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BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — Instead of losing gracefully and attempting to win back business professionally, Comcast (NASDAQ:CMSK) is notifying all residents of Boca Falls through this letter that they are going to be left without cable, phone, and internet service unless they pay significantly higher rates come January 1, 2012. In a controversial decision, The Boca Falls Board Of Directors signed a multi-year, multimillion dollar deal with Hotwire — a Philadelphia-area based company with a spotty track record of providing cable and fiber optic service to apartment complexes and communities nationwide. Hotwire is set to provide a suite of services to Boca Falls homeowners starting no later than March 31st — provided the company rewires every home in the mega-community by then.
Comcast, which has had the “bulking” contract with Boca Falls ever since Adelphia sold its holdings to the cable provider, is apparently taking the low road: telling homeowners that they will either be charged high rates for three months to continue internet, phone, and cable tv service, or they must sign a new contract to remain customers at lower rates.
The Boca Falls HOA fees include Hotwire service whether it’s being used or not. That service is currently provided by Comcast. Homeowners will still be paying the same HOA fees and then must pay Comcast additionally until Hotwire initiates service.
Boca Falls is a huge gated community west of 441 between Palmetto Park Road and Glades Road in the unincorporated section of Palm Beach County also called Boca Raton. The Board has been under fire for signing a multi-year deal that is expected to dramatically raise HOA fees over the next several years, and requiring homeowners to have internet service which some question the legality of this requirement under Florida law. Hotwire — while offering services that on paper rival or exceed those of Comcast — receives questionable reviews on internet boards like this.
However, BocaNewsNow.com has found representatives to be responsive and helpful during our contacts with the company.
