Comcast Contract with HOA.

Started by FredW5 • 37 replies • 2590 views

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FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Helo.
Our Master Board , which represents 12 communities and 80 residents,has a ten year contract with Comcast Cable which expires soon. It is a ten year contract, and included basic cable service and HBO and an extra cable box per homeowner which becomes an addition to the HOA dues. .With all the technological changes coming and available such as streaming,Many homeowners do not want to lock themselves into a ten year contract. Has anyone negotiated or have experience in these shorter contracts?
Thanks for your input.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Fred

I would do a poll of the 80 and the first question asked would be would they like to keep Comcast at its present cost to you?

The second question would be keep it at what lower cost to you?

The 3rd question would be shall we do away with it and its cost to you?

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Adding to John's great suggestion, you might want to get some numbers from Comcast and provide that to the homeowners as well, so they'll know how much more they may have to pay (probably not less because cable's ALWAYS going up!)

Personally, I'd dump it and let each homeowner get whatever service they want on their own dime, if that's possible (if you're in a rural area where services may be spotty to begin with, this could be tricky)

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

FloridaC1 (Florida)
Posts: 27

Posted:

As mentioned with all the options for streaming, I suggest to my Associations with soon to expire cable contracts to drop them & save the owners money and let them make their own choices. For example a 62 unit condominium paying $39.95 per unit could save $29,722.80 per year. That's HUGE.

The biggest issue is with the older owners who are afraid of change and uncertain how to navigate cable only streaming. It's a great topic for a board meeting...

FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Thanks for your input. So far it seems that each of the 12 communities mat want to negotiate their own deals. I think there is better negotiating power is the master board of all communities negotiate one blanket contract, or as suggested, each resident negotiate their own . I fear that many may want a blanket contract, but not for ten years.( pardon any spelling errors. I just had cataract surgery.)

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,061

Posted:

Typically, exclusive use contracts provide some benefit to those who enter into them (free internet for the clubhouse, etc. as an example).

This should be explored as well as a survey of members to see what they think.

If there is competition, then shorter contracts should be possible. If there is little or no competition, then the cable company will likely specify the terms.

Personally, I agree with others who say not to renew and let everyone make their own decisions. Problem is, this is a master association which may have decision factors that don't impact all communities.

GeorgeS21 (Florida)
Posts: 3,808

Posted:

There will always be disagreement in these cases.

Are there really only 80 owners of 12 sub communities of a master?

Questions:
1. will the large contract be significantly less per owner?
2. are other suppliers of like service available?
3. what special motivators will comcast provide
4. is a 10 yr contract required?
5. what are the costs of 3, 5, and 10 year contracts
7. has comcast been a good vendor?

FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Correction. Its 800+ residents, and there is competition from ATT, and Hotwire (SP) class="NTForums_Quote">Posted By FredW5 on 01/20/2021 2:00 PM
Helo.
Our Master Board , which represents 12 communities and 800 plus residents,has a ten year contract with Comcast Cable which expires soon. It is a ten year contract, and included basic cable service and HBO and an extra cable box per homeowner which becomes an addition to the HOA dues. .With all the technological changes coming and available such as streaming,Many homeowners do not want to lock themselves into a ten year contract. Has anyone negotiated or have experience in these shorter contracts?
Thanks for your input.

FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Thanks for your response. There are 12 Communities with 800 plus Homeowners.

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Also consider the likelihood of fiber optics becoming available in your area in the next few years. Cable is old technology - and believe me, the cable companies know it - so at the very least I would expect significant concessions from Comcast in order to sign a contract of any length. And fiber may well be old technology in the not too distance future (I vaguely remember reading something about Elon Musk wanting to provide internet service via satellite).

Personal opinion: I don't like HOAs providing this sort of service at all, I think it should be up to homeowners to decide what they want. Even if you consider cable to be a utility, homeowners still have individual accounts with the local gas and electricity providers or the water company or the trash collection company. And these are what I consider essential services. A person can live very well without cable, thank you very much, although some would argue with me.

Technology changes too fast, and developing the necessary infrastructure may be too expensive, for an HOA to consider the risk of investing in one company and one technology. Let the service providers take on the risk.

GeorgeS21 (Florida)
Posts: 3,808

Posted:

The world of data services has changed in the last 10 years - at one point it might have made sense to support a wrap contract, but unless the pricing is really advantageous, it might be more reasonable for folks to choose on their own ... assuming those alternative companies can support as effectively as comcast.

I would certainly know this prior to acting in any regard.

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

Honestly best idea would be to contract with a ble/communications specialist. We did and it worked out wonderfully. They know all the ins and outs and the costs can be structured as a % of what the save you. If interested I have a wonderful recommendation, they are lited in Central FL but will travel

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

When started this similar process i headed up the team and we set out to do away with a telecommunications contract but the savings were so large vs everyone getting there own we ended w 10 year deal ( this was in 2018 )

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Thanks for the input. I appreciate the suggestion. . Last consultant cost us over 30000 dollars for advice and retainer.

FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Thanks. We don’t want to lock into a ten year contract again, especially with competition now in our area, and the fast changing technology which will make programs available without using hard wired cables we would like to negotiate yearly or 3-4 year contract .

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

Quite honestly, with technology now rapidly evolving to broadband, I would not enter into a longterm contract with a cable tv provider. Cable Tv as it once was is a thing of the past.
Technology is rapidly changing to Apple TV like hotspots for programming content. I highly doubt wire-line based television service will exist in the next ten years other than fiberoptic connections to each home.

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

FredW- when we contracted our consultant, there was no retainer just a % of savings once contract was signed ( I'm sure they all work a bit different) . Ending up giving him a % of the door fees we received from the cable company which worked out as no costs to us.
Not sure we would sign a long term deal But you will most likely need internet for quite a while. Bulk deals on that should provide all your residents a savings over a retail price.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Wayne raised an interesting point in that what do people need/want from a provider? Most want/need high speed internet. The need/desire drops off for other services offered such as cable TV, land line, etc.

All homes can get satellite TV (Direct TV or Dish TV) and many are cutting the cable TV cable. Many are cutting the land line with cell phones. Thus the only advantage I see is high speed Internet. Bargain for high speed Internet alone. Other services between the homeowner and the provider as not in the bulk contract.

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

Yes find out what your community wants/needs and get a bulk savings for all

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By CathyA3 on 01/21/2021 6:32 AM
Also consider the likelihood of fiber optics becoming available in your area in the next few years. Cable is old technology - and believe me, the cable companies know it - so at the very least I would expect significant concessions from Comcast in order to sign a contract of any length. And fiber may well be old technology in the not too distance future (I vaguely remember reading something about Elon Musk wanting to provide internet service via satellite).

Not Elon Musk necessarily. Video service via satellites is already dying. AT&T has been desperately trying to unload DirecTV for which they paid $49 million in 2015 (total purchas price was $67 when existing debt was included in the deal). Subscriber numbers droppped about 17% in the 4 years following the purchase. They have no path to sellling it without sustaing a huge loss on their untimely purchase.

I wouldn't want to be locked into ANY contract for cable and/or internet service right now. Given a choice I would run away from Comcast. There's a reason their customer service is among the worst in the country. Fiber is pretty good if you can get it. Verizon, at least, has stopped rolling it out for the most part (FiOS). They want to drive customers into the wireless space. There's a reason wireless 5G is ramping up now.

With any contract it's possible you might wind up someplace you regret in 10 years' time. Maybe 5 years' time when you're unhappy and still on the hook for another 5 years. I'd tell them to stick it and just assume they're lying to you if when they break out the high-pressure sales tactics.

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

Our Community has fiber

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By WayneN on 01/22/2021 5:48 PM
Our Community has fiber

Fiber is very good. We had FiOS when we lived in New York and were very happy with it. Then we moved to Florida where Comcast is the only realistic option, and it's not fiber. AT&T had offered fiber service for a while (UVerse) but it wasn't available in our area despite a neighboring community or two having it. Eventually their UVerse offering ceased being fiber service and became nothing more than DSL over copper. Decent speeds but not fiber. And the cost, coupled with AT&T's shady billing practices (constantly increasing fees that they claimed were due to the government (which was false)) steered us away. Now you can't get fiber at all in my small-ish county. They'll happily sell you a wireless 5G plan.

FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Spome of our communities do have fiber. Only problem is, that once it enters the home to the TV set,, it becomes regular transmission cable.

FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Thanks, Wayne. Your recommendation would be appreciated.

FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By WayneN on 01/22/2021 9:22 AM
FredW- when we contracted our consultant, there was no retainer just a % of savings once contract was signed ( I'm sure they all work a bit different) . Ending up giving him a % of the door fees we received from the cable company which worked out as no costs to us.
Not sure we would sign a long term deal But you will most likely need internet for quite a while. Bulk deals on that should provide all your residents a savings over a retail price.

Thanks, Wayne. Your recommendation would be appreciated

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

Fred, Can I post the Company on here or is there a way to send a private message to you ?

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

As far as fiber there is fiber to the home or fiber to the node, I dont know of any fiber that enters the home. ( i may be wrong )

GeorgeS21 (Florida)
Posts: 3,808

Posted:

Our ATT fiber comes into the house, then to ethernet.

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By GeorgeS21 on 01/23/2021 11:30 AM
Our ATT fiber comes into the house, then to ethernet.

As does ours.

FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By GeorgeS21 on 01/23/2021 11:30 AM
Our ATT fiber comes into the house, then to ethernet.

Thanks. Im not clear. Cables from the wall in your house into your TV, modem, etc, are also Fiber cables?r???. Usually they are Coaxial cables, which defeats the optical at that point..

FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By WayneN on 01/23/2021 10:19 AM
Fred, Can I post the Company on here or is there a way to send a private message to you ?

You can email me at [email protected] Thanks, Wayne.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By FredW5 on 01/23/2021 1:30 PM

Posted By GeorgeS21 on 01/23/2021 11:30 AM
Our ATT fiber comes into the house, then to ethernet.

Thanks. Im not clear. Cables from the wall in your house into your TV, modem, etc, are also Fiber cables?r???. Usually they are Coaxial cables, which defeats the optical at that point..

There still has to be a "modem/converter between the fiber cable end point and an Internet device such as there presently is.

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

Yes the fiber runs underground and comes up at each homes ONT which is either inside or outside the home depending on where it was installed. Then from the ONT ,coax or etherent

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

Sending it now.

WayneN (Florida)
Posts: 35

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By FredW5 on 01/23/2021 1:34 PM

Posted By WayneN on 01/23/2021 10:19 AM
Fred, Can I post the Company on here or is there a way to send a private message to you ?

You can email me at [email protected] Thanks, Wayne.

Tried sending, say invalid email ??

FredW5 (Florida)
Posts: 177

Posted:

Wayne, [email protected] is working fine here. I am receiving and sending with no problems. Perhaps try again., Thanks.
Fred.

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