IMCC - MDU
Newsletter
"PCOs and MDUs working together for the benefit of residents"
IMCC is a trade association comprised of Private Cable Operators (PCOs), multiple dwelling unit owners and the supporting industry. Your thoughts and comments on this newsletter are invited. You may contact us at (202) 364-0882 or Bill Burhop at bburhop@imcc-online.org
DBS
Dishes Still a Problem
As
you know, under the FCC OTARD (over the air reception devices) rules,
individual unit residents are allowed to install Direct Broadcast
Satellite (DBS) dishes in their exclusive use areas (not on your
common areas) and you can not stop them. They do have to follow
certain rules, but they still cause numerous problems.
IMCC
is trying to survey many MDU owners to see how much of a problem this
is for you and what can be done about it. Therefore, if you
could supply the following information it would help us to help you:
1.
Are more dishes being put up in your communities? Is the problem
getting worse?
2.
Do you have rules that residents must follow (an addendum to the
lease, a deposit, separate resident insurance, etc.)?
3.
Do your rental agents make residents follow those rules?
4.
Are residents putting the dishes on your common areas, areas under
your sole control?
5.
Do you have any other comments?
Video
on Demand (VOD) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
Many
MDU managers are curious about how these new technologies work and
what they do. On our web site-- www.IMCC-online.org
-- you can find useful descriptions of each.
Video
Franchises
The
state of Texas is working on legislation that would allow RBOCs and
telephone companies to supply video in MDU communities without getting
a franchise from the local government, like the other cable providers
need to do. This may be good or it may be bad, its too early to
tell. If it passes in Texas it will spread to other states.
It also will be pursued in Washington.
US
Congress
The
House and Senate are preparing major legislation to re-write the 1996
Telecommunications Act. It may well include provisions that
impact the types of contracts you can write with video, telephone and
high-speed data providers that want to be on your properties--you may
have to allow any company to provide any service, to any resident, can
the MDU owner control the use of your wiring, can you get revenue
sharing, etc. This is major legislation that could impact your
properties for many years.
Q
and A
On
the IMCC web site you can find many questions and answers about issues
that MDU owners ask about: what is home wiring, how do the FCC MDU
Inside Wiring Rules really work, where is the demarcation point, can
you receive revenue sharing, etc.
Also,
if you have specific questions not answered there you are always
welcome to communicate with us and ask your questions.
Service
Options
If
you are looking for a Private Cable Operator (PCO) to supply video,
high-speed data and telephone service as an alternative to the huge
franchised operators, please look at our directory for a list of PCOs
in your area.
If
you have any issue you would like us to research do not hesitate to
call or write.
Independent Multi-Family Communications Council
202 364 0882