mandatory cable fees

Started by ChandlerW • 2 replies • 1347 views

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ChandlerW (Florida)
Posts: 3

Posted:

Our association has had difficulties with its cable provider that it has provided for the community. The cable company, adss, has been trying to correct their problems for over a year now and have yet to resolve basic issues. The problem is that our association has stated that it is mandatory that the owners pay the cable fees even if a owner chooses another provider. Is this legal what are our options?

DonnaS (Tennessee)
Posts: 5,671

Posted:

Chandler,

When a developer builds a community, his documents usually have a statement that all units in the developement will be "provided with a community cable service"
A standard cable contract is signed with an asscoiation, usually giving them a discount or special price, to provide all of the units in a developement with the service. The fee for this comes out of your association or homeowner dues.
Most cable companys will allow you to upgrade on an individual basis but use it or not, you will have it served to your property.
Unfortunately, the cable companys have had very little competition between each other, with most areas being exclusively served but that is changing now with sattelite T.V. and fiber optics. But it is your entire association that will have to get rid of paying for it from your community.

HaroldS (Arizona)
Posts: 906

Posted:

It depends if you agreed to this when you purchased the home. Request a copy of the cable contract to verify and determine if it can be changed by member vote, if enough are unhappy with service. Also contact your state utility regulation commission. A year is a long time to be paying for something not being provided.
We have cable connected to each home and wired into whatever rooms were wanted when built, but no mandatory subscription. In addition we have to allow satellite dishes which are allowed under Federal law. Harold

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