UCO REPORTER MAY 2017 EDITION - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

UCO Reporter 2017, May Edition, April 28, 2017 by ucopresident on Scribd

MY CONCERN

As I see the proposals by Comcast and Atlantic Broadband drag out and seemingly never end, my concern is that we will be defeated by time.

I do not know what AB's real deadline for commencing work on getting fiber-optic to us is. They say they need 24 months prior to June 2019 (expiration date of our present CC contract), which would be this June. That would mean a final, signed contract, agreed upon in all points by both parties, done by then. Maybe they can plan on doing their fiber-optic work in less time, but then we are at more risk they will run short on time!

How near are we now to a real "deadline"? If the Delegate Assembly were to decide on CC or AB at the May Delegate Assembly, that decision, of course, is still NOT final. There would remain then many details, let us say maybe as many as thirty, to clear up with the chosen company and get into legal language agreeable to them and us. Let's look at two possible scenarios.

1. We choose Comcast at the May D.A. Comcast then drags its feet getting these details finalized while at the same time reneging on an important point or two we thought had been understood. The back-and-forth goes beyond the time when AB would have needed to start, so they are forced out of the running. Now Comcast has no competition, they are in the driver's seat, we find they renege on a lot (surprise, surprise), and we are stuck with an expensive bad contract.

2. We choose Atlantic Broadband at the D.A. We then get halfway through agreeing on the thirty details with them and ironing out an important point or two we thought had been understood but wasn't. It looks as though we will have an agreed-upon, final signed contract in time. Why on time? Because AB has no reason to drag its feet; it needs to get going. If this happens, all is well and good.

But what if two weeks after the D.A. vote, Comcast suddenly reenters the fray with an offer "too good to refuse"? What do we do? If we put AB on hold and get serious about the new CC offer, we may find ourselves a month later with CC having dragged its feet. SOME points have been resolved but not all. Another month is needed. You can see what I'm driving at: Comcast again accomplishes its goal of getting AB out of the running. Then, before there is a signed agreement, they can change their tune completely, and we are stuck with an expensive bad contract.

Perhaps at this point, having received many concessions from both companies, we should simply not be too greedy. Perhaps it is best we choose AB at the Delegate Assembly, and then, provided AB pulls no deal-breaker surprises, we should simply go with them rather than "take the bait" from Comcast. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

UCO OFFICER'S COMMITTEE - APRIL 27, 2017 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

ELEVATOR AT THE CLUBHOUSE IS OUT OF SERVICE (9 AM THURSDAY)

Hi all,
We are advised that the elevator has been repaired:

Eva Rachesky	1:19 PM (12 minutes ago)
to Rhoda, me

 

Hi Rhoda,

The elevator was not working this morning and has since been repaired.

Dave Israel

OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING - APRIL 25, 2017 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

CONDO LAW AND BOARD MEMBER CERTIFICATION

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PHYLLIS RICHLAND AND JENNIFER CUNHA

                          INVITE YOU TO A BRUNCH AND LEARN

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CONDOMINIUM LAW LEGAL OVERVIEW

and  BOARD CERTIFICATION FOR BOARD MEMBERS

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May 24, 2017 @ 9:30-11:30am

Century Village Craft Room

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Breakfast will be provided!

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Seating is Limited - RSVPs required!

Please call 561.231.0640

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Jennifer may also be reached at:

Jennifer M. Cunha, Esq.

601 Heritage Dr., Ste 424 · Jupiter, FL · 33458

Jennifer@jennifercunhalawoffice.com

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Dave Israel

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BID COMMITTEE MEETING - APRIL 20, 2017 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

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ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING - APRIL 19, 2017 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

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NEW BUSES ARRIVE - GRAPHICS CONTEST TO BEGIN

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Here are pictures of the new buses. Note that there are two distinct sizes, the larger buses have built in cubby holes for grocery bags and storage for walkers. This Post is to announce a contest for graphics to appear on the bus exterior. Send your design to ucopresident@gmail.com, or bring it into UCO.

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To the left is the big bus, with built in cubby holes for grocery bags or other small items. Also, there is a special compartment for walkers.

Below is the smaller bus.

So, create a design for these new buses that is appropriate for Century Village. Something bright, and colorful.

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Dave Israel

THE DECISION ON BROADBAND

HOW THINGS ARE SHAPING UP

It has been a long journey for the Broadband-Cable Committee and our residents in deciding which company to go with for the next ten years—now whittled down to  Atlantic Broadband (AB) or Comcast (CC). In the past 13 days since the March 3 Delegate Assembly a lot has changed. At that time, Comcast having finally agreed to allow Optional Internet, we thought the two Internet proposals had come near equalizing. They had not. See below.

On April 6, the Computer Club hosted a presentation by Atlantic Broadband, open to everyone, in Classroom C. This was followed by a "vigorous" discussion period, says one attendee. A day later, following the April 7 Delegate Assembly, there were consecutive presentations by AB and CC in the Party Room, which was packed with residents—and again, they were each followed by vigorous discussion periods. Comcast in particular was taken to task for (1) their insistence on charging about $60/month for Optional Internet if not signed up for at a unit owner's FIRST opportunity with no intervening opt-outs; (2) requiring UCO, the associations or their management companies to handle the record-keeping of the aforesaid opt-ins and opt-outs (an accounting nightmare for us);  (3) charging about $60 for many service calls; and (4) quietly increasing their monthly charge for TV so the difference between their charge and that of AB came close to $4.00.

After repeated assertions that these were Comcast's "bottom line" concessions, we found they were not! Comcast once again "sweetened the pot" somewhat with respect to items 1, 2, and 4 above—but not item 3, which has been a source of complaints with many people under the present Comcast contract.

The Reporter staff discussed the matter at their April 11 open meeting, and at the end took a vote. Not a single hand went up in favor of Comcast, while every hand went up in favor of Atlantic Broadband. It is unusual for the Reporter to take an editorial stance on an issue, but because this matter is so important, we may do so in the May issue.

Then on April 12 the Broadband Committee met once again. Despite the partial concessions Comcast made, the Committee voted unanimously in favor of the Atlantic Broadband proposal. There was a sense that the Committee was NOT happy with Comcast dragging out things, their unclear answers to questions, and pulling surprises—in contrast to Atlantic Broadband's straightforward, generous proposals and clear answers to questions. That was my take on things, at any rate.

Now the Officers will discuss the matter, then the Executive Board, and finally the Delegate Assembly—quite possibly at the May 5 meeting, where a final vote may take place. Time is of the essence, for Atlantic Broadband will soon be out of the running.

Comcast has to go

This mornings internet outage convinces me even more that comcast has to go. along with billing issues.

JOINT BROADBAND & CABLE COMMITTEE MEETING - APRIL 12, 2017 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

UCO REPORTER & CHANNEL 63 MEETING - UCO REPORTER TO ENDORSE ATLANTIC BROADBAND - APRIL 11, 2017

DELEGATE ASSEMBLY - APRIL 7, 2017 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

da 4-7-17-1 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.
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DA 4-7-17-2 from David B. Israel on Vimeo. -
DA 4-7-17-3 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

ATLANTIC BROADBAND VS COMCAST - OPEN FORUM - APRIL 7, 2017

Atlantic Broadband presentation from David B. Israel on Vimeo. -

00001_x264_001 from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

ATLANTIC BROADBAND & COMCAST - TOWN HALL AND OPEN FORUM

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Dave Israel

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ATLANTIC BROADBAND TO SPEAK AT COMPUTER CLUB MEETING - THIS MEETING IS OPEN TO ALL RESIDENTS

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Dave Israel

DID THE STRAW POLL GO THE RIGHT WAY? YOU BE THE JUDGE!!

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ATLANTIC BROADBAND VS COMCAST - WHAT DO YOU THINK?

- Atlantic Broadband vs comcast from David B. Israel on Vimeo.

PROGRAM AND SERVICES - APRIL 5, 2017 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

ATLANTIC BROADBAND - THE ROAD TO THE FUTURE

Atlantic Broadband, the way of Century Village's Future.

Gee Linus, I'd hate to give up on my ol' faithful TV set, But times are changing and sooner or later you just have to change with them.

Get more, pay less, Isn't that what EVERYONE in the Village wants? The best quality, they most programming, the best service, FOR THE LOWEST PRICE???? So what is the issue? it's a no - brainer. Atlantic Broadband has it all.  MORE CHANNELS, More Premium Movie Channels, FREE SERVICE CALLS.
Face it, Sooner than later you will be getting a new TV and getting rid of that beast in your living room and bedroom. Wouldn't it be nicer being able to use all the features built in now? Forget comcast... they want you to pay $62+ for internet service if you aren't signed up initially and if you are a snowbird and shut it off even if you had signed up, you get charged the 62+ after you return. Comcast=A LOUSY DEAL. 

SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING - APRIL 4, 2017 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

TRANSPORTATION MEETING - APRIL 4, 2017 - LIVE IN CYBERSPACE

WHY I AM NOW FOR ATLANTIC BROADBAND AND NOT COMCAST

THE TIME FOR BETTER OFFERS IS OVER IN MY JUDGMENT

When we took the straw vote at the March 3 Delegate Assembly, I was really undecided as to whether we would be better off under a new communications contract with Comcast or Atlantic Broadband. Over the previous several months, right up until the time of the Delegate Assembly, it had been back and forth between the two telecommunications companies—first one and then the other seeming to offer the better deal. I think many delegates were bewildered. They had had no TIME to digest final offers by the two. Both Comcast and Atlantic Broadband appeared to be now offering the long sought-after optional Internet, their prices seemed close enough, and Atlantic Broadband was the new kid on the block. I think some voted for Comcast on the grounds of "Better the devil you know than the devil you don't." Even though a straw vote is not binding, I think in retrospect it was a mistake to ask for it at that Delegate Assembly. I don't blame anyone for voting for Comcast at that time.

Since the meeting, a number of points have been clarified. Perhaps foremost among them is the fact that "Optional Internet" with Comcast is not what we expected. Unless as a present owner, you sign up for Internet when the new contract starts, you won't get it for $20/month—or $30 or $40 or even $50. You will have to pay $62.30! That is more than I pay NOW to AT&T by about $20! I don't like the fact Comcast revealed this so late in the game. It makes me distrust them.

Moreover, even if you do sign up for Comcast Internet in the beginning (and stay signed up), they insist that the record-keeping be done by UCO, the associations, or the management companies. That's asking the impossible. The Comcast rep who was at the most recent Broadband-Cable Committee meeting would not budge on this point—nor the outlandish $62.30 charge.

There are several other reasons I now think that Atlantic Broadband is clearly offering us the better deal. You will find some of them in my article in the April Reporter titled "Down to the Wire with Comcast and Atlantic Broadband."

Will Comcast do another turnaround and sweeten the pot? If so, I doubt I would trust them at this point. They have known for several weeks now that we are on the brink of deadline, after which Atlantic Broadband would be out of the running because of their inability to get fiber-optic cable to us in time. Would Comcast LIKE that to happen? Think about it. CC could then pick up all the chips and have their way without the AB competition.

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ATLANTIC BROADBAND VS COMCAST

People complain at every assembly meeting that so and so can't afford another dollar raise. Well keeping comcast will be just that. it starts out at $32 and change, AB STARTS at $29, That is already a savings of $3 a month, that's an extra can of tuna to some, to others an extra lottery ticket. No, I really am not trying to be a wiseguy, I have eyes, I can see some of these same people claiming poverty going out to play in these "arcades". /their business, but don't claim poverty when you throw it away. There are some with legitimate issues, and if paying and extra buck here or there is hurting them, then Atlantic Broadband is the ONLY choice for them. Cheaper in price, better service, more bang for your buck. For those that say they only watch three channels, well, the rest of the village watches more, and you can stick to watching your three channels at a lower price. it's a win-win.