Local Communications Expert Shares Thoughts On Philadelphia's Satellite TV Dish Law
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Will a law Philadelphia City Council passed last fall restricting location and placement of satellite TV dishes on homes and apartments stand up to a federal challenge? A local communications media expert says probably not.
David Allan is an associate professor of marketing at St. Joseph's University.
Allan says the Federal Communications Commission regulates the satellite TV industry, and its rulings don't take kindly to local communities trying to usurp the federal government's role.
And, Allan says, Philadelphia's restrictions on the satellite companies could be perceived as a bias.
"The FCC's pretty clear on the kind of free trade that they'd like to create in the satellite TV-cable industry. That they want all parties to not have a monopoly on programming or on usage, so that the consumer gets free choice."
Enforcement of those restrictions is on hold, pending the outcome of the challenge.
