Bulk cable TV contract is coming due?

A committee evaluates and organizes the decision to present to the board and the members. They do NOT make the actual decision. That is up to the membership or the board to make the final vote. Don't like the decision, then get a majority together to vote down or present their idea to the committee. HOA's are ruled by majority. So I'd suggest working on a plan your happy with and submitting it for consideration. Why not? or do you want others to do the work for you?

Yes, they do have the power to enter into contracts like this. but its a really, really bad idea to force everyone to pay for internet, DVR, HD channels & other add ons for $150 month when all they want is basic cable for around $38 month. Many people I know dont even have internet, they simply use their phone.

Lets say the board does vote this in and the residents are against it, you can expect a riot and everyone on the board being tossed out of power. The new board could also have the power to cancel the contract.

People should be able to pick whoever they want for internet, tv, etc. Free market.

Yep, it can be less expensive.

It can also limit technology. For example, the cable company didn't start installing fiber until after Verizon started laying fiber in our area and people were transferring over for the faster internet service.

Technology changes quickly in this market. Having a long bulk service contract (which usually also carries an exclusive right for the development) can impede the availability of technological options.

At the very least, if considering a long contract, be sure to compare apples to apples:

Cable or Fiber (fiber will allow more bandwidth in the same space, therefore upgrades are more likely to occur).

Minimum internet speed

Which channels are covered (many packages differ between companies)

Type of Equipment and charges (along with options for equipment upgrades)

Services available (regardless if included as part of the bulk service)

How system is wired (if you understand this as it goes to speed of internet during peak times)


Absolute truth.

I'm with JohnC. Why can't homeowners choose their own packages of services or even none? I believe that forcing them to pay for things that they do not want and will never use is exceedingly undemocratic.

Oh, but wait. Do your governing documents, probably your CC&Rs, say that the HOA provides x, y. or z cable services? Exactly what services are specified? If so, you're bought into it and are stuck with it, but you Owners still can put pressure on the Board to limit the contract to basic services and enter into a contract that each individual can add onto.

Is there just one board and one HOA, TR? If so, pressure them hard to put the responsibility on themselves!

Say, what are your monthly dues use now? A very fancy new contract might may make dues raise further than your governing documents or FL permit in one year.

The free market is all well and good but utility franchises are often monopolies and consumers don't always have a choice. Where I am there's Comcast, AT&T U-Verse and DirecTV as choices for television service. Scratch off DirecTV for internet. Comcast vs AT&T does represent a choice for "cable" TV, I guess, but neither is really good and both have abominable customer service. In my opinion that's not much choice at all.

All of the companies suck. Hardly a reason for an untrained, uneducated, unprofessional HOA board to be in the middle of things.

I'd kill for $60 a month TV and internet. Well, not really, but still. We don't have a bulk contract, everyone is on their own. We're north of $160 a month and that's with a middle-of-the-road channel package.

We tried to do this in our community with a much, much smaller amount of homes. The cable company made all sorts of promises, which we included in the materials needed for homeowners to approve with a two-thirds vote. Well, they approved it and then we got the actual contract, which was very different from what we had been promised and essentially gave the company the option to change the services at any time. There was also no change of control agreement and this company was later sold. We backed off of the contract and we are now glad we did.

Two thoughts:
1. The committee had better see what's going on in Congress re Federal regulation of cable companies. For example, I believe there's a good chance that a bill will be passed allowing homeowners to purchase their own cable boxes rather than being charged the current outrageous rental rates. Also, there have been various moves afoot to unbundle various programing packages to let consumer pick and choose.

2. Focus on the Internet services and less on the TV programs. Internet streaming is the way things are moving and there will come a time when most of your programming will be delivered that way. It is why younger people are detaching themselves from cable and using Internet services plus an HD antenna to get their TV. Even our own antiquated cable company now offers a discounted Internet+HD antenna package, although they hardly promote it because it's undoubtedly less profitable than the $200+ premium programming packages that they sell.

Good luck to the committee. This kind of negotiation is no fun.

I'm with you, Steve, UNLESS TR2's docs say the HOA provides this serve.

A pool or park isnt a utility you pay for based on usage. Cable, internet. Phone, water, electicity is.....

You would pay for a pool or park whether or not you used it. You could put you own pool in. Same as cable or TV, whether you took advantage of the saving depends on you.

Most condos, because they may not be sub metered have gas and water included in their assessments. A single person generally will not use the same water as a family of 5 with three kids. Same with a larger unit in the winter trying to keep warm.

It's called commune living for a reason.

Maybe, because they voted for it.

Our new comcast bill came and it jumped to over $210 a month. We don't even get HBO! I would kill for $60 a month at this moment.

In the case of TR2, as they stated, the developer had put it in place.

Richard: just because the developer made this contract for 10 years does not mean the HOA is required to get another one. Only the governing documents can tell us this.

Comcast has plans as low as $20. If your paying $210 a month, its because you choose to pay that much.

Exactly! Even if the governing documents permit the HOA to contract for cable tv service, how is that any different than having a phrase in the HOA documents that states "each year upon the recorded owner's birthday, recorded owner will receive a $25 check in appreciation of their being a member of the HOA."

Still relevant today!

TR2: Why would any Board member enter into a 10 year contract for a technology product/service?