The Community Advocacy Network's Ask The Expert Forum

Do you have a general or technical question regarding a product or service ?
Meet our Corporate Sponsors and Ask A Question Pertaining to Their Area of Expertise . When a comprehensive answer is available we will post the questions and answers on our CAN website for the benefit of all of our members.

The following question(s) have been posted by our members:

Telecommunications

QUESTION:
Our Association has a current bulk cable contract that is expiring in the next several months. Our Board of Directors is trying to determine what would be best for our Association (whether it is renewing and continuing service with our current provider or bringing in another company). What are our options?

ANSWER:
There has never been a better time for your board to renegotiate the terms of your contract with your current company or to bring in another service provider. The cable company no longer has a monopoly and there are many other privately funded independent television, broadband, and telephone service providers in South Florida to consider. AT&T will also be launching their UVerse television product within the next year or so to certain areas of South Florida. Your board should immediately begin reviewing your existing cable contract with your attorney to determine when you must give notice to your current provider. Many cable contracts have language buried in the term section of the contract that mandates Associations to give notice to their service provider 90-120 days prior to the official expiration date of the contract. If notice is not given prior to the 90-120 days, the contracts automatically renew for another 2-5 years! The cable companies count on Associations not catching these provisions in the contract. We always advise Associations to give notice well before the notification period. This will give your current company notice that you are very serious about renegotiating your terms and that you are strongly considering another service provider. Once your Association gives notice to your current provider, it should send out at least 3-5 RFPs (request for proposals) to other providers in your area. Your Association should be able to bring in an even better deal than you currently are getting with better customer service! For more information on any issues affecting technology, communication or media services to multi-housing properties or for a DIRECTV central dish service proposal for your property - contact Corey Hayes with DirectPlus at 877 534 8201.

For more information, please contact Donna Berger at (954) 315-0372 or via email at dberger@canfl.com