Page 24 - New York Cooperator March 2019

24 THE COOPERATOR
— MARCH 2019
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different than we’d provide for a retail en-
vironment.”
Are people increasingly expecting Wi-Fi
in common areas?
“It started a few years ago, but there’s a
higher level of sophistication in regard to
amenities and common areas, whether it’s
a pet-friendly space or gym or theater ar-
eas, these are becoming almost the norm.
And when we design technology solu-
tions for these properties, we definitely
have to consider these specific needs and
wants, and we can service specific needs
in regard to Wi-Fi, video outlets, what-
ever the property requires.
“And it’s not just video and internet
nowadays; we’re talking home automa-
tion, sensors, security... it’s almost a game
of one-upmanship at this point where
every new development is trying to do
something more sophisticated than their
competition.
“It’s also about customization; ev-
eryone wants to personalize their Wi-Fi
experience. Creating profiles for various
devices, controlling which are connected
to your network at a given time, receiv-
ing security alerts...when I get home to-
day, for example, I’ll pause my Wi-Fi so
we can unplug over dinner with my kid.
I have all the devices on a specific profile
such that on weeknights at 11, it all goes
down.”
Michael Weston, Senior Executive
at Verizon Enhanced Communities in
New York City
The Cooperator: Are there telecom
packages that can lead to savings for a
multifamily property that commits to a
building-wide installation from a single
service provider?
MW: “Yes. Verizon offers the oppor-
tunity for multifamily property owners
to make our internet and TV a part of
what it means to live in their community.
By purchasing on behalf of all residents,
owners ensure the fastest internet and
best picture quality TV for every resident
at significant discounts. And residents
can still have the ability to customize
their internet speed, TV content and oth-
er services just the way they want them.”
What do multifamily homes typically
seek in regard to cable/internet/entertain-
ment for common areas, where that’s rel-
evant?
“For most multifamily operators, pro-
viding entertainment and fast internet
connectivity in their amenity areas is
important today. Those spaces serve as a
natural extension of living spaces in to-
day’s modern buildings, and residents ex-
pect to be connected and entertained. Ve-
rizon can help with the right TV service
package in those areas. We can also help
set up fast wifi services in those common
areas to keep residents and staff connect-
ed and happy.”
Are there any difficulties unique to in-
stalling or servicing internet/cable in mul-
tifamily properties?
“We use a staff of professional engi-
neers to design a custom all-fiber net-
work deployment for each building that
leverages the architecture of the build-
ing to reach all residents. From there,
our team of professional technicians do
white-glove installations in each unit for
the residents. Through the use of innova-
tive materials like nearly invisible fiber
systems, we install services in all types of
apartment buildings with a range of solu-
tions that please even the most exacting
residents.”
Dan Haumann, President of Advo-
cate Property Management in Naper-
ville, Illinois
The Cooperator: How would you de-
scribe your dealings thus far with telecom
providers in regard to community associa-
tion properties?
DH: “Clubhouses provide multimedia
services to club members, and require our
dealing with telecom companies more so
than we would in a condo without a club-
house. In condos, it really boils down to
working with companies like Xfinity and
others that will put a contract in place for
the association to have that company be
the primary provider of services within
the facility, and the condo might see some
money from that contract.”
As in a bulk packaging deal?
“The association might get some com-
pensation, depending on the package. A
lot of times you’ll get an initial fee and
then additional subscriber fee depending
on the volume, and in exchange for that
you’ll agree to basically hand pamphlets
out to people who are moving in, as part
of what I guess you could call a ‘co-mar-
keting’ agreement. That’s where we get
involved, and there’s a lot going on in that
space which I’ve seen lately.”
Have you ever had any contractual is-
sues or general resident dissatisfaction
with a provider?
“Because it’s not an exclusive arrange-
ment – and I don’t believe that it is al-
lowed to be – if a provider is not actually
providing good service, condo owners
can always get an alternate service put in.
“But one of the areas where we do tend
to struggle is access, when developers
are shortsighted and install, for example,
phone lines for DSL service in a club-
house, and in order to have other services
put in, you’d have to tear up the parking
lot and rewire the whole operation. In-
stalling conduits for future options would
always be useful, but many developers
don’t have the foresight.”
n
Mike Odenthal is a staff writer/reporter
with The Cooperator.
TELECOM...
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