Satellite, Over Air Broadcast, or Cable TV ... you have rights to public video records!

April 13, 2009

Freedom of Information Commission
18-20 Trinity Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Telephone: (860) 566-5682

EMAIL: foi@ct.gov

To whom it may concern:

On March 8, 2009 I presented [email] an FOIA request to our local community TV channel 17 producer [Mr. Ray Juskiewicz] to review certain meetings.  I was denied access to review these public video archive records. 

Channel 17 is a community access TV channel originating from the New Fairfield High School video studio.  The access channel uses the Charter Cable franchise for the local area and the Charter franchise has assigned Channel 17 for New Fairfield community access TV.  The Board of Selectman and Board of Education mutually share in the funding of the operation of Channel 17 as a community access and educational channel to serve the New Fairfield community.  Channel 17 can be viewed by any Charter Cable subscriber by selecting Channel 17.  Residents of New Fairfield that are not subscribers to Charter Cable do not have access to Channel 17.  Residents of satellite TV service [Dish TV and Direct TV] and over the air broadcast TV do not have access to Channel 17. 

Channel 17 has video archives of all government and educational programming and is totally supported by taxpayer funding.

Last week, April 9, 2009 I had the occasion to meet and ask Mr. Ray Juskiewicz when I could review these public video records.  Mr. Juskiewicz’s reply was, “if I wished to review the video archive that I would be charged $25.00 per tape [DVD].  I replied that these are public records paid for with public taxpayer funds.  Mr. Juskiewicz, the producer of Channel 17 replied that I would have to ask Mr. Hodge, First Selectman of New Fairfield to access and review these public video records.

I had previously copied Mr. Hodge and Dr. Castanginola, Superintendent of Schools and received no reply.  Dr. Castangnola was also communicated with directly via email and no reply was forthcoming.

Sincerely,

Roger C. Wise