It is almost impossible to believe how technology has advanced in so many areas in the last seven years. Everything from TV’s, cable, dish, ipod’s, blackberry’s, cell phones—you name it and it has changed. What is considered new today will be old next year.

When the covenants for Wood Hollow were written in 2003, no one could envision those changes. As change happens, so must our covenants. In particular, the one referencing satellite dishes. The current covenants allow up to an18 inch diameter for a dish. Today’s technology now includes HD and the diameter of those dishes is much larger.

The Board of Directors (BOD) has learned the FCC ruling regarding satellite dishes is allowing up to one meter in size (39.37”). Further, no HOA can ban dish reception. This new ruling makes our
covenant 5.02 (b) obsolete.

One of the major concerns of the BOD has been to closely monitor expenditures and keep our annual dues in line with actual needs and wants of our community. To have a vote to change the covenant to indicate the FCC ruling or to delete that item would eventually incur legal fees. Money that could be used for other purposes.

What the BOD is recommending:

1. For those that wish to update their dish network or who want to convert from cable to dish, we ask that you attempt to place the dish in your back yard or roof.
2. If the back yard or roof is not an option, and you must place the dish at the side of your home, please be mindful of your neighbor and our community. Planting tasteful shrubs or flowers
surrounding the base of the dish would be a welcomed camouflage.
3. Please refer to 5.02 (m) in the covenants that state, in part: “Each Owner . . . shall maintain his Lot and the improvements thereon is a neat, clean, and eye- pleasing condition . . .” The front yard is not an acceptable place for a dish if the signal can be obtained in a less visible location of the property.

Further information on satellite dishes can be obtained at the following two websites:
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/consumerfacts/consumerdish.html
www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html

Thank you and as always, the BOD would appreciate any and all feedback on this matter.

bod@woodhollowhoa.com