Bulk billing questions

I received an email about possible changes to the bulk billing agreement and have a couple of questions.

If we transition to individual retail services:
1. Are we forced to buy only from Verizon?
2. What role will the SWHOA play or will it be dissolved because there is nothing for it to do?

 

>>1. Are we forced to buy only from Verizon?

As of today, Verizon is the only wired internet service provider for SouthernWalk community.

>>2. What role will the SWHOA play, or will it be dissolved because there is nothing for it to do?

Homeowners have until December 16th to submit their Bulk Billing Consents.
SWHOA Board will announce the choice of the community in the mid-January, 2025 meeting.

I suggest everyone to attend the annual meeting to discuss these issues to be held on Monday, October 28 at 6:30PM at Wax pool Community center. This is an in-person only meeting.

Shashi Aadipudi
President SWHOA

 

Thanks for the reply. To clarify my first question, I was also wondering if we could not use Verizon and go with something like T-Mobile home 5G internet?

 

You can subscribe to any service of your choice.

 

I hope to make it to the meeting on Monday but either way, you will need to provide the community a better, more detailed explanation of what we face if the Bulk billing arrangement goes away. I have lived here since 2005 and one thing I can safely say is that apathy will likely win the election once again. Given the amount of or lack of information provided thus far tells me we have not learned these lessons. Do we have a Verizon resource that we can work with on addressing our multiple questions about Fios TV, Internet and phone packages? Will someone be there Monday night?

Calling the main customer service is useless since they do not understand our specific situation and I hate wasting hours on the phone. And thank you for all of your hard work, I appreciate your efforts.

 

Dave,

Hope to see you in the meeting tomorrow.

 

+1

 

But do we have POC or a special phone number we can call to get Verizon questions answered?

 

Hi there -

We are very interested in what was shared at the meeting this past Monday.

We acknowledge that the letters state that we should do our due diligence, but, really, are there any choices besides Verizon or Verizon? They are the only wired company in our neighborhood. Are we missing something here?

Was there a representative from Verizon at the meeting?

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Belinda

 

Belinda,

Monday's annual meeting was open only to members of SWHOA. We cannot discuss the proceedings in an open forum like this.

>>We acknowledge that the letters state that we should do our due diligence, but, really, are there any choices besides Verizon or Verizon?

Verizon is the only service provider to Southern Walk community at this time.

 

While Verizon is the only wired (fiber) provider, other providers offer cell based home service. While we don't want home cell based service, it might work for you.

 

This used to be open only to SWHOA members and closed to all others. Can that be reinstated?

 

+1
this specific forum subject was restricted for Southernwalk residents only in the past.. is that no longer the case?

 

If I recall correctly, it was username and password-enabled, but I don't believe the SWHOA ever vetted any accounts for proof of residency.

There was also at one time a private Facebook group. The board, at the time, was asked to be more transparent by its members, and the response was to stop using the Facebook group.

 

Forgive me if this is outlined in the mailer - it’s not jumping out at me…. How long is the proposed new bulk billing agreement for? Would the rate ever change/escalate during the term?

 

So if I understand it correctly continuing bulk billing will be more beneficial to folks who are NOT using verizon wireless. The rates will go up if you go the retail way and there is no alternative to fios.

 

If we receive enough consents to amend the declaration... Our goal would be to limit the term of new bulk billing agreement to 3 years with no rate hikes.

 

A different point.

When this all started a decade or so ago, a realtor pointed out the SWHOA houses took longer to sell and sold for less than other Broadlands houses because there were two HOAs. They said it didn't matter if the second HOA did good things, buyers just don't like two HOAs.

As I understand it, the proposed amendments to the HOA will strengthen the HOA's existence into the future and make it difficult to dissolve.

I'm not sure how the rest of Broadlands gets internet. I think it is done with a Verizon BBA through the regular HOA. If this is true, why can't the SWHOA be absorbed into the Broadlands and handled via Broadlands HOA? This would get rid of the second HOA and the associated impact of a second HOA.

 

The rest of Broadlands has no telecom contracts and each house can pick who they want…..Verizon, Comcast, Directv, or whatever services out there that are available.

 

Since the community has at least one good vendor who is willing provide services on retail basis, there is neither a necessity nor an obligation for the SWHOA to continue providing telecom services via bulk billing arrangements in perpetuity. Community will be able pull the plug anytime it wishes.