BROADBAND COMMUNITIES is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. Our editorial aims to accelerate the deployment of Fiber-To-The-Home and Fiber-To-The-Premises.
Issue link: https://bbcmag.epubxp.com/i/325023
10 | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | www.broadbandcommunities.com | MAY/JUNE 2014 PROPERTY OF THE MONTH The Brookwood, Atlanta: 'Fastest Condo in the Community' In this issue, BroadBand Communities showcases The Brookwood, a high-rise condominium in Atlanta's ultra-chic Buckhead neighborhood. The Brookwood's condo association, with the help of tech-savvy residents and the consulting frm Broadband Planning, took a do-it-yourself approach to outftting the building with world-class broadband. The result: an attractive, low-cost amenity for condo owners as well as cost savings for the management ofce. Thanks to The Brookwood Homeowners Association, Dick Price at Broadband Planning, Clara Sorrells at FirstService Residential and Greg Ritter at Ritecom for providing the information for this profle. By Masha Zager / Broadband Communities W hen the educated, tech-savvy homeowners at Te Brookwood, a 219-unit high-rise condo in Atlanta, took over management of the community from the developer, one of their top priorities was to improve broadband services and provide the fastest Internet speeds in Atlanta to all residents. And they succeeded: Today, every resident of Te Brookwood can get 50 Mbps symmetrical Internet access for only $22 a month. "Our directive was to fnd a way to provide residents with the fastest Internet speeds of any condominium community in the city," says Mike Wright, president of Te Brookwood Residential Condominium Association. "We also wanted a way to do it and control the price and the service levels." After reviewing proposals from several traditional providers of residential Internet services, the association decided to take matters into its own hands. At the recommendation of Clara Sorrells of FirstService Residential, the property's management company, it hired Broadband Planning, an Atlanta-based consulting frm that represents both owners and condominium associations in negotiating broadband services. Richard Price, owner of Broadband Planning, explains, "Technology is rapidly changing, and property managers and community boards of directors need to know all the options available for their communities before getting locked into long contracts with cable providers. Communities with fast Internet speeds and the ability to have choice for cable providers are going to be more appealing to potential buyers." Te Brookwood Residential Condominium Association created a committee, led by a resident and telecommunications professional, Karen Angellatta-Wheeler, to work with Broadband Planning and search out high- quality companies that could help the condo association accomplish its goal. After a yearlong search for the perfect solution, the association made a bold move: BBC_May14.indd 10 5/29/14 9:14 AM