wording for a bulletin to Joe with a Comcast number for people to call with questions.”
Sharon said that Comcast does not feel it is appropriate to broadcast consumer/promotional information on a CTV bulletin, so they would not be posting a new message. She said there will be a new offer of “free” digital box and DTAs (sub-boxes for secondary televisions) for life, and that she believed that offer was to be rolled out in the fall.
Joe asked if PEG channels would be transferred to digital, but they will not be.
Joe said CTV is doing an audit next week on July 9th at 6:00 p.m., and invited a member of our board to attend. Peaches is going to try to attend.
Joe said CTV is slowing down activity over the summer, however they are getting more programming submitted because it is easier to submit with their new system.
Regarding issues of the digital transition: Comcast anecdotally did not have a report of too many calls. People have experienced the “digital cliff,” however, where channels that came in weakly via analog will not come in at all anymore.
House bill 6604 appears to have died.
George reported there was no information to be found about AT&T advisory board, and also passed checks that came to our mailbox along to Sharon.
Election of officers: Tad Weinstein, chair. Peaches Quinn, vice chair. George Alexander, treasurer. Jennifer Sacco, secretary.
Meeting adjourned 7:00 p.m.