Can I get this on Direct TV?

Can your apartment tell you you can't get direct TV?

• In my apartment building I would say half and half of people have direct tv or comcast. I asked my management if we can get Direct TV and he said no because it's un sightly to the building..........................im thinking the whole building damn near has Direct tv? He said they had it for years before it was taken over by new management. I was living here with old management for five years so in my lease it doesn't say we can't have direct TV, also isn't their a law that says you have a right to install Satellite TV. Plus if half the building already has it, why restrict it now.

• Answer:

  There is a Federal Law that states a landlord cannot ban small satellite dishes BUT!! there are restrictions. Basically if you have exclusive access to an area and you want to put your dish in that area and it does not damage the building in any way you can. Here is a summery of the FCC regulations concerning Satellite TV dishes in apartment buildings.... The rule (47 C.F.R. Section 1.4000) has been in effect since October 1996, and it prohibits restrictions that impair the installation, maintenance or use of antennas used to receive video programming. The rule applies to video antennas including direct-to-home satellite dishes that are less than one meter (39.37") in diameter (or of any size in Alaska), TV antennas, and wireless cable antennas. The rule prohibits most restrictions that: (1) unreasonably delay or prevent installation, maintenance or use; (2) unreasonably increase the cost of installation, maintenance or use; or (3) preclude reception of an acceptable quality signal. Effective January 22, 1999, the Commission amended the rule so that it also applies to rental property where the renter has an exclusive use area, such as a balcony or patio. Q: What types of restrictions are prohibited? A: The rule prohibits restrictions that impair a viewer's ability to receive signals from a provider of DBS, MMDS or TVBS. The rule applies to state or local laws or regulations, including zoning, land-use or building regulations, private covenants, homeowners' association rules or similar restrictions on property within the exclusive use or control of the antenna user where the user has a direct or indirect ownership interest in the property. A restriction impairs if it: 1) unreasonably delays or prevents use of, 2) unreasonably increases the cost of, or 3) precludes a subscriber from receiving an acceptable quality signal from, one of these antennas. The rule does not prohibit safety restrictions or restrictions designed to preserve historic districts.