Connecticut DPUC investigating fitness of East Hartford Community Television
There has been a DPUC investigation brewing for quite a while now of our own East Hartford Community Television after it was revealed that EHCT had been falsely claiming it was a non-profit for some 20 years and had managed to squirrel away almost a million dollars in cash and investments while providing negligible technological and facility upgrades during that period.
The DPUC is holding a hearing today at 11AM as part of its investigation into East Hartford Community Television’s ability to continue its responsibility for Community Access Operations.
Documents on the DPUC website indicate that EHCT sought non-profit status from the IRS in June and may have paid over $100,000 in back taxes and fines with rate payer money effectively wiping out two years of Comcast funding for the station.
The investigation docket is full of interesting information and can be found here:
It looks like you may need to use Internet Explorer for the docket system.
http://www.dpuc.state.ct.us/dockcurr.nsf/(Web+Main+View/All+Dockets)?OpenView&StartKey=09-07-25
According to the DPUC investigation schedule a decision on EHCT should come at the end of February.
I also noticed a letter in the Gazette just after the election from a woman who seemed afraid East Hartford would lose its cable access station. Rest assured, regardless of what happens to EHCT, East Hartford will still have a cable access station. If the DPUC determines EHCT is not fit to operate the station any longer someone else will be put in their place.
My big problems:
1. Operating 20 years claiming non-profit status when they were not. That is fraud and has serious implications for 20 years of people who have used donations to EHCT to offset their tax liabilities.
2. Banking almost a million bucks. The EHCT stations doesn’t have a huge budget. According to the financial reports they get 16K from the Town and a little over 50K from Comcast through ratepayer subsidy. Considering the quality of the equipment, technological capacity and facilities of EHCT it is apparent that the management of EHCT has completely failed to maintain a modern public access station. It’s more a government broadcast station in its current form.
3. 128,000 in Government Fees & Taxes paid in 2009. Poor management of the station has cost us, the ratepayers and taxpayers, 2.5 years of our ratepayer contributions to the station to correct their 20 year mistake. Nobody knows if more is coming.
4. EHCT is using past Mayor Robert DeCresenzo as its attorney. I have a big problem with the incestuous political relationships in this town. With thousands of attorneys in CT why are the same ones involved in all town connected business.
5. Commingling of funds with the Town. Despite EHCT being its own entity, and according to the Mayor, separate from the Town it appears that money is flowing into and out of Town accounts on EHCT’s behalf. Including the paycheck for EHCT’s sole employee, Irene Cone. A company with an 800K bank account ought to be able to manage its own finances.
6. To date EHCT has not had any detailed financial audit conducted and has actively attempted to dodge DPUC demands for an audit.
EHCT has submitted a plan to bring the station up to modern standards, albeit in the same location. They have also sought to rectify the non-profit issue, albeit after the fact and at great expense to you and I. If I were a DPUC commissioner I am not sure I could excuse the past 20 years in light of the recent progress. I don’t know the people involved in EHCT and I’m sure they are nice people, but I’m skeptical that after 20 years of mismanagement they can turn on a dime and properly run the station. I’d likely take action against EHCT and put the station in fresh hands.
