A Southern California company is paving new ground on the information superhighway

By building custom internet access networks for commercial and residential tenants alike, Commercial Connectivity Services has created a model that allows landlords to become partners in internet service provision for their tenants. That means landlords can share in profits while also offering their tenants a customized, lightning-fast and far cheaper alternative for internet access.

By optimizing economies of scale, CCS has created custom networks that now serve thousands of units in dozens of cities across the country. Instead of several large companies providing internet connectivity for hundreds of different clients throughout a residential building, for example, CCS builds one ultra-fast network that can serve every single resident. And the monthly price per customer is often 50 to 80 percent less than typical mainstream telecommunications companies like Comcast and AT&T.

“The resident is going to get better service, faster speeds at a cheaper price and the landlord is going to get profit-share — if that’s something they’re interested in — and an additional revenue stream that’s going to increase the capitalized value of their property,” said Jeff Skolnick, co-owner of CCS. “Everybody wins.”

Typically, in both residential and commercial buildings, vital internet connections are provided by a hodgepodge of different service providers. That means landlords and tenants need to interact with sometimes more than a dozen different companies, all with their own different technology.

CCS operates differently. Building on more than a decade of experience in the industry, the company surveys properties and consults with landlords and their tenants upfront to assess the individualized network plans for each building. Networks can then be customized depending on each client’s needs.

In one development in downtown Los Angeles, for example, CCS provides low-cost broadband internet for more than 1,100 residents, helping to bridge the digital divide, as well as offering symmetrical high-speed bandwidth for commercial properties including a hospital and offices. The seniors who reside in the building benefit from excellent connectivity, but also from CCS’s “white glove” customer service.

“CCS has been our trusted Internet provider for our flagship property in downtown LA for over 5 years.” said Kristal Olvera, a regional administrator for the Retirement Foundation of America, which owns the building. “Their services and products have consistently exceeded our expectations, providing our residents with reliable connectivity and top-notch customer service. We couldn't be more satisfied with their partnership.”

Another property, a luxury condominium building near the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles is supplied by CCS with state-of-the-art high-speed internet. And at other major properties in Virginia, Washington DC and New York, CCS has built out high speed networks that provide affordable housing units with internet service that is subsidized by non-profit landlords.

 For private landlords, the chance to recover additional revenue from internet services is a bonus to the simplicity and peace-of-mind of dealing with one main ISP for the whole building. (While CCS is offered to every tenant, individuals still have the option to choose any provider they want to. Almost everyone goes with CCS, however!). If they choose to do so, landlords are partners with CCS from the beginning and make an initial investment in the infrastructure needed to set up the network. Typically, this initial investment is paid back with two to three years, and from that point on “It’s pure profit-sharing for the landlord,” said Skolnick.

In addition to boosting the attractiveness of a property for recruiting and retaining tenants, a CCS network is also a key infrastructure investment in a property — adding a new revenue stream that greatly boosts the capitalized value of every property the company has worked with.

“Once we have built the network, it’s there for the long run,” said José Valenzuela, co-owner of CCS. “Not only does the property owner get the benefit of an ongoing ROI from the profit-sharing, but they’re also investing back into the property itself by improving the infrastructure.”

Property owners and landlords can start off on their journey to becoming a partner in internet provision by calling 310-990-4147 or email jeff@commercialconnectivity.com. For more information, see the video below: