[jchance]

I moved to Louisiana from New Hampshire in 97 and my only option was Dish Network or Direct TV for pay television. Getting permission was easy there. My landlords were a sweet old Cajun couple and treated me like a member of the family, their French cousin from the north and all. It took all of two seconds literally to have them say OK and that was it.

When I moved back up north it was pure hell. I used to live in this condo complex before my move south so I knew a majority of the condo association board. That was the only way I was able to get a waiver. Property management gave me such the run around Direct TV accused me of trying to defraud them. I even referred them to the property management company. They would not take the time to confirm I was trying to get a waiver and charged me for the promotional program at full price for everything.

I was at the end of my rope. Property management after 4 months, thats right 4 months finally said nope, not happening. I went to my neighbor on the board and expressed my disgust with property management and how they handled the situation. He informed me that the board had never received my request for a waiver. Which it is the board who decides under most community charters not property management.

He was livid. This current property management company and prior ones like most do what they want not what they are allowed to do under their contract. My neighbor approved me on the waiver to extend past my deck if necessary. I am allowed to set a mast bracket into the roof soffit and raise a dish up above the peak of the roof if necessary on masting as well. Living on the top floor has a perk. I do that and I will have no problems with line of sight. Max I need like 10' to get the dish above the roof line and I have a complete clear line of sight.

You want a waiver that is all inclusive to any possible install application you might want to do? My advice have a build a rapport and relationship with your neighbors if living in a condo because you never know when one of them might get elected to the board. Another consideration become a part of the community decision process and run for the board or go to the meetings and vote on the decisions that effect your complex.

Hope this advice can help with most think the property management company is where to turn on getting a waiver. If I had this advice, it wouldn't have been 4 months of hell and also if I did get the waiver from property management it would have been to allow me to secure the dish on the railing only which would not allow for a line of sight anyways for the Direct TV satellite.