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APV Spectrum
More than 200 Poinciana residents have signed a petition asking the Association of Poinciana Villages to cancel its contract with Spectrum to provide bulk internet and cable TV service to the community’s 26,000 residents.
The service would provide unlimited, high-speed internet service, a modem and router, two TV receivers and one digital video recorder for about $58 a month, or $720 a year. Basic internet and cable TV service with Spectrum typically costs about $100 a month.
APV, a homeowner’s association that functions as a pseudo-government in the unincorporated community in southwestern Osceola County, will collect and send the payments to Spectrum.
The deal was approved by the APV Board of Directors in February, according to Trish Moore, APV’s Community Communication Specialist.
Moore posted details about the deal on Saturday on a popular community Facebook group site called Poinciana Truths.
“This post is not about “feelings” as you really would not want to hear mine, because they are far from kind nor would they be Politically correct,” Moore wrote.
According to her, Spectrum approached the APV board last summer about the idea, touting it as a way to upgrade internet service for the whole community.
The APV board in August tasked an executive committee to research the proposal and report back at the October meeting.
The board moved forward with the plan in October and directed the APV attorney to negotiate a contract, which the board approved at the February meeting, according to Moore’s timeline.
She said no homeowners objected to the proposal at the three public meetings where it was discussed by the APV board.
APV decided in March to announce the new bulk internet and cable TV package through emails, social media and in the Poinciana Pioneer.
Spectrum announced the deal in a May 22 letter to Poinciana residents.
“This deal is not a monopoly of services to Poinciana, you can purchase any company you wish to complement (sic) your Bulk Service. Other companies can still sell their products. You do not have a choice in Power Companies or Water Companies in Poinciana. That is a monopoly,” Moore wrote May 22 in Poinciana Truths.
Residents don’t have the ability to opt out of the service and could face steep penalties, such as a lien on their home, for not paying when the service starts in August.
And while some residents welcome the cheaper service, others don’t and say they neither want it nor can afford it.
APV “is fully aware of the economic impact COVID-19 has had in our area. At the worst possible time they have decided it would be a good idea to raise our dues by $720 a year for a bulk cable service,” Jerilyn Cruz wrote as part of a Change.org petition signed by 273 residents.
“We would like to put the new Spectrum contract to a vote. If it can’t be canceled completely, we should have the option to opt out of the bulk service,” Cruz said.
“Our community has suffered a huge economic impact since the pandemic hit in the beginning of 2020. Many of our families have lost their jobs and are struggling to keep a roof over their heads with property taxes, insurance and everything else increasing.”
