internet provider

Started by WilliamW14 • 15 replies • 470 views

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WilliamW14 (California)
Posts: 13

Posted:

I am the clubhouse chairman and looking for a internet provider for our
clubhouse in a 55 plus community any help would be appreciate.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

There are many options.

You need to see what is available around you.

Start with the service you have in your home (as you know the cabling is already within the development). Then call their competitors.

Cell providers are starting to utilize 5G as home internet. You might want to see what options they might have as well.

Basically, the same options for providers you have in your home will be the same options for providers you will have for the clubhouse.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Have you gotten approval from the board to pursue this? Plus who is the providers in your area? They may be limited who offers service. I would avoid Comcast due to a variety of reasons. Remember the cable bill will not be "free" so need to make sure to put it in the budget. If it's in the clubhouse may be able to cover it with the rental fees.

Former HOA President

ThomasP13 (Ohio)
Posts: 87

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By WilliamW14 on 02/05/2022 7:25 PM
I am the clubhouse chairman and looking for a internet provider for our
clubhouse in a 55 plus community any help would be appreciate.

Does your clubhouse currently have cable tv? If so, I'd recommend adding Internet service to that bundle and then connecting the modem to a wifi router for wireless connectivity.

What's the business need for the Association providing Internet service in your clubhouse?

WilliamW14 (California)
Posts: 13

Posted:

our clubhouse overlooks a lake and we were thinking of adding a amenity for people that used the clubhouse

WilliamW14 (California)
Posts: 13

Posted:

our clubhouse overlooks a lake and we were thinking of adding a amenity for people that used the clubhouse

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Oh that makes it a different monster. Adding an amenity is a much bigger deal. One I would avoid. You have to add that to your documents that your HOA provide cable in your clubhouse. Which opens a whole new can of worms. People will get confused that the HOA will or should include cable in their dues. Which should not be the case unless you all agree to one cable company. Which I still would avoid as not everyone will want the same channels or don't get "pay per view" is on them.

So I would maybe offer wifi option that someone can stream. I would not do a cable TV package.

Former HOA President

ThomasP13 (Ohio)
Posts: 87

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 02/07/2022 4:28 AM
Oh that makes it a different monster. Adding an amenity is a much bigger deal. One I would avoid. You have to add that to your documents that your HOA provide cable in your clubhouse. Which opens a whole new can of worms. People will get confused that the HOA will or should include cable in their dues. Which should not be the case unless you all agree to one cable company. Which I still would avoid as not everyone will want the same channels or don't get "pay per view" is on them.

So I would maybe offer wifi option that someone can stream. I would not do a cable TV package.

Streaming over wifi hammers the bandwidth. If anything, bandwidth for any one connection should be throttled specifically to make streaming impractical, at least after X number of connections. It's a shared resource.

I envisioned a clubhouse with enough traffic that it has at least one tv at the bar that already has cable service. If not, then clubhouse use is probably light enough that someone wanting an internet connection can simply use their phone as a hot spot, which is what's going on now.

But, even if there's no current media service, the solution, without knowing the specifics of the location, is almost certainly the area cable provider. Here, it's Spectrum. How much bandwidth to pay for each month really turns on how many people are expected to be accessing the wifi at any one time; the greater the number, the bigger the pipe needs to be. The Association hopefully has an *experienced* tech person available who can select the proper wifi router for the location and need and do the configuration.

I wish my own building had community wifi, but it's not a deal-breaker. Wifi in the clubhouse is a nice amenity.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

Thomas making this an amenity makes it a new kettle of fish. Which takes on a whole new process. You can not just add an amenity without proper vote of not just board but general membership. It has to be covered by dues. Do I want my dues paying for cable TV or wifi at a seldom used clubhouse?

Former HOA President

JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 02/07/2022 5:43 AM
Thomas making this an amenity makes it a new kettle of fish. Which takes on a whole new process. You can not just add an amenity without proper vote of not just board but general membership. It has to be covered by dues. Do I want my dues paying for cable TV or wifi at a seldom used clubhouse?

The internet service in our clubhouse is treated as a monthly business expense. The primary purpose for the service is to conduct monthly board meetings and offer remote attendance to homeowners. Annual meetings are also available this way. The equipment is leased from the cable company so there is no maintenance to plan for. It is simply a monthly fee. Our router is configured with guest access that allows people sitting around the pool to use the Wi-Fi. Our cable provider does not require long term contracts and it can be cancelled anytime.

We do not treat this as an amenity that requires any type of vote.

BenA2 (Texas)
Posts: 1,273

Posted:

Quote:

I respectfully disagree. Providing Wi-Fi is no different than adding a TV or a ceiling fan to the clubhouse. You are simply enhancing an amenity that already exists (the clubhouse). Of course, you have to follow your governing documents. Even if you accept the argument that it is a new amenity, there is no universal rule that says the membership has to approve it. Our board has the authority to build or install anything in our common area without membership approval. Our only limit is that we must get membership approval for anything over a certain dollar threshold, if the item is not in the budget.

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

It is not the same as adding a TV or new furniture. It is a new Service that everyone has to agree to pay for out of their dues. Would you agree to pay for clubhouse cable or wifi if it is not used on a daily basis or benefit to owners?

Plus has to be updated in the governing documents the cable for clubhouse is either part of your dues or part of clubhouse rental expenses.

Former HOA President

LoriM15 (Florida)
Posts: 1,009

Posted:

We have free wi-fi at our clubhouses (we have two, one holds the master association office). It's part of the cable package Comcast provides that includes tv and internet. We use the television for tv's in the fitness rooms. We use the internet for the office. We provide the wi-fi throughout the area for the convenience of our homeowners.

We also use the internet for a portion of our security system and our cameras.

For the OP, you might want to check to see if you already have internet coming into your clubhouse for your security system and can just supplement it somehow for your purposes.

I'm sorry, but I can't agree that adding wi-fi or any kind of internet connection is adding an amenity. It's adding a necessary communication system that is expected in most places. I can see if you lived in a very small condo association it might not be attractive. But if you have a large enought HOA that you have a clubhouse, I believe your members would be happy to pay the small incremental cost to upgrade to have internet/wi-fi.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

I can see the association paying for an internet connection in the clubhouse if used for HOA business as a business expense. The question is do we put it in a WiFi Router (at little expense) so others can use it? As far as adding TV, that is a good question.

JohnT38 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,631

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JohnC46 on 02/07/2022 10:05 AM
I can see the association paying for an internet connection in the clubhouse if used for HOA business as a business expense. The question is do we put it in a WiFi Router (at little expense) so others can use it? As far as adding TV, that is a good question.

The same Wi-Fi router that the board uses is also used by others. The router is configured with a secured network for the board and then a locked down network for guests. The end result is there is no additional cost associated with guests using the internet.

In our case I believe the small monthly charge has paid for itself many times over. We held frequent remote meetings with owners to go over proposed changes in our governing documents that ultimately helped us get our new governing docs approved. We also held closed board meetings were we streamed educational board seminars that helped all of understand how to run an HOA. It has also increased participation of monthly meetings since people can attend in person or virtually. I see internet access as a cost of doing business. The fact that owners can use it also is a secondary benefit.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Most people have smartphones with data. Those same phones can be a wifi hotspot with a click of a button. So with this knowledge, do you need the added expense of wifi, paid for by all homeowners?

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