Do you have satellite dishes plastered all over your property?
Do you have a waiting list for apartments that face South?
Are you tired of poor customer service and rate increases from cable?
Would you like to generate revenue from satellite TV subscriptions on your property? Internet too?
If you're ready to get those dishes down off your balconies while offering residents a premiere satellite television service, discover our solutions that allow apartment owners to benefit from a shared-satellite-dish-system without having to spend a dime.
History of the Balcony Dish!
Since the 1996 FCC ruling on "Over-The-Air-Reception-Devices" (OTARD) took effect, installations of satellite dishes on apartment balconies and porches have exploded. 
The ruling provides that apartment and condominium managers can no longer just "reject" a request by a resident to install a satellite dish of one meter or less in size.
Residents now have the right, subject to "reasonable" restrictions by the property manager, to put a dish on a balcony, balcony railing, or patio that is part of the resident's leased premises.
As cable rates continue to increase with limited television choices and poor customer service, many residents have elected to subscribe to a digital satellite TV service such as DISH Network or DirecTV.
Satellite TV service is a great alternative to cable TV service, but before you allow balcony and patio dishes, consider the 4 biggest problems that these dishes will present to you as a property owner.
1. Aesthetic Issues
Clearly you don't need us to tell you that satellite dishes plastered throughout an apartment, condominium, or townhome community look downright ugly. What's the benefit of investing in your lush landscapes and beautiful exteriors, only to have your property end up looking like NASA?
2. Liability Issues
If installed incorrectly, satellite dishes on balconies can fall on neighbors below, presenting serious liability issues to the property owner.
Although it's perfectly reasonable to require residents to carry liability insurance to protect against such incidences, are you and your staff ready to police that policy on an ongoing basis? Isn't it tough enough to make sure renters are carrying rental insurance, let alone some additional liability insurance for their satellite dish?
3. No "Line of Sight" Issues
Even if you're a "dish-friendly" complex, not everyone who wants satellite TV service will be capable of receiving a satellite signal. DISH Network and DirecTV satellites are located South, requiring individual dishes to have an un-obstructed view of the South (known as "line of sight").
In most cases, resident balconies that face North, East or West don't stand a chance at receiving satellite TV programming unless they have access to a rooftop area to mount their dish, which of course, would require your permission.
4. Improper Grounding
According to installation instructions provided by satellite dish manufacturers and the SBCA (Satellite Broadcasting & Communications Association),the resident's satellite dish must be grounded to a primary grounding source.
Generally, primary grounding sources include ground rods located at the base of your electrical meters or cold water piping. If not grounded properly, satellite dishes become lightning rods that dangerously expose your property.
Further, these satellite dishes are directly connected to your building and indirectly connected to your power grid. Since primary grounding sources are not located in the resident's leased area, it's almost impossible for the dishes to be grounded properly.
