Donald and David Israel have much in common and that is not a compliment. He sits there in his office playing with what- his computers, his navel and listens to all Ed Black has to tell him. Best contracts ever - and yet, we always get screwed and this time around they want us to approve an incomplete contract. That is a real nerve and shows contempt for all of us. And by the way, are we not supposed to have a contract looked over by an attorney before we sign so who could possible be the attorney so ill informed and so guilty of malpractice so as to advise us to sign this incomplete and faulty contract? Or is it that it was never shown to one!!!
People, time to think for yourself. Time to realize that David does not have your best interests at heart, certainly not the best interest of the Village. I cannot fathom why he is so hot to trot on this faulty Atlantic deal unless there is something in it for him and his crew. The power they feel they have? Monetary reward? A better private deal? All these are alleged possibilities but there has to be something unless they are just guilty of being so careless that it verges on fiduciary irresponsibility. And of course there are questions that have been simply ignored. If the new contract begins immediately, then what happens to the unearned doorway fee or is that the reason why a lesser doorway for Comcast in the new contract? Or does it start the same time as the proposed Atlantic, that awful contract. Clarification and details needed - which we never get anyway!!
Following are two pieces we all should read and think about
and then go to my blog posting of May 26th for reinforcement and check out thecenturyvillagemessengerclub.blogspot.com for more info.
What do you get for $450.000?
That's a good question..... CSI, the consulting firm working to negotiate a new cable contract stands to put close to that amount in their corporate pocket once a new contract is finally settled.
The burning question that should be on everyone's mind is : What did CSI do to earn that much money ?
Better yet :we should ask:what should they have done to earn all that money?
UCO and The "team" who are working so hard on our behalf to achieve a good deal on the contract are missing the boat.
How's that? you might ask. CSI and UCO have been working on this deal for about two years. CSI reps have been busy running back and forth with papers and questions, and a few answers now and then. They have been at all the Broadband meetings and seem to be quite knowledgeable about the intricacies of cable TV and Internet and all that stuff.
Two years later and we still don't have a contract ! How can that be?
Here's the way I see what happened.
UCO went to CSI and said"GET US A CONTRACT"
CSI goes to the cable providers and says "GIVE US A PROPOSAL"
Of course the companies supply the committee with their proposals but the committee think they can do better.
So UCO says " GET US A BETTER PROPOSAL"
CSI runs back and forth to their connections and says " "THEY WANT A BETTER DEAL" .
Again the companies sharpen up their pencils and come back with better deals. More stuff and rosier promises.
BUT STILL NO CONTRACT! The proposals are shot full of holes and the committee doesn't like them so they send them to lawyers then sit at endless meetings devising strategies.
For all the money we are supposed to pay CSI for their services you would think it would be a simple matter for them to draw up a contract that works for us. If CSI was to be paid a commission on the savings they produce it would give them the incentive to get tough in negotiations,
You might also think that someone. ANYONE, on the committee would have thought of doing it this way.
.
It's just another example of the wrong headed, incompetent thinking that goes on in the UCO administration.
It's not the first time . Remember the "best deal ever" with the security contract that was a complete disgrace. It finally failed leaving a bunch of committee members with egg on their faces and scrambling to find another " best deal yet". I don't even want to think about the horrible one page contract that engaged a paving company to do a $5,000,000.00 job. I guess the paving company drew up that contract too.
CSI ?...... They are getting well paid to run around shuffling papers and mumbling platitudes. As for doing a real consulting job ....... NOT !
Paying all that money out to hire someone to ask cable companies for contract proposals speaks volumes about the incompetence of this administration. Any former businessman would have cleaned this up long ago without having to resort to hiring super expensive consultants to do what could be done with a couple of phone calls and letters. But that is not about to happen, anyone worth their salt either wouldn't put up with Israel's nonsense or already tried and were thrown under the bus.
That leaves Century Village in a position where hiring expensive(and unneeded) consultants becomes the order of the day.
The burning question that should be on everyone's mind is : What did CSI do to earn that much money ?
Better yet :we should ask:what should they have done to earn all that money?
UCO and The "team" who are working so hard on our behalf to achieve a good deal on the contract are missing the boat.
How's that? you might ask. CSI and UCO have been working on this deal for about two years. CSI reps have been busy running back and forth with papers and questions, and a few answers now and then. They have been at all the Broadband meetings and seem to be quite knowledgeable about the intricacies of cable TV and Internet and all that stuff.
Two years later and we still don't have a contract ! How can that be?
Here's the way I see what happened.
UCO went to CSI and said"GET US A CONTRACT"
CSI goes to the cable providers and says "GIVE US A PROPOSAL"
Of course the companies supply the committee with their proposals but the committee think they can do better.
So UCO says " GET US A BETTER PROPOSAL"
CSI runs back and forth to their connections and says " "THEY WANT A BETTER DEAL" .
Again the companies sharpen up their pencils and come back with better deals. More stuff and rosier promises.
BUT STILL NO CONTRACT! The proposals are shot full of holes and the committee doesn't like them so they send them to lawyers then sit at endless meetings devising strategies.
There is a better way.
It should have went like this:
UCO hires CSI and says" For all the money we are paying you, we want you to draw up a contract that we can put in front of the cable companies" " You guys are supposed to be the experts, you claim you know all about how all this stuff works " "So draw up a contract and we'll get one of these companies to sign it"
"We don't mind paying you for your services" " But you earn your pay by saving us some money"
Doing it this way would avoid all the running back and forth and changing the deals. Not only that; Century Village would be in the drivers seat and be dictating the terms.For all the money we are supposed to pay CSI for their services you would think it would be a simple matter for them to draw up a contract that works for us. If CSI was to be paid a commission on the savings they produce it would give them the incentive to get tough in negotiations,
You might also think that someone. ANYONE, on the committee would have thought of doing it this way.
.
It's just another example of the wrong headed, incompetent thinking that goes on in the UCO administration.
It's not the first time . Remember the "best deal ever" with the security contract that was a complete disgrace. It finally failed leaving a bunch of committee members with egg on their faces and scrambling to find another " best deal yet". I don't even want to think about the horrible one page contract that engaged a paving company to do a $5,000,000.00 job. I guess the paving company drew up that contract too.
CSI ?...... They are getting well paid to run around shuffling papers and mumbling platitudes. As for doing a real consulting job ....... NOT !
Paying all that money out to hire someone to ask cable companies for contract proposals speaks volumes about the incompetence of this administration. Any former businessman would have cleaned this up long ago without having to resort to hiring super expensive consultants to do what could be done with a couple of phone calls and letters. But that is not about to happen, anyone worth their salt either wouldn't put up with Israel's nonsense or already tried and were thrown under the bus.
That leaves Century Village in a position where hiring expensive(and unneeded) consultants becomes the order of the day.
The other piece _Cost Analysis Atlantic vs Comcast
Donald, David, et al,
Attached are the numbers just run comparing Atlantic Broadband VS Comcast 7/15/17 THRU 6/30/27.
Regarding Atlantic Broadband, the only way to compare apples to apples is to use the Comcast numbers for the first two years of a hypothetical Atlantic Broadband contract because those current Comcast cost would continue in effect until 7/15/19
.Calculation eliminates the last two years of an Atlantic Broadband contract (total of $8,559,650) as again only way to compare apples to apples. It would be extremely more favorable to eliminate the last two expensive years of 2028 and 2029 in any new TV bulk agreement.
Unless made an error somewhere, only arguable numbers seem to be first the broadcasting fee and second the estimated savings to some individuals currently paying Comcast for services over and above the current bulk agreement with Comcast.
Analysis indicates an incredibly close net excess cost for Comcast vs Atlantic Broadband in the amount of $278,153 for the subject ten year period.
Also, the gateway fee of $450 per unit offered by Atlantic Broadband is $785,400 higher than the $350 per unit offered by Comcast. This difference is included in the total net difference of $ 278,153 with Comcast being more expensive by that net amount.
2) It would be extremely more favorable to eliminate the last two expensive years of 2028 and 2029 from any new TV bulk agreement so that also favors Comcast.
An award to Comcast in effect results in an extension of eight years over their current in effect contract while an award to Atlantic Broadband will result in a new contract in effect until 6/30/2029. With technology changing so rapidly it is not in the best interests of CV-WPB to have a ten year contract all the way out until 2029.
3) Comcast's proposal does not involve any build out or construction issues so its contract can become effective 7/15/17 without any of those additional risks which would be applicable if the contract would be awarded to Atlantic Broadband. Atlantic Broadband's proposal includes the laying of new fiber to each building in Century Village -WPB. They have also indicated that their fiber network currently only comes as far north as Boca Raton and that they plan on extending their fiber all the way to West Palm Beach so they can service additional communities. There is certainly no guarantee they can meet the 7/15/19 time frame.
4) The enhanced services under the proposed Comcast contract can be effective as early as 7/15/17 while services from Atlantic Broadband can not be effective until 7/15/19.
5) The $278,153 difference in the costs of a Comcast contract over and above an Atlantic Broadband contract do not warrant the assumption of the additional risks inherent in an award to Atlantic Broadband.
6) Per the Atlantic Broadband proposal, Atlantic Broadband will only offer their TIVO 6 cable box to CV residents who purchase broadband services from Atlantic Broadband while Comcast has indicated that they will offer their X1 box to all residents under the bulk agreement regardless of whether or not broadband services are purchased from Comcast. This analysis does not include any adjustment in the increased cost of Atlantic Broadband's services should a resident have to pay for a TIVO 6 over and above the bulk agreement. However, if such a calculation were included the amount would undoubtedly wipe out the current $278,153 Atlantic Broadband cost advantage multiple times over the length of the entire contract period.
If you should notice any errors and/ or omissions please bring them to my attention for review and possible revision. We all want the most accurate data being presented to the CV unit owners, they deserve the most accurate information.
Thank you,
Jack Adams
Member, Executive Board
Member, Bid Committee
Attached are the numbers just run comparing Atlantic Broadband VS Comcast 7/15/17 THRU 6/30/27.
Regarding Atlantic Broadband, the only way to compare apples to apples is to use the Comcast numbers for the first two years of a hypothetical Atlantic Broadband contract because those current Comcast cost would continue in effect until 7/15/19
.Calculation eliminates the last two years of an Atlantic Broadband contract (total of $8,559,650) as again only way to compare apples to apples. It would be extremely more favorable to eliminate the last two expensive years of 2028 and 2029 in any new TV bulk agreement.
Unless made an error somewhere, only arguable numbers seem to be first the broadcasting fee and second the estimated savings to some individuals currently paying Comcast for services over and above the current bulk agreement with Comcast.
Analysis indicates an incredibly close net excess cost for Comcast vs Atlantic Broadband in the amount of $278,153 for the subject ten year period.
Also, the gateway fee of $450 per unit offered by Atlantic Broadband is $785,400 higher than the $350 per unit offered by Comcast. This difference is included in the total net difference of $ 278,153 with Comcast being more expensive by that net amount.
In my opinion, based solely on the bulk TV deal, Comcast is very much superior because:
1) While customer service is not appreciated by many at either Atlantic Broadband or Comcast, the services of Comcast are much more well known by our residents and when the service is functioning IMHO it is excellent. Atlantic Broadband (even if consolidated with Cogeco its Canadian parent company) is a significantly smaller company than Comcast so its financial viability is more speculative.2) It would be extremely more favorable to eliminate the last two expensive years of 2028 and 2029 from any new TV bulk agreement so that also favors Comcast.
An award to Comcast in effect results in an extension of eight years over their current in effect contract while an award to Atlantic Broadband will result in a new contract in effect until 6/30/2029. With technology changing so rapidly it is not in the best interests of CV-WPB to have a ten year contract all the way out until 2029.
3) Comcast's proposal does not involve any build out or construction issues so its contract can become effective 7/15/17 without any of those additional risks which would be applicable if the contract would be awarded to Atlantic Broadband. Atlantic Broadband's proposal includes the laying of new fiber to each building in Century Village -WPB. They have also indicated that their fiber network currently only comes as far north as Boca Raton and that they plan on extending their fiber all the way to West Palm Beach so they can service additional communities. There is certainly no guarantee they can meet the 7/15/19 time frame.
4) The enhanced services under the proposed Comcast contract can be effective as early as 7/15/17 while services from Atlantic Broadband can not be effective until 7/15/19.
5) The $278,153 difference in the costs of a Comcast contract over and above an Atlantic Broadband contract do not warrant the assumption of the additional risks inherent in an award to Atlantic Broadband.
6) Per the Atlantic Broadband proposal, Atlantic Broadband will only offer their TIVO 6 cable box to CV residents who purchase broadband services from Atlantic Broadband while Comcast has indicated that they will offer their X1 box to all residents under the bulk agreement regardless of whether or not broadband services are purchased from Comcast. This analysis does not include any adjustment in the increased cost of Atlantic Broadband's services should a resident have to pay for a TIVO 6 over and above the bulk agreement. However, if such a calculation were included the amount would undoubtedly wipe out the current $278,153 Atlantic Broadband cost advantage multiple times over the length of the entire contract period.
If you should notice any errors and/ or omissions please bring them to my attention for review and possible revision. We all want the most accurate data being presented to the CV unit owners, they deserve the most accurate information.
Thank you,
Jack Adams
Member, Executive Board
Member, Bid Committee
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