The government gave renters permission in November of 1998 to install small satellite dishes or other TV antennas on balconies, patios or gardens that aren't shared with other tenants.

The Federal Communications Commission's action applies to rental properties such as apartments and single family homes, but it won't affect 'common areas' such as apartment building lobbies or roofs.

These rules supersede any existing leasing agreements that restrict tenants from installing dishes or other TV antennas.

The rules also permits people to install these devices inside their rented homes or apartments as long as they don't drill into walls or do any other damage to the property. In MANY cases, Satellite TV installers may ‘tap’ into existing Cable T.V. connections already going into a property. In some cases, a special device, similar to the connection used by automobile Cellular Telephone antennas, may be used to bring the Satellite TV signal through glass windows or doors WITHOUT any damage to property. Such devices are reasonably available at electronics stores such as RADIO SHACK.

The FCC already has similar rules in place for people who live in condominiums, cooperatives and manufactured homes.

The commission has thus eliminated the have-and-have-not distinction that gave homeowners access to the competitive video market but denied it to all apartment dwellers. Roughly 10 million people in the United States get their TV via satellite. The FCC's action responds to a 1996 telecommunications law that gave the commission the authority to enact regulations that would end restrictions impairing a viewer's ability to receive TV programming via various technologies.