|
FCC SATELLITE DISH REQUIREMENTS:
According
to a new ruling by the Federal Communication Commission, residents of multifamily
buildings, including apartment renters, can now have small satellite dishes
within their private balcony or patio in order to gain access to multiple choices
for video programming. While this important
ruling paves the way for residents to enjoy many expanded satellite programs
like DirectTV, Echostar and others, it is important to note, according to the
national Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA), that not everyone
will receive a strong enough signal to warrant having a satellite dish.
Residents
with South-facing apartments will receive a signal as long as there are no barriers,
such as trees or buildings, to interrupt the signal.
What
does this mean for you? You will have the right to install small satellite dishes on your
patio or balcony, typically near a window, although certain restrictions do
apply. The ruling supports the installation
of satellite dishes only when doing so “ merely causes ordinary wear and tear
(such a marks, scratches, and minor damage to carpets, walls and draperies).”
According
to the FCC, residents do not have the right, when installing satellite dishes,
to damage the building by drilling holes through exterior walls for purposes
of cabling a dish to a television or pierce the roof of a building for purpose
of attaching a dish. Dishes may not
be put in any type of common or access-restricted areas of the buildings, or
anywhere that creates a legitimate safety concern.
NAHMA
encourages “would-be” satellite installers that simply because you have the
right to install a dish doesn’t mean that you will be capable of receiving an
acceptable signal. Reception of a satellite
broadcast signal is significantly impaired (if not absolutely prevented) if
the unit does not have the ability to receive a signal from a generally South
– south – west to Southwest direction and a clear horizon about 40 degrees above
horizontal, or if there are any buildings, trees, or mountains between the installed
dish and the orbiting broadcast satellite.
Here
are the guidelines when installing a satellite dish:
1.
Dish must be installed
within the apartment or on a patio or balcony that is part of the
apartment. You may not install a satellite dish in a common
area or on the roof You may not install a satellite dish outside your apartment
unless you have a patio or balcony and you may not install a dish on an exterior
wall. You may install a dish entirely
inside your apartment.
2. Satellite dish must not be larger than one meter in diameter. You may not install any satellite dish larger
than one meter (3 feet, 3 inches), measured across its widest part.
3.
Dish must be securely
mounted and may not extend beyond the edge of the apartment. Your
dish must be mounted in such a manner that it cannot become dislodged. It must not extend beyond the edge of the patio
or balcony railing. You may not hang
a dish out the window.
4. Installation must not damage
the apartment. You must not damage
the apartment when installing your dish.
You may not drill holes in railings, exterior walls, or any other location where
holes might impair the building’s weatherproofing or there is a risk of striking
electric or water lines.
5.
You are liable for
any injury or damage to persons or property caused by your dish, and you
must maintain liability insurance covering any such injury or damage.
You install and operate your dish at your own risk. You will be liable for any injury or damage
to persons or property caused by your dish.
To ensure that you are able to pay damages in the event that your dish
causes injury or damage, you must purchase and maintain liability insurance
for your dish for as long as you have it at our community. Your must provide us with proof that you have
this insurance.
6.
A security deposit in the amount of $300 is required if you wish to install
a satellite dish. This deposit is fully refundable when your apartment is returned to us
in its original condition and if you remove your satellite dish and there is
no damage to the apartment
| 
