Old Lyme Area Cable Advisory Council
14 January 2010, 7:30 pm
Old Lyme Comcast Public Access Studio, Halls Road in Old Lyme
Minutes
Attending: Council members Peter Sielman, Pam Munro, Ed Blaschik, Russ Gomes, Robin Purcell, Cathy Frank; Comcast representatives John Bairos, Lynn Perry, Hans Hartman: Guests State Rep. Marilyn Giuliano (23rd District), Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold
Absent: Sue McKinlay, John Eichholz
Chair Peter Sielman called the meeting to order at 7:40pm.
Minutes October 2009
A motion to approve the minutes from the November 12, 2009 meeting, with a date correction from 2009 to 2010 on page 2 (Grant receipt submission deadlines), was made by Russ Gomes, seconded by Pam Munro, & approved with one abstention (Ed Blaschik, who was not in attendance on 11/12/09).
Treasurer’s Report
Ed Blaschik reported account balances totalling $22,038.38 which includes interest income of $12.94. He disbursed $2948.88 as grant reimbursement to the Town of Salem.
Comcast Report
John reported that a mailing listing price adjustments would go out to customers on Feb. 1. There are no programming changes and the adjustments are all reductions in fees. He delivered Comcast’s required $2,000 annual payment to the Council.
At Pam’s request, John commented on changes at the Old Lyme location, which is now a Studio only and no longer a customer service center. He acknowledged former access coordinator, Lynn Perry’s, pro-active approach to communications and training at the studio and introduced new access coordinator Hans Hartman. Hans reported that the regular Old Lyme studio hours are 9am to 1pm on Mondays & Wednesdays; and 1:30 to 10pm on Tuesdays & Thursdays. Additional times can be scheduled by special appointment any day from 9am to 10pm. He has a training scheduled for 1/21. After approximately 6 hours of training, residents are able to use the equipment in the studio and check out equipment. Hans also offers additional training on Adobe Premier and Final Cut software programs by appointment.
To a question from State Rep. Giuliano, John responded that the Comcast Public Access station(s) operate 24/7. When there is no scheduled programming, Bulletin Board announcements are aired. The Old Lyme Area includes Salem, Lyme, Old Lyme, East Haddam, Haddam Neck.
Old Lyme First Selectman Tim Griswold stated that Old Lyme Board of Selectmen meetings have been broadcast on public access for 8 to 10 years. At one time, there was a live feed but meetings are currently taped. Thanks to the Advisory Council’s grant, Old Lyme recently purchased a new camera and would like to transmit its programs to Comcast via DVD or electronic file. At present, he said, Old Lyme has to take extra steps to provide a VHS recording to Comcast.
John said that he will discuss possible solutions with Tim outside of the Council meeting.
Peter thanked John & Comcast for the successful resolution of a customer complaint. Although the service issue had apparently been resolved by the time it came to John’s attention, Peter was appreciative of John’s efforts.
Peter asked what impact, if any, AT&T cable competition might have on the Comcast schedule. John indicated that competition would have a positive impact on customers.
AT&T and Comcast are currently negotiating inter-connection(s).
There is some question regarding a competitor’s requirement to provide public access to a community. According to Ed, AT&T is considered a “video” provider, not a cable provider, so the issue needs to be resolved. AT&T is already providing some service in Salem.
Old Business
Meeting Schedule
Peter suggested quarterly meetings on the 2nd Thursday of April (4/8), July (7/8) and October (10/14) at 7:30pm. Ed will try to schedule the April meeting at Hale Ray High School in East Haddam and the July/October meetings can take place in Old Lyme and Salem so Council members can see the grant purchases made in those towns. A motion was made by Pam, seconded by Cathy, to approve the schedule. Motion passed unanimously.
Grant applications
The Town of Salem has received its grant reimbursement from the Council.
Cathy reported that Old Lyme has begun purchasing the approved grant items and expects to submit receipts for reimbursement soon.
New Business
Ed announced that he will be notifying the First Selectman in East Haddam that he will not be continuing as its representative to the Advisory Council. He has served on the Council for the past 17 years. He will attend the April meeting.
State Representative Guiliano asked about the availability of statistics and demographics on public access in the Council area. John indicated that the information is included annually in a report made to the DPUC. John will e-mail the report to Council members and Rep. Giuliano.
First Selectman Griswold said that he is amazed at the number of people who watch meetings on public access. With the new equipment made possible by the Council grant, he hopes to see the Town televise more meetings. He suggested that public access studio and training information be submitted to the Town for inclusion in its quarterly newsletter.
Ed indicated that East Haddam’s quarterly newsletter can also publish the information.
John will follow up.
Other
Russ asked Peter to state for Rep. Giuliano the Council’s major areas of concern. Peter would prioritize them as 1) how to give people greater access, and 2) how to assist people to resolve complaints.
Ed delivered the annual Treasurer’s Report to Peter for submission to the DPUC.
Peter asked Pam, Cathy & Sue to work as a sub-committee and design a high school scholarship application. The application will have to be approved by Council members via e-mail so copies can be distributed to Council area high schools in time for a late March/early April deadline. The submitted applications will be reviewed and decisions made at the April meeting. It was agreed that $1,000 per school would be the maximum award, and that the award can be shared among students or awarded to a single student.
The schools involved are Hale-Ray (East Haddam), East Lyme High School (for a Salem student attending), Haddam-Killingworth (for a Haddam Neck student attending), and Lyme-Old Lyme High School.
Pam & Cathy agreed to serve. Sue will be contacted and asked to serve.
A motion to adjourn was made by Cathy at 8:20 pm. Meeting adjourned.
Submitted by
Catherine Frank
16 January 2010
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