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Proposed Ordinance Targets Residents' Satellite Dishes
WGAL ^ | 9 MAR | WGAL

Posted on 03/10/2006 12:08:46 PM PST by barj

Proposed Ordinance Targets Residents' Satellite Dishes

POSTED: 8:53 am EST March 9, 2006 UPDATED: 11:39 am EST March 9, 2006

LANCASTER, Pa. -- Lancaster City Mayor Rick Gray wants to regulate where residents can put their television satellite dishes on their homes.

Gray said the dishes take away from the historical look of the city. The mayor had considered charging a fee to keep people from mounting the dishes in front of their homes. Now he's pushing for a zoning ordinance that would require residents to place the dishes in the back or sides of homes.

"It will be a look at the zoning ordinance to see if we can regulate the placement of them. It's not about charging fees, we're not interested in charging fees," said Gray.

"I look up at the architecture in the city, like just across the street and everything. I don't think a satellite dish is going to take away from that, it's small, you don't even really notice it," said resident Carolyn Bitner.

The zoning ordinance would only apply to new satellite dishes.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: imminentdomain; propertyrights
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Wow. Just like CA. I think the state motto is, "There Ain't Nothin' we can't regulate."
1 posted on 03/10/2006 12:08:49 PM PST by barj
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To: barj

Tear down the elecrical and phone lines too. ;-)


2 posted on 03/10/2006 12:11:13 PM PST by rhombus
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To: barj

Dumbbutt! The antenna has to face a specific direction. That pretty much dictates its location on most house. Give it up, already.


3 posted on 03/10/2006 12:11:21 PM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: barj

I hate this crap. I bought the house... let me put my little sat dish where I get the best reception.


4 posted on 03/10/2006 12:11:38 PM PST by trashcanbred (Anti-social and anti-socialist)
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To: barj
At first glance I thought the title was "Proposed Ordnance Targets Residents' Satellite Dishes", and was intensely curious to learn what new high-tech weapon was homing in on satellite dishes.

Then I realized that it said "Ordinance", not "Ordnance". How mundane and disappointing...

5 posted on 03/10/2006 12:12:07 PM PST by dpwiener
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To: barj

What a great idea! Hey, I like the look of the medieval days. Let's force everyone to build their homes IAW 1000 A.D. standards. No electricity or running water--that'll ensure everything looks "historical"!


6 posted on 03/10/2006 12:13:29 PM PST by American Quilter
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To: barj

Based on the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, I don't think the city will have much luck. It has rendered the satellite dish restrictions in our community null and void.


7 posted on 03/10/2006 12:14:16 PM PST by Niteranger68 ("Only 4 out of 3 Democrats actually vote.")
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To: RacerF150

Ya beat me to the punch. The city cannot tell people to take down the dishes.


8 posted on 03/10/2006 12:19:34 PM PST by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
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To: barj

So remember, kids: It's not that it's your property that's important, it's how it strikes the mayor's sense of aesthetics.


9 posted on 03/10/2006 12:19:50 PM PST by D.P.Roberts
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To: barj

Don't they have to face the southern sky. There is generally no choice for people.


10 posted on 03/10/2006 12:20:20 PM PST by ElmoMobito
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To: RacerF150
Based on the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, I don't think the city will have much luck. It has rendered the satellite dish restrictions in our community null and void.

Agreed. Our HOA has suggested that dishes should be on the back of the house, but they don't seem willing to make an issue of it.

11 posted on 03/10/2006 12:21:58 PM PST by SmithL (Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.)
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To: barj
The FCC has limited the ability of state and local governments (including HAs) to regulate satellite dishes smaller than 1 meter.

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

12 posted on 03/10/2006 12:23:07 PM PST by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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To: barj

Well, mayor, it isn't a satellite dish. It is a death ray. Part of my home security package. I only make it look like a satellite dish so the neighbors won't get excited at the thought of being vaporized if they try and break in...


13 posted on 03/10/2006 12:23:53 PM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly.)
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To: barj

Congress has already passed a law prohibiting any municipal or state entity from making any law making it illegal to place a sattelite dish anywhere on your property if placement is for reception.


14 posted on 03/10/2006 12:23:53 PM PST by eastforker (Under Cover FReeper going dark(too much 24))
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To: barj

Their local zoning ordinance is in violation of federal law. Specifically the Communications Act of 1996.


15 posted on 03/10/2006 12:25:29 PM PST by BigSkyFreeper (There is no alternative to the GOP except varying degrees of insanity.)
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To: barj

Can't be done.

http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html


16 posted on 03/10/2006 12:26:22 PM PST by Keith in Iowa (New SeeBS-News promo theme: If the facts don't fit, we'll make up sh*t.)
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To: SmithL
Agreed. Our HOA has suggested that dishes should be on the back of the house, but they don't seem willing to make an issue of it.

Several years ago, a friend of mine bought a house in a neighborhood that the cable company agreed to offer service in, but only after the CC&R's (covenants, conditions & restrictions) were written to disallow satellite dishes.

17 posted on 03/10/2006 12:28:24 PM PST by Niteranger68 ("Only 4 out of 3 Democrats actually vote.")
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To: trashcanbred
I bought the house...

You just think you bought your house. I say we lease the land from the "Government" because if we don't continuously pay our property taxes, will will lose our houses on pain of death.

The same goes for our street and off road vehicles, at least here in California. Gotta pay those yearly fees or lose the property.

One day we may have to pay fees for all our property, or lose it, on pain of death. Unless of course we fight and render the pain on those socialists that what a piece of everything we make, earn or inherit.

18 posted on 03/10/2006 12:28:29 PM PST by 3_if_by_Treason (Life is a series of lessons: Sometimes you're the student, and sometimes you're the teacher.)
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To: barj

There is a lot of thing that enter into where the dish goes. Trees, garages. other people s homes. anything that interferes with reception. I am sure we would all like them in the attic where they wont be seen at all, but unfortunately they dont work there. It looks like someone would have informed this dildo just a wee bit about sattellites before he made an ass of himself.


19 posted on 03/10/2006 12:28:50 PM PST by sgtbono2002
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To: RacerF150
I had a link or copy of the pertinent portion of the Act will try to find it. But the city can't do that. I think the satellite lobby got it done otherwise the cable industry would have got all cities to ban them on these grounds after greasing enough palms.
20 posted on 03/10/2006 12:29:20 PM PST by nomorelurker (wetraginhell)
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