CEA Applauds Appeals Court Ruling In Over-The-Air Reception Devices Case

Decision Upholds FCC Order Prohibiting Restrictions On Satellite Dish Placement

16-Jul-01

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) applauded the U.S. Appeals Court ruling, which upheld Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations prohibiting restrictions on certain over-the-air television reception and direct-to-home satellite services. Petitioners in the case, including building owners and managers, had questioned the agency's statutory authority and had objected to the FCC's rules concerning over-the-air reception devices (OTARD) that were promulgated following enactment of the 1996 Telecommunications Act and amended in 1998 to extend to leaseholders. The three District of Columbia appellate court judges decidedly rejected the petitioners' claims, delivering a victory to the FCC. CEA celebrated the decision as a victory for consumers who may install satellite dishes and equipment despite landlord opposition in order to enjoy freely the benefits of digital access and entertainment. ""This is a big win for consumers. The 'unambiguously expressed intent of Congress' was clear in Section 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996,"" said CEA President and CEO Gary Shapiro. ""The court has upheld the right of all Americans - including renters - to have access to the latest and best consumer technologies, such as direct-to-home satellite. As the original FCC Order recognized, full participation in the digital revolution shouldn't be conditioned on property ownership.""For more information about the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), visit www.ce.org.

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