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The devastating wildfires which swept Los Angeles County have touched our residents in many ways. They also remind us how much we take our relative safety in OHCC for granted. In addition to the advantages our green surroundings and our fire-resistant construction afford us, we are fortunate to have an organization like our SERT Club constantly reminding us of how to protect ourselves and offering timely and wise advice about how to do it. Part of our green surroundings are healthy trees. Although a fire that is intense and driven by strong winds could ignite some of those trees, they are relatively resistant to fire and therefore don't help the spread of wildfires. We have a thorough process for monitoring and maintaining the health of our common area trees, including yearly maintenance and interim interventions. This past year, our contracted arborist reviewed 2,707 trees and recommended planting more than twenty new ones while removing only seven. One of those was a diseased mature pine which unfortunately became the subject of a local social media whirlwind. This gossip included statements about the uncaring attitude of the Board and even an accusation that healthy trees were being removed for clandestine compensation. People need to take ownership of their irresponsible public attacks and in the future, take the time to adequately inform themselves before posting. As first discussed in my report to the Board nine months ago at the Regular April Board Meeting, we have been exploring options for improving the communications infrastructure in OHCC. That includes discussion with Cox, our current provider, as well as with other potential providers. Most of that energy has been devoted to SiFi Networks, a company that has been contracted by the City of Oceanside to install fiber-optic infrastructure throughout the City's public streets. The current network in conduit beneath our streets is a hybrid of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable, with coax being the primary means of distribution, including the link between the street and your home. Currently, the only direct fiber-optic links are to the Clubhouse and the HOA Office. It is presently capable of download speeds of 2 Gb or more, and upload speeds of 80 Mb. Typical home recreational use requires 100 Mb of download speeds, or less than 5% of the capacity available. Currently developed technology is capable of speeds of 10 Gb or more both up and down using the existing hybrid network, although it has not yet been made available here. There are also current complaints about performance and service of Cox Cable. It is important to note that most of these issues are unrelated to internet download speeds but rather to cable TV hardware and software. SiFi Networks is a financing and sales organization that develops infrastructure for others to use. They have discussed with the Association installing fiber-optic cable through a subcontractor at their expense beneath all our streets, and eventually to each home which subscribes to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) who partners with SiFi. It is important to note that they do not provide cable television services, only internet connections. Currently, their only declared partner is T-Mobile, and it is not yet clear whether T-Mobile is interested in providing ISP services in OHCC or who would be the alternative. Installation would be by means of very narrow trenches dug in the street alongside the curb, which in our case would require approximately 100,000 feet of trenches. In addition, it would require installing approximately 80 concrete vaults two feet wide and three feet long in the streets at various locations. A vault serves approximately 20 connections depending on the physical arrangement of homes on each street. It would take approximately 3 months to install. Subsequently, if a homeowner chose to subscribe with the new ISP, a small hole would be dug in the street and in the homeowner's landscape area on the opposite side to run the fiber-optic cable under the curb and then trench up to the home. The hardware needed to convert the optical signal would be provided. Some installations might require cabling inside the home, which would | OHCC LIVING | FEBRUARY 2025 | 3 President's Message By Greg Kusiak, HOA President (2024-2025) Continued on following page

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