Councilman Draws Ire Of Satellite TV Companies With Proposed Regulations
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Philadelphia City Council member is continuing his effort to reign in what he says are unsightly satellite TV dishes on row home roofs, much to the industry's chagrin.
City Councilman Darrell Clarke has again amended his measure that regulates the placement of satellite dishes in Philadelphia. The dishes would have to be colored to match the rooftop, but Clarke says this applies only to new dishes and the coloring would be the installer's, not the homeowner's, responsibility.
"We're not asking people to go out and paint the existing dishes," Clarke says. "We're saying (to the companies) as you move ahead in your production models, simply have those dishes camouflaged."
Dish Network is notifying customers by email and its website to oppose the bill.
Clarke says he's moving ahead anyway.
"Having these satellite dishes on the facades of properties when they don't have to be there is something we don't think is acceptable. So we've been working with the industry, we've been trying to get a compromise. But we, at this point, we've been unable to do that, so we're moving ahead with legislation."
A final vote is expected on October 6th.
A statement from the Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, representing both Dish Networks and DirecTV, described Clarke's bill as "Orwellian," "bad public policy" and illegal under FCC regulations.
Reported by City Hall Bureau Chief Mike Dunn, KYW Newsradio 1060
