As a member of the building's owners' association board, you face a task that looks more complex than it really is: securing quality and affordable internet for the entire apartment block. This guide will take you through every step: from the initial idea, through voting at the meeting, to signing the contract with the ISP and commissioning the network.
Why collective internet for the building's owners' association?
The traditional model, where each flat concludes its own contract with the operator, is economically disadvantageous. You pay 40 activation fees for 40 flats, 40 different tariffs, and 40 technicians arrive in case of faults. A collective solution for the entire building offers:
- Savings of 40-60 % compared to individual contracts: the price per flat decreases with the number of connected units
- One contract, one invoice - administrative simplification for the building's owners' association
- Higher speed - high-capacity connection for the whole building (1-10 Gbit/s), shared efficiently
- Better service - ISPs know that losing one customer means losing the entire building.
GPON Technology: What It Is and Why It Is Ideal for the Building's Owners' Association?
GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) is an optical technology that enables high-speed internet to be delivered to the entire residential building via a single optical fibre. A passive splitter then distributes the signal to individual flats without requiring active components (and thus without electricity consumption) in shared areas.
Why GPON is ideal for the building's owners' association:
- Minimal building intervention - one cable to the building, passive splitter in the utility room
- Speed 1-10 Gbit/s shared between flats, in practice each flat receives 100-1000 Mbit/s
- Low operating costs - no active equipment in the building requires maintenance
- Future technology - The capacity of the GPON network will suffice for decades.
How to vote on internet at a meeting of the building's owners' association?
The building's common technical equipment (which includes the internet) is subject to a decision by a majority of the owners present at a meeting of the building's owners' association. Procedure:
Step 1: Preparing the documentation
Before the meeting, prepare a comparison for the other owners: the current average cost of internet in an apartment (survey among neighbours) versus the estimated price with a collective solution. The figures speak for themselves.
Step 2: Technical survey of the building
Let ISP carry out a free technical inspection of the building. They will identify where the fibre optic cable enters, assess the risers and determine what needs to be installed. This survey is free of charge and serves as documentation for the meeting.
Step 3: Voting at the meeting
Add the following item to the meeting agenda: "Approval of the contract for providing internet services for the entire building". A simple majority of votes from the owners present is sufficient for approval (according to the statutes of the building's owners' association - please verify this).
Voting template for the meeting of the building's owners' association
Sample agenda item for a meeting of the building's owners' association:
The meeting of the owners' association for the residential building at [address] approves the conclusion of a contract for internet services with [ISP] for a period of [X] years at a cost of [X] Kč/month for the entire building, apportioned among flats at [X] Kč/month/flat. Installation will be carried out on [termín] without entering the owners' flats.
Voting result: FOR: __ AGAINST: __ ABSTAINED: __
Costs: What to expect and how they are apportioned?
| Item | Typical price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre optic installation in a house | 0-30 000 Kč | Major ISPs cover installation costs with a long-term contract. |
| Internal distribution systems within the building | 500-2 000 Kč per flat | It depends on the age and design of the risers. |
| Monthly operating cost (entire building) | 5 000-10 000 Kč | Depends on speed and ISP |
| For one flat (40 flats) | 125-250 Kč/month. | Compared to the industrial tariff of 500-800 Kč, savings are 50-70 %. |
Cost allocation is typically carried out evenly (each flat pays the same amount) or based on floor area, depending on the decision of the building's owners' association and its bylaws.
What does the law say about the building's owners' association?
Act No. 89/2012 Coll. (New Civil Code) in § 1189 et seq. Regulates decision-making by the building's owners' association. For a decision to conclude a contract for the provision of services, the following applies:
- The decision is made by the owners' assembly (§ 1206 of the Civil Code).
- Approval requires a simple majority of votes from the owners present.
- Unless otherwise stipulated in the articles of association, this statutory standard applies.
- Long-term contracts (over 10 years) may require a qualified majority: check the building's owners' association bylaws.
Recommendation:
Before the meeting, always check your building's owners' association statutes regarding quorum and voting procedures. In case of doubt, consult a lawyer specialising in tenancy law or your property manager.
How to choose the right ISP for the building's owners' association?
When selecting a provider for the whole building, check:
- Experience with projects for building owners' associations - ask for reference projects and visit another building serviced by this ISP
- Speed guarantee and SLA - The contract for the building's owners' association should include guaranteed response time and repair duration.
- Method of cost allocation - offer an ISP platform for access management and billing of individual flats?
- Commitment period - consider the balance between price (longer commitment = lower cost) and flexibility
- Ownership of infrastructure - who owns the distribution system in the building after the contract ends?
Summary: Step-by-step procedure
- Survey among neighbours: how much they pay for internet and interest in a collective solution
- Contact 2-3 ISPs for a non-binding offer and building inspection.
- Preparation of comparison and materials for the building's owners' association meeting
- Vote at the building's owners' association meeting: approval of the proposal and selection of the service provider
- Contract signing and installation planning
- Installation (typically 1-4 weeks from signature)
- Commissioning and notifying the building's residents
Tip for active neighbours: If you would like to recommend internet to other apartment buildings in your area and earn a commission for each successful referral, visit sousedsky.net. Provisional.net - Referral programme for recommending internet to neighbours on sousedsky.net.
We will prepare a presentation for your building's owners' association meeting.
Sousedsky.net Prague specialises in internet for apartment buildings. We attend your meeting, answer owners' questions and prepare everything required. Free consultation.
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