FCC Bans Exclusive Cable/Internet Deals Condo/HOA

Started by SteveM9 • 5 replies • 307 views

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SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

FYI:
FCC Bans Exclusive Cable/Internet Deals Condo/HOA
Ban also invalidates existing agreements

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/02/rebuffing-cable-lobby-fcc-bans-deals-that-block-competition-in-apartments/

LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679

Posted:

That's all fine and dandy, but what about cities and counties that stifle competition? What about companies that don't want to invest in the infrastructure to drop FO in a HOA.
Ill give you an example. a three lettered cable company has an exclusive deal here in the Las Vegas Metro area. There really is no competition because there is another telecom company in the area with
a C word name that either provides DSL service or high speed to select newer communities or communities this C word company decides to lay FO cable in. There really is no compassion and this
three letter C word company charges out the Wazoo for monthly internet.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Wired internet will become a loss soon. cell phone companies are selling home internet hubs for $50 and getting cheaper. satellite internet by starling is amazing. more choices are coming and none involve wire.

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

Very interesting.

FYI, if you're being held hostage by a single company, you may have some other options. A neighbor of mine used her mobile phone as a wifi hotspot, which may work if you're not interested in heavy internet use and your mobile phone provider has a reasonably priced data plan. Also, Mr. Musk is busy putting up satellites for his company (intended to provide internet in areas not served by cable or fiber optic). It's not particularly cheap and there are still a few kinks - I think a few of his satellites crashed into the atmosphere and burned up as a result of a recent solar flare.

But yeah, competition helps. Our local cable company had this market sown up for years, and their service improved markedly when the local phone company got into the fiops business.

AugustinD
Posts: 3,698

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By SteveM9 on 02/19/2022 7:29 PM
FYI:
FCC Bans Exclusive Cable/Internet Deals Condo/HOA
Ban also invalidates existing agreements

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/02/rebuffing-cable-lobby-fcc-bans-deals-that-block-competition-in-apartments/

-- I guess this is an effort to stop unfair trade and monopolistic practices.

-- I think many COAs have long been providing cable and/or internet service to individual units in violation of what their covenants say. As CathyA3 points out, with the technology improvements involving cellular phone hotspots, I think the time has come for COAs to stop offering and charging for amenities that are not listed in the covenants.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Its more complicated than simply making an FCC ruling. Every building is different.

A 40 story condo/hoa/apartment building with hundreds of units has much different setup than a neighborhood of single family homes.

Every situation will be unique. I'm curious how this will play out.

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