Some homeowners in The Woodlands Hills are pushing back against a mandatory $75-per-month internet charge the HOA board adopted without a homeowner vote.

The board approved the fee Sept. 1 after a presentation Aug. 5. It funds CentricConnect, a community-wide fiber network built by The Woodlands-based Centric Fiber in partnership with Howard Hughes Communities. At full price, the charge adds $900 a year to each household's HOA assessment.

KPRC 2 first reported that the service will be free through the end of 2026, then $1 per month from January through June 2027. The full $75 rate kicks in July 2027. The HOA said the price will be locked for two years, though the cap on future increases has not been disclosed.

Juanita Coyle, a four-year resident who pays $45 a month for her current provider, told KPRC 2 she would be stuck paying both bills.

"We don't have a choice to opt out money-wise," Coyle said. "We should get to choose."

Coyle said the added cost would hit retirees, veterans and single parents in the community hardest.

Petition demands transparency

Residents are circulating a petition asking the board to pause billing while homeowners review the agreement. The petition requests a full copy of the Centric Fiber contract, board meeting minutes tied to the approval, details on price-increase terms and an explanation of what authority in the HOA's governing documents allows the board to impose the fee.

Organizers also want to know whether competing providers were considered and whether homeowners can keep other internet services while still paying the CentricConnect charge.

State Rep. Will Metcalf, who represents Texas House District 16 covering part of Montgomery County, sent a letter to Howard Hughes questioning the arrangement. Metcalf sits on the State Affairs Committee, which oversees telecommunications regulation.

Metcalf wrote that he has "serious concerns about the fairness and legality" of the mandatory fee.

The HOA has defended the plan, saying multiple providers had installed separate lines across the community, creating what it called "repeated disruption" and "a patchwork infrastructure." The network would also extend Wi-Fi to the pool, playgrounds and pathways.

KPRC 2 reported it contacted the HOA, Howard Hughes and Centric Fiber for comment. None had responded.

Open house set for Sept. 21

The HOA scheduled an open house for Monday, Sept. 21 at the Founders Park Activity Center, starting at 6 p.m. Residents can meet the CentricConnect team and ask questions about the service.

No formal board vote on whether to rescind or modify the fee has been announced.