OpenBand Franchise Decision Deferred
Southern Walk residents plead for denial, but supervisors have questions.
The Loudoun Board of Supervisors rejected a motion to deny the OpenBand Communications franchise agreement Tuesday, citing questions about what the denial would mean to communities served by the open video service provider.
Several supervisors said they needed more time to review aspects of the item before voting, and the majority agreed to defer the final vote until just before the November election. At least four supervisors appear poised to deny the franchise.
The company has been operating beyond the deadline of its initial franchise for about 30 months.
Many Southern Walk residents who spoke during the Oct. 11 public hearing saying they want competition that does not require them to pay for two services, which numerous residents currently do. Southern Walk HOA representatives said they have been negotiating with a satellite video provider that can provide higher quality service to the community at a lower price than OpenBand, but it would require the county to deny the franchise.
A spokesman for OpenBand rejected concerns about service quality and compared its service to competitors. He said the company offered its communities a comparable service at a lower price than Verizon and Comcast. OpenBand also rejected new provisions in the franchise requested by supervisors. The spokesman suggested only a small, vocal minority were dissatisfied with the service – contrary to speakers from Southern Walk – and that the company was being treated unfairly.
Several Southern Walk residents scoffed at the suggestion that OpenBand's technology was comparable to competitors.
Besides Southern Walk, OpenBand serves Lansdowne on the Potomac, Lansdowne Village Greens and Leisure World. Residents from those communities did not speak.
More details about the hearing will be reported tomorrow.
Wendy
11:02 pm on Tuesday, October 11, 2011
I can't imagine why representatives from the other communities didn't comment. There is widespread dislike of Open Band and their 1990 services.
Robin Crabtree
1:49 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
This is the second time Openband says we are being unfair to them and they should know "unfair.". I guess they can dish it out, but they can't take it.
Vern Cook
7:23 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011
They have a lot of nerve talking about unfair when they unfairly deny their competitors the right to compete in our communities.
Loudoun mom
8:58 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011
As a member of the Lansdowne HOA,who ran on an anti-OpenBand platform, perhaps you can shed some light on why the members of the Lansdowne HOA didn't appear, or, at the very least send out an e-mail blast informing the residents of the meeting...it just baffles many of us.
Southern Walk Resident
12:33 pm on Thursday, October 20, 2011
Robin....they don't want the gravy train to end. They probably will spend an unlimited amount of $$$ to ensure that the gravy train keeps on rolling at all costs until 65 years expires....competition be damned they say. They don't care about allowing residents choices...and they will do everything possible to ensure that their monopoly continues at our expense.
Openbandsucks
3:15 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
" Southern Walk HOA representatives said they have been negotiating with a satellite video provider that can provide higher quality service to the community at a lower price than OpenBand, but it would require the county to deny the franchise" How can anybody on the board not allow this to happen, I DO NOT want this service it is horrible, I want a choice thats all.
Openbandsucks
3:53 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
I was watching the news (at work with better reception) and I saw the Occupy Wall Street protesters,,,maybe an Openband march is warranted in Loudoun County.
Vern Cook
7:24 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011
I really wish there was a way we could boycott OpenBand. Wouldn't it be nice to simply stop paying them?
VS
4:14 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
I was at one point looking into buying a house in broadlands, I can say this is one of the things I counted as a big negative for me. I eventually did not buy that house but am in another Loudoun community, I have choice of verizon or comcast. I certainly like it. I've heard nothing but bad comments from a friend of mine in belmont ridge about locked in cable vendors. Locked in vendors, good for businesses bad deal for people consuming services unless you are in a remote region where no one else would provide a service.
Vern Cook
7:26 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011
I understand that homes in our community are valued at 15 to 20% less than in other areas simply because of OpenBand. Now that really pisses me off. This company couldn't give a damn about our community and I hope that they eventually get what they deserve and go into bankruptcy.
Vern Cook
7:21 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011
OpenBand has a lot of nerve talking about unfair when they deny their competitors the right to compete in our communities. Open up the easements to competition and let's see how well OpenBand can compete when they truly have some competition. And there's one other thing that I simply don't understand. Loudoun County can fine OpenBand $500 a day for not having a franchise, which they haven't had for 30 months now, something they have failed to do. That comes to $450,000! Is Loudoun County that well off that it can afford to ignore that sort of income into their coffers? Or has the board of supervisors been bought off by OpenBand?