Some Willis homeowners push back against mandatory $75 monthly internet charge. WILLIS, Texas - Homeowners in a Montgomery County community are pushing back against a new community-wide internet plan that will eventually add $75 a month to their HOA assessments, with some residents questioning why they should have to pay for a service they say they did not choose. The Woodlands Hills Residential Community announced Sept. 3 that Howard Hughes Communities and Centric Fiber had partnered to launch CentricConnect, a fiber network that will provide internet service throughout the community. According to the announcement, the proposal was presented to the HOA Board of Directors on Aug. 5 and formally adopted Sept. 1 The service will initially be free as it becomes available to homes through the end of 2026. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, CentricConnect will be included in homeowners' annual HOA assessments at $1 per month through June. Starting in July, that rate will increase to $75 per month. The HOA says the pricing will then be locked in for two full years and future increases will be capped. At the full rate, the service amounts to $900 a year. For homeowner Juanita Coyle, that's significantly more than what she currently pays. "My current internet bill is $45," Coyle said. Coyle has lived in The Woodlands Hills for four years and said she and other residents felt blindsided by the announcement. Homeowners question whether they have a choice. Coyle said residents already have access to internet providers they selected themselves. Her concern isn't simply that Centric Fiber is coming to the neighborhood, she said, but that homeowners could be required to financially support the community-wide service regardless of whether they want to use it. "We don't have a choice to opt out money-wise," Coyle said. "We should get to choose. I've never heard of anything like this in my life." For Coyle, keeping her existing $45-a-month provider while also paying the full CentricConnect charge would mean spending another $75 each month through her HOA assessment. She also worries about what the additional expense could mean for neighbors living on tighter budgets. "There's a lot of elderly people that live here that live in their retirement homes. There's veterans that live here, single moms, single dads," Coyle said. HOA says fiber network will improve connectivity. In its announcement, the HOA presented CentricConnect as a way to create a unified internet infrastructure throughout The Woodlands Hills. The HOA said multiple internet providers have entered the community and installed separate lines and equipment, which it said can result in "repeated disruption, inconsistent workmanship, and a patchwork infrastructure." CentricConnect, according to the HOA, will provide speeds of up to 2 Gbps with symmetrical upload and download speeds. Wi-Fi will also extend to community amenities including the activity center, pool, playgrounds, sports courts and pathways. "This investment will add meaningful everyday value for residents while supporting the long-term quality, innovation, and connectivity of the community," the HOA wrote. But some homeowners say they want to know more about how the agreement was reached before they're required to pay for it. Residents petition HOA for answers. Residents are circulating a petition asking the HOA Board to pause implementation and billing while homeowners review the agreement. Among other things, petition organizers are requesting a complete copy of the Centric Fiber agreement, Board agendas and meeting minutes related to its approval, information about the contract's duration and future price increases, and an explanation of what provisions in the HOA's governing documents authorize the Board to require homeowners to fund the service. Residents also want to know whether competing internet providers were considered and whether homeowners will remain free to use other providers while still being required to pay the CentricConnect charge. Coyle said residents have requested documents related to the agreement but still have questions. "Why, first of all, why are you not responding to us? How are they in our best interest?" Coyle said. "Why aren't they giving us the documentation?" State lawmaker raises concerns. The dispute has also drawn the attention of State Rep. Will Metcalf, who sent a letter to Howard Hughes raising questions about the arrangement. "I have serious concerns about the fairness and legality of imposing a new mandatory fee," Metcalf wrote in the letter. KPRC 2 has reached out to The Woodlands Hills HOA, Howard Hughes and Centric Fiber seeking additional information about the agreement, including whether homeowners can opt out of paying for the service, how Centric Fiber was selected, whether other providers were considered and what authority the HOA relied upon in approving the charge. This story will be updated with their responses. Meanwhile, residents will have an opportunity to question CentricConnect representatives directly. The HOA has scheduled an open house for Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Founders Park Activity Center, where residents can meet the CentricConnect support team and ask questions about the service and installation. For Coyle, the dispute ultimately comes down to whether homeowners should have had a say before the decision was made. "We are the ones who pay the taxes. We are the ones who pay our mortgages. We are the ones who live here and bought our houses," Coyle said. "We should get a vote."

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