renegotiations was to offer the same
cable and internet services plus
phone for just under $70, including
taxes, more than $10 less than the
previous deal. In return, NST management
would handle the billing,
excluding any additional services
individual residents may want,
which would be billed separately
through Spectrum. But the Board
wanted more, specifically a free
DVR. Spectrum balked but agreed,
provided the first two years of the
5-year plan was guaranteed, but
the company would have a “blank
check” to raise rates on the back
three. The Board refused, capping
the back end of the deal after the
initial two years at no more than a
2% increase.
NEW DEAL
When the dust settled, the Board
and Management had negotiated
a new deal which would provide
residents with the following:
• Cable TV: 200 preferred channels,
HD (High Definition),
HBO, HBO On Demand,
Showtime, The Movie Channel
• 2 cable boxes with remotes
for each
• Free DVR and service (capacity
of recording two shows at
a time)
• Internet service: 300-megabyte
speed (fastest available)
• Telephone
• 6 In-House channels, including
lobby surveillance, community
events, community calendar
and information
• $69.95 a month including taxes
• FREE installation and service
calls (except in the case of customer
fault)
The renegotiated contract began
November 1. Residents whose
billing cycle begins in the middle
of the month will have their bill
adjusted to the start of the month,
credited where applicable, during
the transition.
HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE
Even taking advantage of special
bundle rates, the average New
Yorker pays more for all three
services at the basic level, not
including the specialty channels,
never mind free DVR service.
Although the charges for residents’
cable, internet and telephone service
would now appear on their
monthly maintenance bill, what
really makes this deal possible is the
power of the North Shore Towers
community. The residents of North
Shore Towers get a terrific deal and
Spectrum gets a guaranteed 1833
monthly customers for five years.
Spectrum Account Manager
Tatiana Correa addresses a
resident's question
NST Board President Mario Carmiciano points out the co-op's Spectrum representative, Robert Bianchi
Residents line up to ask Spectrum questions
with Spectrum and test your particular
emergency response service
to confirm.
Q: Is it true Spectrum’s system
and equipment is old and faulty?
A: No. Spectrum prides itself on
its cutting-edge technology and continually
upgrades its equipment and
service as technology progresses.
As assured by NST Spectrum Rep
Bianchi, the company is doing a
systemic check of all lines to the
buildings and apartments to ensure
the most effective service possible.
Q: What about Verizon FiOS?
A: North Shore Towers is currently
not wired for Verizon FiOS.
Still, Management approached
Verizon to give them the opportunity
to offer a deal of their own.
Verizon would only respond with a
deal if it could first wire the entire
complex for FiOS. Doing such
would require time, as well as an
additional bulkhead along the
apartment corridors and drilling
access ways through the cement
flooring of the buildings. Refusing
to offer anything otherwise, effectively
removed Verizon from the
negotiating table. Also, as created
by its former owner, Time Warner
Cable, NY1 is now owned and
operated by Spectrum and not
available with FiOS.
December 2017 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 13