CTAC 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 5^th, 2020, as ZOOM teleconference.

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

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

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

5. 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 3^rd 2020 CTAC Meeting Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta, (New Haven)
Acting Secretary, June 16, 2020.

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

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.

 

4778. 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 1^st CTAC Meeting Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta, (New Haven) Acting Secretary, April 7^th, 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.

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

2. 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.

3. Treasurer’s Report

4. George stated current CTAC Fund balance is $9,178.67.
5. 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.
6. Provider Reports
7. Comcast – None
8. 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.

4. 4. Old Business
5. 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.

5. CTAC Community Giving
6. 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.

 

7. 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.

 

 

 

7. Other
8. 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 1^st at offices of CTV at 6:00pm.

Meeting adjourned: 7:30 pm. March 4^th, 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

CTAC Meeting Minutes February 5, 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

Visiting attendee – Tad Weinstein – former CTAC Chair.

Meeting called to order at 6:09 pm.

1. Minutes

January 2, 2020 Minutes
a,   Laurel Coleman asks about “gift card” to Tad Weinstein for his service. Peaches notes that
this should read “Thank You Card” as there was no gift or renumeration included. Johnes
accepts this correction to be made to the January Minutes.

b. Yvonne Manning-Jones makes Motion to accept the January Minutes as amended.
Anthony Cardo seconds this Motion. Vote is unanimous to accept .

December 2019 Minutes.
   a.    Paragraph #2 – George questions what he was “concurring” with. “…evidence data” added to end of previous sentence to clarify.

b.  Peaches made motion for minutes procedures: initially publish “draft minutes” to all attendees. Upon approval/amendments made, minutes will be labeled FINAL and sent to George for posting.

Yvonne seconds . Motion carries.

 

2. Treasurer’s Report

George presents an audit letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers describing that Comcast issued
a check to CTAC in the budget year 2016. They asked for confirmation the check was received. George will look back into financial records to confirm.

3. Old Business

a. CTAC Annual Report
George Alexander and Peaches Quinn prepared the CTAC Annual Report . It was submitted to PURA January 31 (their deadline). Acknowledgement made that report should have been published first to Council members.

Laurel presented a list of questions regarding meeting minutes contained in annual report. PQ will review and respond to questions by next meeting.

Reminder to all: Monthly minutes should be carefully reviewed and questions asked/corrections made prior to final approval.

b. CTV PSA– Laurel Coleman made motion to approve her finalizing outine/script for CTAC PSA
(Public Service Announcement) to promote public knowledge of the work and role
of the Cable Television Advisory Council. She recommends that all CTAC members
be available to appear in this PSA video recording.

Yvonne seconds and motion carried. Laurel will continue to coordinate PSA taping to be done prior to March 4 regular meeting.

4. c.  Membership- Need to fill slots. Tad’s, West Haven seat remains unfilled. Also noted,
   there continue to be no Board of Education representatives for any of the three towns (New Haven,
   Hamden, or West Haven), and no City Libraries represented from Hamden or West Haven
   (as described in CTAC By-Laws).

   4.   New Business

5. George Alexander states that the CTAC Funds Balance is presently $9,178.68.
   The CTAC is therefore in the position to make Community Awards George restated motions for multiple grants of $2,000, including one to Hamden Partnerships. Motion to approve deferred to next month pending identification of a senior center recipient in West Haven.

b.Anthony made motion to target 2020 financial gifts to help veteran groups. Johnes seconds. Motion carries.

 

5. Correspondence

George read a statement from Comcast to Citizens TV (that CTAC received) describing number of subscribers in three towns for last quarter, 2019.

George made motion for PQ to followup with Comcast to determine was this an error or is it a new Comcast procedure and what does it mean. Yvonne seconds. Motion carries.

Next Meeting to be Wednesday, March 4^th at offices of CTV at 6:00pm. Reminder: Arrive at CTV for 5:00 PSA taping.
Meeting adjourned: 7:25 pm.

February 5^th, 2020 Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta (New Haven)
Acting Secretary.   February 25^th, 2020.

CTAC Meeting Minutes January 2, 2020 

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

Dinner Invitees:
Tad Weinstein, past Chair of this chapter of the Cable Television Advisory Council.
Jennifer Sacco, past member Hamden advisor.

Meeting called to order at 6:30 pm.
Annual Dinner Meeting held at Adrianna’s Restaurant, Grand Avenue, New Haven.

1. December CTAC Meeting Minutes
   No edits requested.
   Peaches makes Motion to accept as amended. Laurel seconds the Motions. Vote is unanimous.

   2. Old Business

   Vote to contribute funds to Hannah Grey center.

   George Alexander had made Motion in a previous meeting to present the Hannah Gray Senior Center
   with a grant of $2,000, but now wishes to revoke his Motion, as no West Haven senior center
   has yet been considered for a grant.
   Peaches specifies that CTAC has already given a $1,000 grant to Hannah Gray Senior Center in
   New Haven, and $1,000 to the Partnetship Adult Day Care Center in Hamden.

   George now makes a new Motion to make a $1,000 grant to a Senior Center in West Haven, to be
   determined..

Peaches Quinn says: “We will rise the topic of giving to institutions in 2020. George’s motion
is therefore revisited and amended, to a $2,000 total gift to be divided between New Haven and
Hamden.”   George consents.

Johnes Ruta seconds George’s amended Motion.   The vote is unanimous.

3. Correspondence.
George Alexander reports that there has been no correspondence since the December meeting.

4. Presentation of a gift card to Tad Weinstein, now to be named Chair Emeritus Retired.

 

Next meeting Wednesday February 5^th, 2020, 6:00 at the offices of CTV.
Meeting adjourned: 7:00 PM.

January 2^nd, 2020 Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta (New Haven)
Acting Secretary.   February 1^st, 2020.

Attendees: 
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

Meeting convened at 6:10 pm. 

1. October CTAC Meeting Minutes
   No edits requested.
   Johnes – Motion to accept.   Yvonne – 2^nds the Motion.   Council vote is unanimous.

   2. November CTAC Meeting Minutes

   Question is reminded by Johnes from November meeting regarding how Comcast will
   substantiate Sharon Codeanne’s statement at the September CTAC meeting that Turner
   Classic Movies (TCM) channel viewership is nationally limited to 2% of cable viewers
   and that viewers tune-in on an average of 30 seconds before changing to other channels.
   Comcast has not provided any data on this claim of low TCM viewership as offered by
   Sharon, that she “would check into this, and get back to us” at CTAC.” However, Sharon
   now states via email that she did not promise to do this, and that “these metrics are
   proprietary Comcast data. Peaches corroborates that this was not a “promise” but was
   “a nuanced statement” that did not obligate Comcast to provide. Johnes Ruta states that
   if Comcast claims that these “metrics” will not be provided as “proprietary,” then Comcast’s
   such claims on TCM viewership are not substantiated. George Alexander concurs.

   Johnes speaks of the Comcast discontinuation and removal of seven Concast STARZ channels
   from their lineup, as a reduction of service without any reduction of subscriber rates. One
   announcement was provided in the Comcast October bill, without any adevance on-air
   notification: Peaches defines the specifics of this service change: the channels were not
   being moved to a higher rate level, but dropped entirely from their service.

   Peaches relates information on a Concast service called “FLEX” which was described
   by Comcast as an alternative cable television service, but more specifically is only offered
   as an add-on service for customers who only have internet service, not as a means of
   selection of specific channels at a reduced subscription rate.

   Peaches asks about the WatchTCM internet site, that is an alternative to the Comcast new
   Sports & Entertainment Package with TCM. However, Johnes relates his effort to access
   this website to view TCM – But access to this site specifically requires Log-On to Comcast
   User-ID and Password and allows viewing of TCM only if subscriber has the Sports &
   Entertainment package.
   Laurel Coleman makes Motion to approve the November Minutes. Anthony Cardo Seconds
   this Motion. CTAC members vote is unanimous.

 

3. Issue: Attendence requirements by CTV and Comcast.
   Citizens TeleVision is required to attend and submit reports twice per year.
   Comcast is required to attend and submit reports twice per year.

   4. Old Business

   West Haven is still not represented at CTAC since Tad Weinstein resignation because
   he moved his residence out of the CTAC represented districts.

   CAC2019 – Community Rewards.
   Peaches makes Motioin to help Not-For-Profit agencies to defer Comcast subscriber
   costs. Agencies eligible must be Comcast subscriber.

   5. New Business

   Laurel proposes a New Business issue to do a 30 or 60 second PSA for the Council (CTAC)
   to be carried on CTV channels. Proposal to call Joe Schofield, Exec Director at CTV
   to facilitate. This should be uploaded to Vimeo.org.   Peaches indicates that she will contact
   Joe Schofield about airing this on CTV.

Laurel speaks about the previous motion to make a CTAC Contribution to the Hannah Gray
House to defray cost of Comcast service. Yvonne has done much of the leg work on this issue.

ADDENDUM:

   Yvonne reports in December 13 email:
I have arranged to meet with Robert Paige, Director of the Hannah Gray Home on Tuesday, the 17th.
I informed  him that the contribution is made possible by Comcast and should be spent exclusively
on Comcast services.  They have Comcast cable, Internet and phone services.

The Hannah Gray home is a residential care facility that provides care to elderly individuals in the
Greater New Haven area. You can read more about them at their website: http://hannahgrayhome.org/

Next meeting Thursday, January 2^nd, 2020, 6PM at Adrianna’s Restaurant < New Haven.

Meeting adjourned: 7:10 PM.

December 4th, 2019 Minutes respectfully submitted by
Johnes Ruta (New Haven)   Acting Secretary.   December 29^th, 2019.

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

Meeting convened at 6:08 pm.

1. Attendance: CTV is requested to attend the next meeting.                                                                                                                                  
   2. COMCAST

   a. Comcast put Turner Classic Movies (TCM) into a Sports & Entertainment Package for an
   additional charge of $9.99 per month. CTAC members are concerned about the Comcast
   change and their motive for putting TCM into an a’ la carte subscription package.

   The prediction that George Alexander brought up several years ago in a CTAC meeting,
   that “cable television will go away in the future,” is brought up by Johnes, and discussed
   by the council.   CTAC members are “advisors” to franchises, and not decision makers.

   At the previous meeting, Sharon indicated that she would provide viewer measurement data
   that would backup her assertion that TCM viewership is limited to 2% of cable customers
   and at an average duration averaging less than 2 minutes. This measurement data has not
   yet been provided. CTAC members Laurel Coleman and Johnes Ruta have questions
   regarding this issue.   Laurel also asks that the October CTAC Minutes also reflect that
   her CTAC membership was renewed by the Hamden Mayor’s Office.

CTAC question points on Comcast issues:
* Technical complexities of Comcast X1 operating system poses difficulties to many elderly
customers.
* Some Comcast channels are being dropped to the next lower subscription level.

* “Comcast Flex” option. CTAC wish to have documentation as to which channels are
available on this subscription level.

*   Questions arise as to financial burden of rising subscription costs to customers.

CTAC members report that their Comcast subscription prices vary according to the different
packages and premium channels subscribed to. Peaches Quinn and Yvonne Manning-Jones
state that they consider this a Comcast “marketing strategy: for the retention of customers.

Peaches makes a Motion to defer acceptance of the October Minutes until the next meeting
until we can review all the text, including Johnes’ recording of members’ comments at that
meeting as characterized by the Comcast representative as member’s “opinions”, especially
of those of Johnes Ruta. The Comcast representative objected in writing that inclusion of
these “opinions” in CTAC Minute is “inappropriate” and not in accordance with Roberts
Rules of Order. However, Johnes notes that as a Comcast subscriber himself, he has the
right,according to CTAC By-Laws (as quoted in the Oct Minutes) to publicly criticize
Comcast policies. Johnes questions whether Comcast has the prerogative to edit CTAC
Minutes other than entries regarding the Comcast representative’s own statements ?

Johnes Ruta seconds Peaches Quinn’s Motion to defer. Vote is unanimous.

3. Peaches Quinn makes a Motion to readdress questions, as follows:
   (1)   “Is the Turner Classic Movies channel included in the Comcast Flex plan ?”

   (2)   Peaches Motion question to the Comcast representative: “Please provide and explain
   the Comcast viewership measurement methodology, as previously promised to CTAC.”

   (3) Peaches requests all CTAC members to review the October Minutes for their advisory
   editorial modifications.

   Johnes Ruta notes that the online internet channel “WatchTCM” is only available by the
   log-on with a Comcast subscription account.

   George Alexander comments that the Comcast reports should be attached as separate documents
   with the distribution of the monthly CTAC Minutes, rather than embedded in the Minutes
   document which makes printouts of the Minutes for meetings attendance to be cumbersome.
   Johnes agrees to follow George’s recommendation.

   Peaches makes a Motion that Comcast be requested to provide internet links to their report
   pages.   Anthony second this Motion. Vote unanimous.

   3. Correspondence

   George Alexander comments that a memo that he has received, distributed by the Connecticut
        Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Bureau of Energy and Technology contains
   a Press Release addressed to the Executive secretary of PURA from Locke Lord (a Comcast
   attorney). This P/R contains a paragraph stating that effective December 10^th, 2019 Comcast
   will no longer carry Starz Edge, Starz in Black, Starz Comedy, Starz Cinema, and Starz Kids &
   Family.   Also effective December 10^th, Comcast will add the Epix channel, and Starz will no
   longer be available. Also effective December 10^th, Comcast will no longer carry RetroPlex,
   IndiePlex, Encore Classic, Encore Suspense, Encore Family, and Encore Espanol.

   Peaches Quinn makes a Motion that CTAC writes to Comcast with our concerns regarding
   their elimination of channels, and Comcast’s reasons for this. Laurel Coleman seconds this
   Motion. Vote is unanimous.

   4. Attendance – addendum:   Peaches states that Tad Weinstein will not be available
   for the December holiday dinner as scheduled. After members’ discussion, it is agreed
   to reschedule this to Thursday, January 2^nd..     Sharon Codeanne, Joe Schofield, and
   Jennifer Sacco will also be invited.

4. Contributions:

   Funds are budgeted for New Haven senior day centers, but it is determined that there is no
   New Haven Senior Day Center.   Discussion ensues to determine where to donate funds to
   instead. Shall we open up a category for possible recipients, as funds must be donated before
   the end of the calendar year 2019.

   Laurel Coleman makes a Motion to open up other categories of social services for possible
   donations . An agency must be Not-for-Profit.   Yvonne Manning-Jonees seconds this Mothion.
   Vote is unanimous.

Next meeting Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 5:30PM.

Meeting adjourned: 7:30 PM.

November 6th, 2019 Minutes respectfully submitted by Johnes Ruta (New Haven)
Acting Secretary.   November 20^th, 2019.