CABLE ADVISORY COUNCIL

P. O. Box 87

Newtown, Connecticut

~ Minutes ~

Minutes of Public Regular Meeting –

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Newtown, CT

There was a regular meeting of the Cable Advisory Council called to order at 7:01 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2010 by Chair Carmella Amodea at the Charter Communications facility, Newtown, Connecticut.

ATTENDEES: Joe Hurley (New Milford), Kate Donahue (Trumbull), George Fletcher (New Milford), Ray Juskiewicz (New Fairfield), Bob Bell (New Fairfield), Stephanie O’Rourke (Kent), Jim Lang (Trumbull), Gregory Davis (Roxbury), George Linkletter (Sherman), Carl Braun (Woodbury), John Bell (Kent), Jonathan Gibney (Brookfield), Carmella Amodeo (Newtown), Eugene Rosen (Newtown).

From Charter: Greg Van Antwerp (Community Access), Tom Cohan (Govt Relations)

PUBLIC INPUT: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Motion by Ray Juskiewicz, 2^nd by Bob Bell, unanimous with one correction to the January minutes.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Carl Braun gave his report: total of $20,284.86 between checking account, money market and CD. Charter check has been received but is NOT reflected in the total. Motion to accept Lang, 2^nd Bob Bell, unanimous.

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS REPORT.

Tom Cohan:

· Paula Cecchetelli and Tom Horan have left Charter. Dennis Jerome, Paula’s boss, will be our contact in Marketing. Expect a replacement for Tom by the May meeting.

· Still trying to find more bandwidth for HD channels. Adding Viacom HD channels: MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, TV Land, Comedy, Spike, CMT, TCM, ABC Family, E!.

· Internet download and upload speeds going up – prices NOT changing.

· ABC-Cablevision situation will happen more often. Broadcasters are asking for more $$.

· CT state legislator has written legislation requiring cable operators to provide prior notice if they plan to drop a channel. Don’t think it will go anywhere – not practical.

· Had some issues with HGTV and Food Network.

· DPUC Consumer scorecard comes out in late March. Last year did not do very well, this year the number of complaints has dropped in half.

· Verizon FIOS is a more formidable competitor than AT&T Uverse

· 3D television does not require special signal.

Greg Van Antwerp –

· New intern session starting. Group of 18. The schedule is online. New blog for the interns.

CORRESPONDENCE:

• John Bell - Kent seniors are upset about the basic only customer rate increase of $5/mo. Channel 7 (NYC CBS) is blank – Tom check into why.
• George Fletcher – Mayor of New Milford wants to know when Charter is going to put on the Quilting Channel. Tom checking if such a channel exists. People are upset that their bills are different every month even if they do not order PPV.
• A bunch of letters with complaints were in the mailbox
• Can Charter print up something that the Advisory Council can give to customers that have problems 1-800-GET-CHARTER.
• Ray asked what Charter’s obligation is to the local education channel. Tom indicated that they have a commitment to wire the high school and distribute the signal (Channel 17) to the town.

OLD BUSINESS:

• Bylaws: Need special meeting to approve the bylaws revisions..
• Secretary: Motion by Jim Lang, 2^nd by Ray to allow the Chairman to price secretarial services and hire someone for the next 3 meetings to take the minutes and do all the distribution duties. Approved unanimously. For the March meeting minutes, Kate will write them up and email them to the members. Stephanie will take care of the mailing to the Town Clerks and First Selectmen.

NEW BUSINESS:

• None.

ADJOURNMENT:

The meeting was unanimously adjourned at: 8:20 PM. Respectfully submitted by: Kate
Donahue, Secretary

CABLE ADVISORY COUNCIL

P. O. Box 87

Newtown, Connecticut

~ Minutes ~

Minutes of Special Meeting –

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Newtown, CT

There was a special meeting of the Cable Advisory Council called to order at 8:21 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2010 by Chair Carmella Amodea at the Charter Communications facility, Newtown, Connecticut.

ATTENDEES: Joe Hurley (New Milford), Kate Donahue (Trumbull), George Fletcher (New Milford), Ray Juskiewicz (New Fairfield), Bob Bell (New Fairfield), Stephanie O’Rourke (Kent), Jim Lang (Trumbull), Gregory Davis (Roxbury), George Linkletter (Sherman), Carl Braun (Woodbury), John Bell (Kent), Jonathan Gibney (Brookfield), Carmella Amodeo (Newtown), Eugene Rosen (Newtown).

From Charter: Greg Van Antwerp (Community Access), Tom Cohan (Govt Relations)

Bob Bell made a motion to accept the bylaws as presented. 2^nd by John Bell. Approved unanimously.

Great job Joe and Carl!

Meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.