Wifi at clubhouse

Started by DavidN6 • 11 replies • 3072 views

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DavidN6 (Georgia)
Posts: 3

Posted:

I am the president of HOA (300 homes) and brought to the board adding a wifi network at our community clubhouse.
We would make it an open network since monitoring who is up on their dues and who is not would be a nightmare.
There would be no hacking/data risk since no computer would be hooked up to the wifi in the clubhouse.
We would connect straight to the phone company.

My question is: Has anyone implemented a WIFI at their clubhouse/pool and what are the pros and cons?

We are in GA and have reviewed this with our HOA attorney who said the HOA is opening itself up to some
small amount of liability by providing the service to anyone with a wifi device.

Your help/input to this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
David

DavidW5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 565

Posted:

Our clubhouse has had an open wifi network since it opened in 2004. We are currently looking into expanding the network coverage to the patio and outdoor pool deck.

I am not aware of any issues or any potential liability related to this network.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

David,

I'm not an attorney and I do not work within the legal profession. I suspect someone could make an argument that the Association could have been negligent by allowing anyone to access if they could prove that this unfettered access resulted in a scam, exposure of inappropriate material to minors, etc.

I don't think the argument would win but the Association may have to expend funds to defend itself from such action.

IF you can share, what liability did your Attorney say could happen?

Tim

DavidN6 (Georgia)
Posts: 3

Posted:

Like you said, attorney said the exposure of HOA is for possible offensive content to other people at pool/clubhouse/tennis courts.

The liability policy for the HOA should cover legal expenses if we were named in a suit.

FredS7 (Arizona)
Posts: 927

Posted:

> We would make it an open network since monitoring who is up on their dues and who is not would be a nightmare.

There is nothing that says you HAVE to restrict it to those who have paid dues.

You could use a (distributed to the entire association) password to control access. That is better practice and shows an intent to limit access to the association.

KellyM3 (North Carolina)
Posts: 2,239

Posted:

I like the general concept of WiFi services for a community. Seek your internet provider's advice on filtering undesirable content and apply it to your free hotspot. You won't be negligent for adding a small filter or download file size limits and someone hacks around your good-faith efforts.

What a nice amenity!

BruceD1 (Georgia)
Posts: 59

Posted:

I agree "What a nice amenity!". Would each person have there own login like a neighborhood website? Or do you have one login that all current homeowners use and is changed once a year or monthly?

FredS7 (Arizona)
Posts: 927

Posted:

> Would each person have there own login like a neighborhood website?

This CAN be done but would take more systems management expertise than you may have available.

It is easy to set a security key, to be used by everyone.

CarolR11 (Colorado)
Posts: 2,563

Posted:

We're twin high rises and added wifi to each lobby about a year ago. There's a login for each lobby. Don't know much more than that except that residents like it.

Hadn't thought about changing the login every so often--makes sense.

DavidN6 (Georgia)
Posts: 3

Posted:

Great point about neighborhood password.

I'll get with the provider to see if they can filter or limit downloads.

KL4 (Georgia)
Posts: 15

Posted:

I am about to bring a quote for wi-fi service at our clubhouse to the board. I have a feeling they will shoot it down because Charter quoted us $210/month. We only have 90 homes and only a third of them actually use the pool to begin with. Has anyone else found a better deal price wise?

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

KL

While I am not a techie it seems to me you could bring an interent provider into the pool house (like Comcast, ATT, etc.) for about $40-50 a month then just tie a $50 wireless router on to it.

Hope this helps.

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