Broadband Billing in Peril
As you may know, Laguna Woods Village is one of the few homeowners’ associations (HOA) that owns and maintains its own broadband network.
The Village is a member of the very large cooperative National Content and Technology Cooperative (NCTC), which partners with the community to provide network programming (KNBC, KABC, CNN, FOX, etc.) at bulk pricing.
On March 5, 2024, U.S. Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel proposed banning bulk billing arrangements in apartments, condominiums, housing cooperatives, public housing and other multitenant buildings.
This proposal would have a negative impact on seniors and fixed-income individuals, among others, who reside in condominiums and housing cooperatives, as it would result in increased costs and lower quality infrastructure. Bulk billing arrangements for broadband access through condominiums and HOAs have been proven to benefit residents with lower costs, improved infrastructure and faster internet access; in 2010, the FCC found that bulk billing arrangements “predominately benefit consumers.”
Banning bulk billing would nearly triple the cost of programming to the Village, which is budgeted to be more than $4.5M for this year alone.
FCC commissioners are considering this proposal to ban bulk billing for broadband access, and they need to hear from your elected representatives regarding how bulk billing benefits residents in condominiums and HOAs.
Engage in a Letter Writing Campaign
If you are interested in urging the representatives and commissioners listed above, as well as the committees involved, to voice their support in upholding bulk billing, click the links below to download, print, date, sign and mail convenient form letters:
- U.S. Congresswoman Young Kim
- U.S. Senator Alex Padilla
- U.S. Federal Communication Commission
- House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
- Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband
This campaign is being led by Florida Reps. Darren Soto and Gus Bilirakis (FCC docket 17-142). Visit the Community Associations Institute (CAI) Advocacy Center for more information.
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