FCC to free up cable choices for renters on clarkhoward.com

Renters are about to enjoy the benefits of more competition for their cable business. The FCC plans to announce that landlords can no longer rip-off tenants by dictating which TV/cable/Internet providers they can use. Landlords previously could receive huge kickbacks from little private cable companies by signing exclusive deals for their buildings. When it comes to cable service, we don't have a lot of choice in this arena to begin with thanks to monopolies. The FCC's upcoming move will afford renters a little more wiggle room. Very rarely has a landlord dictating who you can go with for cable been a positive thing. In one unusual case, Clark's executive producer Christa once lived in an apartment where the management company offered her cable service at below-market price. Right now there's no telling how soon renters will feel the benefit of the upcoming FCC decision. On a related note, renters already have the right to go the satellite route. Under the Satellite Home Viewers Act, you can get satellite if you have a clear shot of the southern sky.

What others are saying

Satellite vs. Cable in an apt
My apartment complex says, sure you can have satellite but the dish must be inside your apartment. Otherwise, you must get cable. Is this legal?
By AC @ 03/23/09 03:44:12 PMreport abuse
Satellite and Cable
I'm so glad you shed light on this issue...I believe larger apartment complexes are in on this as well...

FCC needs to regulate this more...

I signed a Satellite addendum with my complex and at the time, the satellite dish was already in place (and had been for quite some time before I came). 1 year after I moved in and was actively using my service, their maintenance crew came by while I was watching tv and cut the satellite down! They did not even give me the satellite (which did not belong to them), the TOOK IT....and all of the other satellites on the property.

The addendum does not indicate that the location of the satellite was in violation, rather, it states that having the satellite in the yard is permissible.

I had to have my satellite provider come out a reinstall on the inside of my porch in a bucket filled with cement.

Now, when it rains, or the wind blows hard, the satellite goes down because the line of sight is obstructed.

Notice....I did not have to sign ANYTHING for cable....and where it is installed has not come into question...AND it has been there ("cable ready") since the apartments were built....
By Annette Barbee @ 09/03/08 11:48:59 AMreport abuse
landlords
Now, if only someone will step in and make it so landlords can not tell renters whom they have to use to supply their gas and other services outside of the cable, that will help.
By Carol @ 06/12/08 09:21:27 PMreport abuse
Apartments forcing cable
Colonial Properties (a large company in the SE and Texas) is forcing everybody to pay for cable regardless if they want it or not. They are making it an addendum as part of the lease. Myself, I prefer wi-fi tv, (rabbit ears!) and it is free. Now my rent is higher and including cable, which I do not hardly watch. The FCC does not address when it is made into an amenity increasing your overall rent. The landlord does not stop you from having satellite, but you are paying for cable anyway. If anybody can give me a specific law stating they cannot do this, I can use this to lower my rent. Please feel free to email me at ftlbear@yahoo.com
By Bear Toor @ 04/19/08 04:24:29 AMreport abuse

Satellite vs. Cable in an apt

My apartment complex says, sure you can have satellite but the dish must be inside your apartment. Otherwise, you must get cable. Is this legal?

By AC @ 03/23/09 03:44:12 PMreport abuse

Satellite and Cable

I'm so glad you shed light on this issue...I believe larger apartment complexes are in on this as well...

FCC needs to regulate this more...

I signed a Satellite addendum with my complex and at the time, the satellite dish was already in place (and had been for quite some time before I came). 1 year after I moved in and was actively using my service, their maintenance crew came by while I was watching tv and cut the satellite down! They did not even give me the satellite (which did not belong to them), the TOOK IT....and all of the other satellites on the property.

The addendum does not indicate that the location of the satellite was in violation, rather, it states that having the satellite in the yard is permissible.

I had to have my satellite provider come out a reinstall on the inside of my porch in a bucket filled with cement.

Now, when it rains, or the wind blows hard, the satellite goes down because the line of sight is obstructed.

Notice....I did not have to sign ANYTHING for cable....and where it is installed has not come into question...AND it has been there ("cable ready") since the apartments were built....

By Annette Barbee @ 09/03/08 11:48:59 AMreport abuse

landlords

Now, if only someone will step in and make it so landlords can not tell renters whom they have to use to supply their gas and other services outside of the cable, that will help.

By Carol @ 06/12/08 09:21:27 PMreport abuse

Apartments forcing cable

Colonial Properties (a large company in the SE and Texas) is forcing everybody to pay for cable regardless if they want it or not. They are making it an addendum as part of the lease. Myself, I prefer wi-fi tv, (rabbit ears!) and it is free. Now my rent is higher and including cable, which I do not hardly watch. The FCC does not address when it is made into an amenity increasing your overall rent. The landlord does not stop you from having satellite, but you are paying for cable anyway. If anybody can give me a specific law stating they cannot do this, I can use this to lower my rent. Please feel free to email me at ftlbear@yahoo.com

By Bear Toor @ 04/19/08 04:24:29 AMreport abuse

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Oct 29, 2007 -- FCC to free up cable choices for renters

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