Cable TV Bulk rates

Started by PatrickO1 • 7 replies • 2659 views

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PatrickO1 (Michigan)
Posts: 13

Posted:

The Association I'm a member of has 82 units. Included in the monthly assessment is the charge for basic cable. It was added to the month assessment 20 years ago when the Association could get a significantly reduced rate. The cable service is through Charter. Many owners now have additional services such as expanded TV coverage, Internet, additional TV set top boxes, IP phones, etc. Other Owners only use their Condo during the summer so if we did not have a bulk contract they would turn-off their individual service for six months a year and save $$s that way. We are trying to decide if the Association contract for basic service is still worth it. Our existing contract is up for renewal. Does anyone know what is a reasonable discount percentage to receive when signing a bulk contract? How much off regular residential rates should we expect?

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Good question. Sorry I don't know the answer.

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

Patrick,

My advice for your association would be to get out of the cable business.

Twenty years ago cable provided just TV. Today cable providers offer TV, internet, and phone service in all kinds of packages. In Phoenix, where I live, I can get all those services from both my local cable company and my local telephone company. But I get my TV through satellite, my cell phone is my only phone, and I get my internet from the cable company. My cell phone carrier also offers some plans that effectively includes internet service, too. There are also a few wireless internet service providers, but they seem to cater mostly to businesses.

There are so many options and so many plans within those options that your association is doing your members a disservice by trying to force one cable provider on them. No matter how you do it only a handful of residents will be happy with whatever your association can negotiate for them while the rest of the owners will be at BOD's throat.

GreggT (Florida)
Posts: 77

Posted:

We just went through the very same thing. We got bids from three suppliers, Comcast, WOW, Dish Network plus a local provider that we presently had service with. We ended up staying with our local provider with a 40% reduction in rates.
To the person who suggested the HOA get out of the cable business I don't think understands the complexity of the issue. Normally unless you went with dishes, no company would want to spring for the wiring expense unless they were guaranteed a certain number of hook-ups. Do you really want a cover of various dishes all over the place? If it is a condo complex, you could not do that anyway.
My suggestion is to get bids for the service, see what you can do.

RichardP13 (California)
Posts: 3,868

Posted:

I agree that in the right circumstances, bulk cable service deals are very beneficially to a community. It can provide uniformity in the number of discs, and placement. I have dealt with two such deals, both with savings to the community of a minimum of 50%. These are for basic services and the prices are included in the monthly assessments. Any upgrades are a separate contract with the homeowners and are invoiced individually.

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

Among other factors, an HOA is required to comply with the FCC's OTARD (Over-The-Air-Reception-Devices) rules. See:
https://www.fcc.gov/guides/over-air-reception-devices-rule

The rule "prohibits restrictions that impair the installation, maintenance or use of antennas used to receive video programming." Charging a person who wishes to use satellite for cable service that he neither uses nor desires may be a violation of the rule.

BTW, I had cable TV service and found it unreliable. My satellite TV provider says to expect outages of about 2 hours per year; I usually had that much outage per week with cable. As I write this I am looking at the icon in the corner of my screen to see if my cable internet will stay connected long enough to post this message; it has been on and off for the last hour.

As to the issue of cabling, the condo complex should install and own the cable back to a hook-up point. You should not allow some third party to staple coaxial cable willy-nilly all over the outside of your buildings.

GreggT (Florida)
Posts: 77

Posted:

Larry you need to check with your legal team before making such assumptions, HOA's all over ban the use of satellite antennas. While I'm not a lawyer I can be assured before such language is inserted into the CCR's it is properly vetted by high powered lawyers. The banning of attaching a satellite antenna to an outside wall (common area) of a condo is a no brainer.
On your second part, most likely this is the case on the wiring where the original pricing included such wiring to the point of attachment. This is the reason most original contracts go for 5-7 years in order for the communication company to pay back their original investment. In addition all condo complexes I know of have a conduit system installed to run wiring such as this to the before mentioned contact point.

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By GreggT on 09/29/2015 10:01 AM
Larry you need to check with your legal team before making such assumptions, HOA's all over ban the use of satellite antennas.

First, I am my "legal team." I have been for the last 35 years.

I included a reference to the FCC's own website for those who might seek enlightenment.

Quote:

While I'm not a lawyer

Knock me over with a feather!

Quote:

I can be assured before such language is inserted into the CCR's it is properly vetted by high powered lawyers.

High-powered lawyers do not waste their time on condo's. Those who dabble in HOA law are the ones who were rejected by the high-powered law firms, the collection agencies, and the ambulance chasers. I put little faith in anything they do.

Quote:

The banning of attaching a satellite antenna to an outside wall (common area) of a condo is a no brainer.

Yes, the FCC does not require community housing to allow owners or residents to drill holes in walls or roofs, according to their website. An association may not, however, prevent the owner from placing a dish on an exclusive-use area such as a balcony.

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