Fiber Optic Install for Monarch Bay

The Board is asking the community to vote yes or no for approval of installation of a fiber optic network for internet connection throughout Monarch Bay. Frontier Communications was chosen by the Board over others for several reasons, including lower cost, most favorable contract terms, and consideration of the fact there will be very minimal street disruption (trenching) due to utility infrastructure already in place. By aggregating the cost of all 212 homes + guard shack + the mid-gate camera site, a bulk pricing agreement was able to be proposed to be paid for from the HOA general fund. Below is a recap of the benefit and pricing inclusions:

Q: Must I give up my current provider to take advantage of this?

A: NO. There is no obligation or cost to “not” utilize the Frontier Fiber Optic network (i.e., if you are using Cox -or any other- it is your choice to continue for part or any of their services).

Q: Who pays for the fiber optic subscription?

A: The Monarch Bay HOA will pay the cost for the entire community (very similar to how the HOA pays for weekly trash pickup).

Q: Are higher speeds available?

A: Yes, each homeowner may establish their own account with Frontier. And (with a modest discount over retail) they can independently (at their cost) upgrade to higher speeds – currently up to 5 Gigs.

Q: Are other services available from Frontier?

A: Yes. At your own expense, VOIP telephone service, You Tube TV, and the MyFrontier app for Android and iOS devices (which allows users to manage their account, pay their bill, watch TV, and access files – no charge for the app) are all available.

Q: Who takes the fiber optic bundle from the street into our homes?

A: Frontier does this as part of the project (their cost). If trenching needs to be done, Frontier will use commercially reasonable efforts to restore the landscape and hardscape to its original condition.

Q: I have a “xxx.cox.net” email address. Will that be impacted if I cease internet service with Cox?

A: No. And incidentally, email management of Cox email accounts now resides with Yahoo.

Q: What is the equipment that comes with the package?

A: At no cost to the homeowner (or the association), Frontier will provide an Eero modem + 2 wifi mesh routers specifically designed for fiber optic data (high speed / high bandwidth).

Q: Homeowner discussions at the Board meetings mentioned the possibility of additional security cameras utilizing fiber optics. If fiber optics is voted in, will this be shortly forthcoming?

A: Adding more video cameras (CCTV) within the community has been discussed at almost every recent board meeting. There are many details to be vetted such as:  where to be used, privacy issues, subscription and equipment costs, etc. FO recurring video data costs would be $32/site/month. Our current subscriptions to Cox (the guard house is $390/month, and the mid-gate camera site is $208/month) total ~$6,000/year – a savings if we switch to fiber optics.

Q: If this bulk program is to be similar to the CC&R trash expense paid by the HOA, will the cost also be a business expense to the HOA?

A: Yes. A rough calculation would be a tax mitigating effect of ~30% across the annual $82,176 subscription fee – saving ~$24,600.