I've been a homeowner at my condo complex the past 23 years. Recently the president of the homeowners association became obsessed about "cleaning up" all the satellite dishes in our 500 unit development. His main objections have been the many dishes that have gone up that are installed onto the various stucco roofing structures, which he feels compromises the structural integrity of the buildings. (However, to my knowledge, no dishes have been installed using mounts that penetrate the actual rooftops.)
In the newsletter I received today, he states the following:
"...the Board will be discussing the satellite TV system upgrade. This upgrade targets all satellite TV owners and users at CCV (the name of condo development). Sometime in the next 60-90 days current satellite owners and users will be given a deadline to contact the office and register their satellite service and equipment. For a brief time every line in CCV will be cut and a new line installed in its place. We will also be relocating the dishes onto NPR mounts to prevent roof damage. Aside from the fact that this upgrade will enhance the curb appeal of our complex we have hopes that by registering the equipment with the office, we might curb theft in the future because we will be able to trace most hardware to specific units.
Owners and users please note that a minor fee will be required from current satellite dish owners to conform their dishes to the new system. For owners who are considering switching over from Time Warner Cable to satellite TV this period would be the time to do it. Our installer has agreed to offer reduced cost installations for all systems done during this period. Afterwards all installations will only be allowed by approved vendors, not your satellite provider, and could cost upwards of $250 per install. Please contact the office for more details on how this upgrade and registration works."
Being satellite-obsessed, I have three dishes on the roof, plus an OTA antenna. I'm very upset by the edict that this dictatorial condo association president has handed down.
My question is, how much of what he is trying to enforce legal? I realize that by FCC regulations, homeowners associations cannot prevent the installation of dishes. However, what about the specific terms that are being dictated? I would suggest that this president is trying to solve a problem that does not exist.
None of my fellow homeowners feel there's any problem at all, yet he seems to be perceiving everything from structural damage to aesthetic devaluation (one can't even see the rooftops from the street!). I really don't wish anyone mucking with the installations I have personally performed, nor do I wish having to register a dish that is really none of their business.
Perhaps the biggest red flag is the portion of the statement that reads, "every line in CCV will be cut and a new line installed in its place" followed by "Afterwards all installations will only be allowed by approved vendors, not your satellite provider, and could cost upwards of $250 per install. " How in the world can this be legal? I personally got into a heated argument with Dishnetwork about upgrading to the 622 and their requirement that an installer come out. I told them that I had already installed the dish, but they insisted!
As we all know, satellite companies almost always offer -- or require -- free installation as part of signing-up for their service to begin with. Can a condo association really dictate that only their crony-approved installers do the work? And incurring costs, as the president put it, of "upwards of $250 per install?"
Any feedback or comments would be greatly appreciated. I would love to go in prepared with some ammunition, if any is available, at the next homeowners meeting.
Thanks so much to everyone.
In the newsletter I received today, he states the following:
"...the Board will be discussing the satellite TV system upgrade. This upgrade targets all satellite TV owners and users at CCV (the name of condo development). Sometime in the next 60-90 days current satellite owners and users will be given a deadline to contact the office and register their satellite service and equipment. For a brief time every line in CCV will be cut and a new line installed in its place. We will also be relocating the dishes onto NPR mounts to prevent roof damage. Aside from the fact that this upgrade will enhance the curb appeal of our complex we have hopes that by registering the equipment with the office, we might curb theft in the future because we will be able to trace most hardware to specific units.
Owners and users please note that a minor fee will be required from current satellite dish owners to conform their dishes to the new system. For owners who are considering switching over from Time Warner Cable to satellite TV this period would be the time to do it. Our installer has agreed to offer reduced cost installations for all systems done during this period. Afterwards all installations will only be allowed by approved vendors, not your satellite provider, and could cost upwards of $250 per install. Please contact the office for more details on how this upgrade and registration works."
Being satellite-obsessed, I have three dishes on the roof, plus an OTA antenna. I'm very upset by the edict that this dictatorial condo association president has handed down.
My question is, how much of what he is trying to enforce legal? I realize that by FCC regulations, homeowners associations cannot prevent the installation of dishes. However, what about the specific terms that are being dictated? I would suggest that this president is trying to solve a problem that does not exist.
None of my fellow homeowners feel there's any problem at all, yet he seems to be perceiving everything from structural damage to aesthetic devaluation (one can't even see the rooftops from the street!). I really don't wish anyone mucking with the installations I have personally performed, nor do I wish having to register a dish that is really none of their business.
Perhaps the biggest red flag is the portion of the statement that reads, "every line in CCV will be cut and a new line installed in its place" followed by "Afterwards all installations will only be allowed by approved vendors, not your satellite provider, and could cost upwards of $250 per install. " How in the world can this be legal? I personally got into a heated argument with Dishnetwork about upgrading to the 622 and their requirement that an installer come out. I told them that I had already installed the dish, but they insisted!
As we all know, satellite companies almost always offer -- or require -- free installation as part of signing-up for their service to begin with. Can a condo association really dictate that only their crony-approved installers do the work? And incurring costs, as the president put it, of "upwards of $250 per install?"
Any feedback or comments would be greatly appreciated. I would love to go in prepared with some ammunition, if any is available, at the next homeowners meeting.
Thanks so much to everyone.