Boston City Council Regulates Where TV Satellite Dishes Can be Placed

Cable companies will no longer be allowed to affix satellite dishes to the front of a Boston dwelling. The City Council approved the new regulations during Wednesday's meeting.

"All installers would no longer be able to install those on the front façade or the side facing the street," said District 1 City Councilor Sal LaMattina, who proposed changing the current guidelines to satellite dishes. "The aesthetics and character of the neighborhood will not be attacked. You can clearly see some of these dishes blocking fire escapes and windows."

LaMattina said TV satellite dishes are safety hazard issues primarily in Dorchester and East Boston, but has seen growing issues throughout the rest of Boston's neighborhoods, too.

But you will not have to move your current satellite dish, if it's in the front of your home. LaMattina said there is a grandfather clause (which was added after a public hearing and council working sessions) that allows people to keep their currently installed satellite dishes, that are still working, in the front of buildings

JP & West Roxbury District Councilor Matt O'Malley, chairman of the City Council’s Government Operations Committee, said LaMattina's initial proposal has been vetted through the public hearing and three working sessions. The Council unanimously supported the the legislation in Wednesday's weekly meeting. 

LaMattina said landlords would be given until Jan. 1, 2015 to remove all unused TV satellite dishes. 

"If you get one installed, your installer would have to remove all non-used dishes before installing a new one. They also have to register satellite dishes with ISD (Inspectional Services Department). I think this is a fair measure. Philadelphia and Chicago have similar laws," said LaMattina.

But there will still be some wiggle room for putting a TV satellite dish on the front of a home. Said LaMattina, "If you can’t receive a signal then you need to prove to the city that you can’t receive a signal and could have a dish in a better place."