I want to use a satellite service (DSS, Primestar, etc). What are my options?
• First of all, I don’t blame you. • Fortunately for tenants, the telecommunications law of 1996 was amended and took effect January 22, 1999 to allow tenants the right to use satellite dishes anywhere they have “…..an exclusive leasehold interest” (in your apartment or on your private balcony or patio). Of course there are numerous provisions, loopholes etc which will keep the attorneys happy until the next millennium. We are not attorneys but as we have been told: Basically the owners can not have a blanket policy to not allow the satellite dishes. • So far from what we have seen, the property owners are reluctantly going along so long as you keep your dish “free-standing” (on a tripod) and don’t permanently affix it to the building. You’ll still need to have a place on your balcony that you can point your dish to the satellite (usually southwest) so ask your locator to find out about the way the vacant units and their balconies might face.
