Subject: Re: Dishnetwork
From: Michael E. Rutkowski (michaelrut@firstpropertiesLLC.com)
Date: Wed Aug 23 2000 - 13:03:26 CDT
The issue of choice/term commitment seems to be the largest issue amongst owners. As an owner, I agree. HOWEVER, I ask everyone to realize that:
As of today, we only have ONE choice....Prime cable If we EVER want any service other than cable, it would have to be building wide...the by-laws do not permit for individual dishes on the building. Therefore, any satellite option will require an association-wide commitment.
There is only one other cable company (21st Century Cable) that has plans to move into our area, they hope to be here by 2003. If a company suddenly announced today they were coming into Chicago, they might get to our area...when? 2006? (21st Century has already been in Chicago for 4-5 years).
There are only 2 true satellite TV "networks:" DISH and DirecTV. Their services are offered under different names throughout the country, but there are only 2 networks...the later has yet to offer multiple-dwelling unit MDU packages in our area.
Because of SAT TV's nature, individual subscription does require line-of-sight access to the satellite, so half of the building has no choice regardless of the by-laws.
The fear of a price hike: Everyone in the building is offered the same rates as the general public...In order to stay competitive with cable, DISH since its inception has always offered MORE channels for LESS money than cable...that's their entire marketing position...so the likelihood of a sudden price hike seems unlikely.
YES, technology is constantly changing. But ,because we all live in a condominium, and are bound by certain restrictions that go along with community living, we will not be able to take advantage of all the technology. That is a sacrifice made when buying a condo. If you didn't know that coming in, you didn't do your homework.
This response is not meant to be argumentative, but instead to state facts that many have missed. Looking at the big picture, the decision seems to be a "no brainer." Our three options are, 1. do nothing, 2. commit to Prime cable for everyone in the building whether they want it or not (you at least have the option to take or leave DISH) OR, 3. commit to DISH and let every owner choose for themselves first if they want DISH, and second what package to choose.
----------------------------------
Michael E. Rutkowski
(773) 935-5617
First Properties, LLC
Real Estate Management
----- Original Message -----
From: "Belinda Leeney" <leenbel@hotmail.com>
To: <Paulhome2@aol.com>; <discuss@vanguardlofts.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 11:45 AM
Subject: Re: Dishnetwork
> Board Members & Home Owners,
>
> I am hearing a lot of negative feedback about the Dish Network TV, and, like
> Paul, I am not able to attend board meetings due to work commitments.
>
> What is the plan for deciding on whether or not we will sign this 10 year
> contract? Are ALL the owners going to be able to put in their vote or ONLY
> the board members? Also, is there a way we can vote via an absentee ballot
> if we cannot attend the meeting (e.g., vote by email)?
>
> Please let me know.
>
> Thanks,
> Belinda Leeney, Unit 704
>
> As a side note, you might all want to take into consideration that if you
> choose this one cable provider, then you WILL NOT be able to have any other
> choice for cable modem/tv service (if you choose to have it). What are the
> chanes that Dish Network provides quality service? Has anyone even tried
> them? How would you like to be stuck with horrible cable service for 10
> whole years and not have the opportunity to change it?? Do you really want
> to limit yourselves?
>
>
> >From: Paulhome2@aol.com
> >To: discuss@vanguardlofts.com
> >Subject: Dishnetwork
> >Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 00:10:01 EDT
> >
> >Board Members,
> > The issue of the satellite dish has caused me to ask some questions.
> >1. Does dish network currently have the capability to offer high speed
> >Internet access
> >2. If I or other residents do not want this service will we be forced to
> >subscribe to it if we want cable.
> >3. What are the exact savings by having this service.
> >4. Has Prime cable been contacted to see if they will offer a comparable
> >deal. I'm sure that they don't want to lose 105 customers without offering
> >some kind of discount or brake on their high speed Internet access
> >5. What if a better service comes to our area and some residents want to
> >switch.
> >6. What guarantees do we have that dishnetwork won't hike up their prices
> >down the road.
> >7. Is dishnetwork HDTV compatible since most TV stations and televisions
> >sold
> >today are.
> >8. How will this contract with dishnetwork affect unit owners when they
> >sell
> >their units or will it affect them at all.
> >9. What happened to our rights to choose for ourselves what we want.
> >10. Did someone originally call dishnetwork or was it unsolicited.
> >11. If owners want a satellite dish instead of cable, can that dish be
> >placed
> >on the roof where nobody can see it.
> >These are just a few of the concerns that other unit owners and I have
> >about
> >this discussion. I work the evenings that the board meetings have been held
> >on and have not had the opportunity to hear the responses, if any, to these
> >questions. Personally, I do not like the idea of limiting my choices by
> >signing a 10 year exclusivity contract.
> >
> >Paul Sanchez
> >Unit 615
> >
> >PS
> > Since I cannot attend the board meeting, I would appreciate if another
> >unit owner could raise these issues.
> >
>
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>
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