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UCO Finance Committee effectively eliminates Wi-Fi in 2013 Budget.
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Over concerns of UCO Budget coupon increases, the UCO Finance Committee voted 50 cents per month per unit for Wi-Fi in Century Village. This fiscal action, if passed by the Delegate Assembly assures that there will be no Wi-Fi in 2013.
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I now call upon the Delegates at the next meeting on September 7, 2012, to override this decision by moving and passing a motion from the floor to allocate $2.00 per month per unit in order to assure that Century Village moves into the 21st. Century and acquires Wi-Fi in 2013.
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If you support this initiative please fill out the Wi-Fi survey form in the UCO reporter and turn it in to UCO. We have received over 300 of these forms, and 90% indicate a favorable response. Also, an increasing number of new applicants to purchase and rent in our Village ask if the Village is Wi-Fi ready.
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So, Delegates all, make a motion and send this short sighted decision of the Budget Committee back for reconsideration, and vote to allocate $2.00/month/unit in 2013 to make W-Fi happen.
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Dave Israel
President
United Civic Organization
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I vote YES. I have this in my condo, BUT, I would like to be able to use WI-FI ALL OVER CENTURY VILLAGE.
ReplyDeleteDave-Please clarify. Does this mean that we will no longer have to subscribe to outside source of computer cable service, such as Comcast, ATT, Verizon, etc? Can we simply connect to the internet via WiFi? Will this then save us all money each month?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bob B
Wi-Fi seems like a great idea for the Village and is undoubtedly the wave of the future—which is admittedly fast approaching—but I would respectfully vote no on it for now.
ReplyDeleteWi-Fi would financially greatly benefit some, including myself, but I suspect the majority of residents do not even have a computer, much less want “to learn a new thing” in getting hooked up to Wi-Fi. Even if it were a minority of residents that didn’t have a computer, if they were a large minority, I would want to consider their interests. Why should we all be paying for what will benefit only a few?
But $2.00 a month is so little, one might argue. But it’s not so little! These increases add up for our poor cost-beleaguered condo owners. I am against everyone paying an additional 99 cents to continue to pay for an attorney to fight Reflection Bay, because (1) THIS isn’t supported by everyone by a long shot, and (2) it’s another "small amount" that adds up.
How then can I be for the Wi-Fi outlay? I suggest we wait a while on this.
P.S. I would remind our bloggers that on the Wi-Fi issue the Blog is going to reflect the views of those who HAVE COMPUTERS!
Lanny,
ReplyDeleteYour points are very good, and I certainly respect them. Those of us who have to hook up to get high-speed computer service pay from $20. to maybe $50 per month for that service. I do have a computer, and I do have the resources to pay for the computer service. I would not want to further strap the finances of those who barely meet their condo dues, WPRF and of course, food and medicine!
Let's discuss this further, however.
Bob B
Hi Bob B.
ReplyDeleteSeptember 2, 2012 9:58 AM,
This is correct, with Wi-Fi, the standard ISP (Internet Service Provider) model become a superfluous expense.
Dave Israel
Hi David, I know we need to put this in the budget, but I wondered if it could wait for a vote when our seasonal residents are back? I am up north, can I download a form to fill out and send back?
ReplyDeleteThis week I was asked by a potential renter (indirectly, through the agent) if the village was WiFi ready. I don't think that it was a dealbreaker, but it would have been nice if the answer could have been yes.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a question of who owns a computer. Every person with a smartphone can switch to a cheaper plan if the whole village has WiFi. As I understand it, smartphone calls made in a WiFi zone do not use up minutes. Since most of your calls are made from home, or near it, you will require less minutes each month. So you can buy a cheaper plan. The phone switches from wifi to cellular automatically.
Am I thinking this right?
Hi Norma,
ReplyDeleteSeptember 2, 2012 12:16 PM,
The Interactive Wi-Fi survey form is in the BLOG sidebar, under Interactive Forms.
Dave Israel
Hi Don4060,
ReplyDeleteSeptember 2, 2012 3:07 PM,
If a device uses the INTERNET, it can connect by Wi-Fi.
Check with each carrier as to if your plan will be affected.
Dave Israel
To WIFI or not is a simple answer to another question. Do we want to see our vacant condos or have them rot. There are so few younger 50s, 60s and 70s people who do not have computers. Why keep the village in the past? While I really feel for people who are struggling I believe that we are by far a village of middle class people. We cannot keep not spending on HBOs and WIFIS and hope to have a vibrant community where people want to live with all the amenities that go with a vibrant village. It makes a wonderful selling point to say we are totally WIFI in the village and that we have HBO.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI own a unit in Dorchester and am a snowbird. I follow the blog and everything associated with CV. I find the possibility of not continuing on this such 'forward thinking' path very sad.
Unfortunately most of the snowbirds are not present or even aware of this WiFi issue; they are numerous and would definitely support a WiFi charge of $2.00/month. The older members of CV don't realize the benefits that could become available to them with WiFi i.e direct communications with family back home, medical surveillance, security monitoring and even everyday enjoyment of utilizing the Internet etc...... They don't have to be computer literate to utilize the so many WiFi tools available to them today.
You have my support and we need to get the message out to all residents, snowbirds and seniors that this could fail, because of the Finance Committee not fully understanding the potential impact of not having such a service. The only other option would be Comcast or whatever at $40/ month and that I know is not affordable for the many financially strapped seniors of CV. They must be made aware of what could be available for them with this low cost WiFi. Maybe someone needs to list all the available tools that are available when one has WiFi.
In response to those who do not participate on the internet and/or feel the time is not right for installation of WIFI, I would offer the following:
ReplyDeleteWe are all in this endeavor together. While a majority of c.v. residents may not, as yet, care about WI Fi, the same can also be said for those of us who do not care about many of the other amenities that make our home so attractive. At the cost of $.50 to $2.00 should we shut down our pools, tennis courts, club house,etc. since all of them cost all of us to maintain? Of course not!
WIFI is not the future, it is NOW. Let's stay abreast of this technology. It will be an asset to the lives of anyone who wishes to access the internet. Don't be afraid of it - embrace it! It is a terrific opportunity do not let it pass.
Monette makes a good point in suggesting that with the low-cost Wi-Fi more residents without computers might GET them. I'd like to know more. How much does a Wi-Fi compatible computer cost? Exactly what is involved in hooking it up? What other benefits—aside from making the Village an attractive place to buy into (which, granted, IS a point)—are in this for the resident now without a computer? Maybe I should pick up the September issue of the Reporter and read up better on what you have written, Dave. (I only work at the Reporter, you know! Shame, shame!)
ReplyDeleteFor my 2 cents (or 2 dollars)I agree CV should not be in a race to the bottom. I am sensitive to the financial constraints of some residents, BUT as a Board member of my association, we are pledged to keep our association moving forward and not falling back. Sadly, there may be a time when some long time residents cannot afford to live at CV any longer.
ReplyDeleteEven if you computer is not Wi-Fi there is a very inexpensive (under $25) part that can be purchased and placed in the USB Port that can turn the computer WI-Fi.
ReplyDeleteWill out talking to people and getting the surveys filled out, I had several people that actually called their snowbirds on the phone and got the information for the survey and give it to me. I suggest that if you know of some of the snowbirds and can contact them, do so and get their feedback in the group.
Hi Lanny,
ReplyDeleteSeptember 3, 2012 12:02 PM,
Great questions; first of all the cost of a Wi-Fi ready computer, when you buy your next one, include a wireless card in the build, if it adds more than $20.00I would be surprised.
For your existing computer, a wireless USB stick can be yours for a similar cost, just plug it into a spare USB port, Netgear is a well respected vendor of such a device. The driver software will reach put and find our Wi-Fi network (assuming the Delegates so vote).
One of the greatest pleasures I have ever had is showing a non-computer owner how to communicate with audio and video via Skype with a Grandchild; their eyes open as wide as saucers, and they then prevail upon a Son or Daughter to buy them a computer and show them how, step by step!! Oh yeah, NO long distance charges, in fact, computer to computer, FREE!!
Communicating with Children and Grandchildren without the $40.00 per month ISP fee, to some will be well worth the $2.00/month.
Then there is learning to shop on the INTERNET, and compare prices across the entire Nation, or the World: to pay bills without stamps and envelopes - electronically.
It is the very shot in the arm that CV needs to make us more attractive to new buyers and renters, "CV a modern oasis of forward looking people"; think about it and vote yes for Wi-Fi at $2.00/month/unit.
Dave Israel
We keep talking about Wi-Fi for computers. Don't forget the devices such as "Kindle"...."Nook"...."I-Pod"
ReplyDelete"I-Pad".....And "the Kindle Fire". I took a survey in our Ass'n and found 5 computers, 3 Kindles and 2 Kindle Fires and we only have 12 residents out of 26 here now. I sat on our Patio(outdoor) and downloaded a new book to read. Do we need Wi-Fi?
ABSOLUTELY
What would be the speed? And what about security from hackers?
ReplyDeleteAs a follow up, speed is dependent on time of day, number of people on line, etc therefore people should know if connection will be fast or slow. Also have you received any bids to do this job or can you give us a guesstimate.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Hi Gerry S,
ReplyDeleteSeptember 3, 2012 4:58 PM,
We are looking to scope our system with an aggregate bandwidth of 10Gbit, IE. 10,000,000,000 Bits per second (that's 10 Billion).
Based on best available estimates of 1,500 units in CV with computers, and assuming the very unlikely scenario that they are all up at the same time, this would allow approximate bandwidth of 6.6 Mbit per user; assuming a symetric division of bandwidth providing upstream and downstream being equal; this would support HD Netflix downloads.
In actual application, we would want a Demand Assigned Multiple Access model which would change adaptively in accordance with each users needs.
Clearly, there are lots of technical issues involved, and many ways to analyse this problem.
We have a very well qualified technical committee and we are preparing an RFP currently.
Data available from Boca Raton CV which is looking at Wi-Fi, indicates circa $1.65 per month per unit, but they have only 5800 units.
We have greater ecomomy of scale with 7854 units, but we are looking at a greater bandwidth.
More information will be available as the Wi-Fi Committee continues it's work.
Dave Israel
We have free HBO?????
ReplyDeleteHi Clarence H,
ReplyDeleteSeptember 3, 2012 10:11 PM,
Negative on that, we do not have free HBO.
Dave Israel
Weekly Skyping my grandchildren in NJ, my daughter in California, my sister in Las Vegas, my brother in Tampa, my best friend in North Carolina... priceless.
ReplyDeleteI pay Comcast $34.99 per month for my Xfinity Performance Internet Service. (I assume this includes some extra channels I get.. like Bravo, TLC, History, National Geo... not the premiums like HBO, Max, Showtime.)
I wonder how tight our agreement with them is if we decide to choose another internet provider for the WI-FI?
Nonetheless... Skyping the folks I love every week... priceless.
Dave
ReplyDeleteHow can we help you out at the Delegate Assembly?
Is there a proxy system in place? I am an owner, but cannot make it to the meeting. As previoulsy mentioned this is well worth it. Those who don't have computers will probably never be able to justify having one without this low cost WiFi. A computer without network access is nothing more than a typewriter.
I am a snowbird and I went online to fill out the survey. I do hope the wifi project will be implemented ASAP. I thank the wifi committee for all their efforts. Helene
ReplyDeleteHi Paul,
ReplyDeleteSeptember 4, 2012 3:54 PM,
Unfortunately, there is no effective way that seasonal Residents can vote from afar.
The best that you can do is talk to your Association Delegate(s) and try to get them to vote for the Wi-Fi initiative.
Dave Israel
I totally agree with Grace. It is a necessity to have wi-fi in this day and age if we expect to sell or rent our apartments. Unfortunately I leave CV for 3 months and won't be back until next week. I'm a Delegate but obviously can't make the meeting. I don't understand why these important issues are voted on when many Delegates are up north!
ReplyDeleteHooray
ReplyDelete