September 7, 2022 Minutes
Minutes from the Cable Television Advisory Council Zoom Meeting for September 7, 2022
Advisors Present:
Peaches Quinn – Chairperson (New Haven)
George Alexander – Treasurer (Hamden)
Yvonne Manning-Jones – Advisor (New Haven)
Melissa Canham-Clyne – Advisor (Hamden)
Johnes Ruta – Secretary (New Haven)
Amy Horan – Comcast Representative
Advisors absent:
Laurel Coleman — Vice-Chair (Hamden)
Tom Costa – Advisor (New Haven Library System)
Providers:
Joe Schofield – CTV Representative – Absent
. Call to Order & Roll Call: 6:07 Meeting held via Zoom.
Mutual introductions with the Council member Amy Horan, the new Comcast Representative. II. July Meeting Minutes George pointed out two typos still in the Final Draft version: There are two Roman numeral designations for New Business – III and IX. Johnes indicates these were because the topic of New Business came up a second time chronologically in the meeting. Johnes will consolidate these and re-submit. Approval vote therefore is delayed. III. Treasurer’s Report George Alexander reported a current balance of $5,200.33 in the council’s checking account. Previous charges were $300 for CTAC meeting at Playwright Grill June dinner (no alcohol was included in the bill); also a $500 Donation to the New Haven Public Library John Jessen Memorial Fund (Mr. Jessen was New Haven City Librarian and previously a member of CTAC). No changes since the July meeting. IV. CTV Community Television – Joe Schofield’s Report a. Joe Schofield was not present. No report. b. CTV studios are still closed to production sessions due to Covid. c. The CTAC Public Service Announcement is not yet being shown of CTV channels because the CTV studios are still closed to the public and CTV I short-staffed. d. Addendum: The Connecticut state Legislature has passed new Community Access fees for all Cable and Internet (streaming & internet browser access, new fees to take effect on October 1st, this year.
V. Comcast Report – Amy Horan’s Report
a. Amy Horan reported the continuation of the “Internet Essentials” program,
and that the monthly fee has dropped from $29.99 to $9.99 for eligible
subscribers who do not already have discount services. Subscribers qualify
who have Medicade, SNAP, SSI, or Survivor’s Pensions Program.
Melissa Canham-Coyne also adds that some subscribers can also qualify for
equipment, such as $149 for a laptop. Possibly can qualify for that at $0.00.
b. Comcast’s offer for their Internet Only package rate is $39.99 per month,
available to those currently subscribed.
c. George Alexander raises question regarding public complaints of high rates
for extras such as HBO, Showtime, etc.
George asks” “What is the minimum rate for internet service only?
Amy Horan replies that this low-cost subscription option will be available
for the next 5 years. She notes that the outreach offer for this program has
received few responses, and that her office is working hard to get the message
out. Peaches Quinn notes that “messages don’t always work…”
VI. Election and installation of new CTAC Officers as required by our By-Laws.
Johnes Ruta was elected as new Chairperson.
George Alexander was elected to remain as Treasurer.
Co-Chair office was nominated.
Secretary was not nominated, but determined to be a “rotating office by all members.
Peaches Quinn make a Motion to accept this slate of Officers. Johnes Ruta seconds
this Motion. Vote is unanimous of attendees.
VII. New Business
a. Peaches Quinn specifies the By-Laws Requirement of the Annual Yearly CTAC
Report to PURA. “There is half of a year to prepare this report.”
b. Topics needing to be addressed at the October meeting next month:
(1) Internet Access for the public.
(2) Membership positions needing to be filled: West Haven has not provided
CTAC Member Representative since resignation of Tad Weinstein in 2019.
c. Melissa Canham-Coyne mentions a new public service radio station operating
in Hamden, that CTAC should contact for broadcast of our PSAs.
Meeting Adjournment
The next CTAC meeting set for Wednesday, October 12th, 2022, at 6:00 PM,
rather than the first Wednesday of the month this time.
7:15 PM, Peaches Quinn makes a Motion to adjourn the meeting, 2nded by Johnes Ruta.
The Motion is approved unanimously.
Minutes Submitted 09/28/2022 by: Johnes Ruta.
July 6, 2022 Minutes
Final Draft Minutes from the Cable Television Advisory Council
Zoom Meeting for July 6, 2022
Advisors Present:
Peaches Quinn – Chairperson (New Haven)
George Alexander – Treasurer (Hamden)
Yvonne Manning-Jones – Advisor (New Haven)
Melissa Canham-Clyne – Advisor (Hamden)
Tom Costa – Advisor (New Haven Library System)
Johnes Ruta – Secretary (New Haven)
Advisors absent:
Laurel Coleman — Vice-Chair (Hamden)
Providers:
Joe Schofield – CTV Representative – Absent
Amy Horan – Comcast Representative – Absent
I. Call to Order & Roll Call: 6:19 Meeting held via Zoom.
II. June Minutes – written and submitted by Johnes Ruta.
a. Several modifications had been requested by George Alexander and were
incorporated by Johnes during June.
b. Yvonne made a Motion to accept the June Minutes as submitted, without further modification. George seconded it. Vote is unanimous, and the June Minutes will
be submitted as Final to George for posting on the CTAC website.
III. Treasurer’s Report
a. George Alexander reported a current balance of $5,202.33 in the council’s checking account. $801 was spent for annual dinner meeting at Playwright Grill.
IV. CTV Community Television – Joe Schofield’s Report
a. Joe Schofield was not present. No report.
b. CTV studios are still closed to production sessions due to Covid. But programming
on all CTV Channels 26, 27, & 96 has been consistent.
V. Comcast Report – Amy Horan’s Report
a. Amy Horan was not present. She has not attended or communicated with CTAC
since her appointment upon Sharon Codeanne was appointed to different
Comcast position. We have Amy’s phone, and it is discussed whether we should
reach out to her to attend a meeting.
b. It is needed to clarify whether Comcast’s offer for their Internet Only package
for $39.99 per month is to be available to those currently subscribed.
c. It is learned at High Speed Internet must be 25 Gigabyte download speed.
VI. Frontier Report
a. July meeting – representative did not attend.
VII. Old Business
a. CTAC Public Service Announcement: video of members not yet implemented, but
there is a screen card occasionally shown indicating CTAC is seeking new members.
b. Community Awards: Still due to lack of communication with the public,
the Community Awards outreach program has been deferred to 2023.
c. West Haven still has not provided CTAC member representation.
d. SB 278 has now been passed in the CT Legislature and signed by Gov. Lamont
on May 31, so that the 86 cent charge will take effect on all Cable TV and Internet
Billing as of October 1, 2022.
VIII. Subscriber Issues
No items brought forth.
IX. Other Topics
a. Council Officers – September 1st will be the new year of State Business, so CTAC
Officers must be nominated and elected.
b. Peaches makes a Motion for Nomination Committee to consist of Tom Costa
and Melissa Canham-Clyne for all CTAC posts: Chairperson, Vice-Chair,
Treasurer, and Secretary.
X. New Business a. Sexual Harassment Training update: It is learned that this 2-hour online training and testing course will only apply to actual employees of cable companies, and will not be required of volunteers, such as CTAC members. b. George Alexander withdraws his Motion at the June meeting that the volunteers of CTAC be required to take the same Sexual Harassment Training. c. Peaches make a Motion to skip the August meeting. Yvonne seconds this Motion. Vote is unanimous, d. George Alexander raises the issue of the CTAC Budget amount for dining for the members. Johnes makes a Motion for outdoor dining for our next meeting. George recommends Wood & Tap with an outdoor deck in Hamden Plaza, Johnes’ Motion is tabled. e. Peaches makes a Motion that the members adhere to the ground-rule for dining that no alcoholic beverages be paid for by individual members rather than the group bill – per unit maximum; also that members adhere to wearing masks according to “Best Covid Practices.” Motion is seconded by Johnes, vote is unanimous, f. George makes a Motion for outreach to the governing bodies of each town in our district – for new members, according to the open positions and the number of members allowed per each town and for Library systems and Board of Educations. g. It is advised to see the cableadvisory.org website to review the By-Laws mandated by PURA of our responsibilities, Melissa second George’s Motion, Vote is unanimous. h. By-Laws note: Each town has 4 regular Advisors, Library Systems are represented by one advisor for all three towns. Boards of Education are to be represented by one Advosor for each town.
i. Two boxes of CTAC archive records from the 1990s are in the possession
of Johnes, and are to be stored in the Governors’ Records Archive at the
New Haven Museum on Whitney Avenue. Johnes will meet with Tom Costa
on one of three days in July – the 25th, 26th , or 27th.
Meeting Adjournment
Next CTAC meeting set for Wednesday, September 7th, 2022, 6:00 PM.
It will be discussed during July and August whether the September meeting
will be at a pizza location.
7:30 PM, Johnes makes a Motion to adjourn the meeting, 2nded by Peaches
The Motion is approved unanimously.
Minutes Submitted 07/19/2022 by: Johnes Ruta, Secretary.