IMCC - MDU

Newsletter

  "PCOs and MDUs working together for the benefit of residents"

IMCC is a trade association comprised of Private Cable Operators (PCOs), multiple dwelling unit owners and the supporting industry.  Your thoughts and comments on this newsletter are invited.  You may contact us at (202) 364-0882 or Bill Burhop at bburhop@imcc-online.org  

February 2005

     IMCC pursues regulatory issues at the FCC, has conferences and other projects to better educate our members and helps MDUs and PCOs network so they can do business together.

Our web site, www.IMCC-Online.org, gets about 300 hits per month, many from MDUs. It includes information about many useful topics effecting the delivery of video, Broadband and telephony. For instance: (on the site there are educational pieces on each of the following topics)

--"Physically Inaccessible" in the FCC MDU Inside Wiring rules is an important definition. Those rules are designed to help an MDU take control and ownership of MDU Home Run Wiring so that an MDU can bring a new service provider onto the MDU property to provide service to residents. If that definition includes not only brick and cement but also drywall/sheetrock then your job is easier. The FCC is working on that definition right now and IMCC will lobby the FCC to include sheetrock/drywall in that definition. Many MDUs think this is important. We hope you agree.

--HDTV is a hot topic because its expansion is significant and many of your residents will want to know how it works in your community.

--VoIP is also hot on the horizon and you should know what it is and how it works to decide when you need to make this product available.

--Conversion from analog to digital transmission of TV channels is very pertinent. It will be required by the FCC in the next couple of years and your community will be effected. Find out what it means and how your service provider needs to comply.

--Our web site has a Q and A section that addresses questions, simple and more complex, that include definitions of the different types of wiring in MDUs, when you can use the FCC wiring regulations and dozens of other terms and conditions to consider when you study how to contract with a communications service provider.

--A drive is under way in Washington to require TV channel programmers to provide channels on an a la carte basis. This would allow residents to select and pay for only those channels that they want, rather than having to buy a whole bunch of channels they really do not want.

Looking for alternative communications providers? The web site also includes a Service and Product Providers Directory. It will help you find alternative providers, like PCOs, that compete with the dominant franchised cable companies. It provides a national as well as state listing of such companies that you may want to check out before you contract with any company.

Looking for Right of Entry (ROE) provisions that make the most sense in today's world? Our web site has a Program of Excellence that delineates many issues that both MDUs and PCOs should explore in their negotiations of an ROE to help things run smoothly and mutually beneficial.

MPOE--minimum point of entry--for your community's telephone wiring is becoming a hassle for many MDU owners and managers. It has to do with if and where the telco puts its first connection on your property. We are considering doing an analysis of the situation. Several IMCC members are studying this, including Camden Properties, Equity Residential and Forest City Management. If you are interested or have experienced problems please let us know.

Many folks are talking about FTTH-Fiber To The Home-and how it might be used in MDU communities. IMCC recently surveyed its members to get their views about this technique to distribute video and high speed data.  If you are interested in the views of your MDU colleagues, please just write or call us.

Would it be good for your company if the law said that all cable wiring in your buildings is a fixture and you owned it? Would you like it if franchised cable companies could not use perpetual contract provisions, life of easement provisions, without you losing control over the wiring and who could serve your building? Attached is an article you might want to read.

In recent months a significant amount of new investment resources have come into the PCO industry. In fact, many PCOs have reorganized and are growing to provide more video, Broadband and telephone to more MDU communities. The very difficult financial times which started in 2000 appear to be getting better for PCOs and MDUs. This maybe the time for you to consider a PCO for communications in your communities.

You are always welcome to call IMCC about any of your questions or concerns regarding telecommunications products and services in the MDU environments.

Independent MultiFamily Communications Council

MDUs and PCOs Working Together for the Benefit of Residents

202 364 0882