Services remain intact at Cascades, RioMar

EAST COUNTY — Cascades Homeowners Association President Debby Landes held her breath when her community’s voice, data and audio services provider filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May.
But now, she can breathe a bit easier.

Hotwire Communications successfully acquired the contract June 21 for data, video and data services for Cascades, as well as its neighboring RioMar community.

The communities’ original provider, Capital Infrastructure, which does business as Connexion Technologies, had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with liabilities listed between $100 million and $500 million in its filing, which includes a dozen affiliates and subsidiaries. The assets auction was held June 4.

Residents had worried they would lose communication services, at least temporarily, if the deal had not been approved by the bankruptcy court.

Fortunately, Landes said, service seems to have continued without interruption.

“Everyone (got) a letter from Hotwire introducing themselves,” Landes said, noting a representative of the company came to the Cascades clubhouse June 23 to meet with residents, as well. “We saw (an immediate) improvement in customer service.”

Cascades and RioMar had bulk agreements with the Capital Infrastructure through its original developer, Levitt and Sons, which is now bankrupt. The two communities infrastructure is shared, although Cascades houses the majority of equipment on its property.

RioMar Homeowner Association President Joel Blumsack said he was not aware of any service disruptions in RioMar and noted Hotwire representatives have committed to evaluating the communities’ infrastructure situation and developing an action plan for moving forward. While using Capital Infrastructure’s services, residents of RioMar faced problems with billing, unexplained price increases and poor response time for repairs, he said.

“We’ll have to wait to determine whether their action plan is strong enough,” Blumsack said. “(Hotwire) knows there are some shortcomings to the system. We’re hopeful our issues can be resolved. If not, the community has to protect its residents and (make sure) they deliver what has been promised.”

Landes said Cascades also has asked Hotwire for certain improvements in service and is waiting to learn what requests can be accommodated.

Hotwire has retained Connexions’ on-site technician, Eddie Vargas, to continue providing services to Cascades and RioMar residents — a move both Landes and Blumsack supported.

A representative of Hotwire did not return a phone call seeking comment by press time.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].