Being sarcastic, I hope. If not, you ought to realize that what Omaha is doing clearly violates OTARD. Federal law is supreme in the U.S.
$50 Dish Grounding Inspection Fee passed by Omaha, Ne
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Being sarcastic, I hope. If not, you ought to realize that what Omaha is doing clearly violates OTARD. Federal law is supreme in the U.S.
This is the kicker that makes it violate OTARD. The fee is not being used to cover the cost of inspection, but instead to raise revenue. By being that purpose, it is considered an "unreasonable expense". Also, by being levied against only satellite and not OTA or Cable, it shows that it is targeting one type of business, and will get it tossed, the same as previous "satellite only" taxes have been.
As a person who LIVES in Omaha, NE, this make me sick. Our City council screwed us, and took care of Cox Communication of the flip side. I can see the local Cox commercials now: "We may suck compared to Dish, but we do not have a $50 inspection fee!" I emailed all 4 city council men last night about how upset I was, but they don't care.
Hey, governments are looking for unconventional ways to stir up revenue.
In NC , our illustrious State government found a way to "tax tax"
Yes,...All wage earners who make over $60k and couples who earn over $100k per year will pay a tax on their tax.
It works like this..The tax paid by these individuals/couple will be assesed a 3% surcharge on the amount paid in income tax.
In other words the State is taxing tax..
You ask, where does it end..The answer is , it doesn't.
NC is the Massachusettes of the South. We currently have the highest state income tax in the south,. The 5th highest gas tax in the nation(30.2 cents per gallon, the 6th highest state income ta
8.25%) and now one the highest state sales tax (7.75% plus a one percent add on for prepared food) in the nation..And our idiot governor keeps telling us there is no money for anything.Needless to say I am looking just 10 miles south into moving to the relative tax haven of South Carolina.,
From the Omaha World Heard today.
Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Metro/Region - Satellite dish revenue unclear
Along with the text since they seem to change their links more often than most
Anyone know what these other cities are???
Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Metro/Region - Satellite dish revenue unclear
Along with the text since they seem to change their links more often than most
Anyone know what these other cities are???
Oh I can just see it now..Hypothetically...I am a resident of Omaha. I have a satellite dish. An inspector uninvited and IMO tresspassing on MY property goes through a gated fence to have alook for the incriminating sat dish. I see the inspector..
I let him/her know that my two dogs DO NOT care for strangers. And they have to go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW...."You have 15 seconds to take a hike."
"You want to enter my property, get a court order".
Bullsh!t... Cable companies are charged a fee which thye in turn pass along to their subscribers.
This is the idiotic argument brough by the cable lobby to justify "satellite taxes" in certian states.
The cable people whined that while they had to pay municipal franchise agreement fees, satellite customers nor satcos paid no such fee.
Again the fees charged to the cable cos are passed along to the end user...
Nice try. Doesn't wash.
OMG, there is maybe 24 volts dc of electricity running to the lnb on that dish. Huge safety issue here compared to the 200 volts AC entering the houses. Why not an inspection fee for electric service to all the homes in Omaha? (I know, don't give politicians any ideas.)
Notice that there are no examples provided of the "other cities" with a similar inspection fee.
This is not about the safety of grounding, it is about raising revenue for a city budget that is bloated with special interest spending.
What needs to be done is investigate exactly what is causing the budget crises. For example, here in Jacksonville, FL, we also are having a fiscal shortfall too. The reason is quite obvious since the entire costs are published in the paper. Here, our government employees, the largest in numbers are the City police force and second firemen have a salary and retirement and medical benefits that is entirely out of line with independent industry. School Teachers salaries but not retirement are in line with industry, I might add and consequently are considered underpaid as compared with firemen and policemen but overpaid when compared to private schools. But back to the reason for the budget problems. Retirement benefits are eating up this community much faster than anything else in their spending. BUT, it is entirely politically disastrous to do anything to touch that pension ( which BTW is equal to the retirees salary when he worked). Until these politicians stop the spending on unusual benefits for government employees we will continue to have problems like this.
I suspect that we also will get the inspection fees once another city passes it and I'd bet it will be done to exempt the phone company and Cable here as well, specifically targeting satellite dishes. We already have a satellite dish tax.
I am 100% against the inspection fees for satellite dishes. However, I am not against grounding of dishes. And I feel cities may inspect for violations of building codes and NEC as well but may not charge fees to inspect. Citations for violations is a better way.
Here is my compromise: Inspect like any other inspection of building code in a community, and charge what is now being charged. No special charge to do the inspection that is unreasonable and singles out dish owners, and then issue citations for violations. Only inspect new installations after a specified date.
What needs to be done is investigate exactly what is causing the budget crises. For example, here in Jacksonville, FL, we also are having a fiscal shortfall too. The reason is quite obvious since the entire costs are published in the paper. Here, our government employees, the largest in numbers are the City police force and second firemen have a salary and retirement and medical benefits that is entirely out of line with independent industry. School Teachers salaries but not retirement are in line with industry, I might add and consequently are considered underpaid as compared with firemen and policemen but overpaid when compared to private schools. But back to the reason for the budget problems. Retirement benefits are eating up this community much faster than anything else in their spending. BUT, it is entirely politically disastrous to do anything to touch that pension ( which BTW is equal to the retirees salary when he worked). Until these politicians stop the spending on unusual benefits for government employees we will continue to have problems like this.
I suspect that we also will get the inspection fees once another city passes it and I'd bet it will be done to exempt the phone company and Cable here as well, specifically targeting satellite dishes. We already have a satellite dish tax.
I am 100% against the inspection fees for satellite dishes. However, I am not against grounding of dishes. And I feel cities may inspect for violations of building codes and NEC as well but may not charge fees to inspect. Citations for violations is a better way.
Here is my compromise: Inspect like any other inspection of building code in a community, and charge what is now being charged. No special charge to do the inspection that is unreasonable and singles out dish owners, and then issue citations for violations. Only inspect new installations after a specified date.
An inspection EVERY THREE YEARS? What else do they require an inspection for every three years?
This is going to cost the residents a bit more than $50. You want to know why? Because when they say that it failed they will probably require it to be uninstalled immediately. Perhaps they will give you a fine if it was installed incorrectly even though you did not install the system. Then you have to pay to have it reinstalled.
Also, how many people have more than one satellite dish? Oh, that is $50 per dish?
So other cities already have such a fee imposed? I sure would like to know what other cities have this as it sounds like this is the first time anybody has ever heard of such a fee.
If the satellite companies end up having to pay this fee, then they are going to be even harder on their installers and there WILL be a higher churn rate or they will demand more money. This will also lead to higher costs for the consumer and more consumers dropping satellite for cable.
Dish Network and Directv should advertise this on the local stations in their area or put it on the program guide or something regarding what is going on and urge people to go to that meeting.
This is going to cost the residents a bit more than $50. You want to know why? Because when they say that it failed they will probably require it to be uninstalled immediately. Perhaps they will give you a fine if it was installed incorrectly even though you did not install the system. Then you have to pay to have it reinstalled.
Also, how many people have more than one satellite dish? Oh, that is $50 per dish?
So other cities already have such a fee imposed? I sure would like to know what other cities have this as it sounds like this is the first time anybody has ever heard of such a fee.
If the satellite companies end up having to pay this fee, then they are going to be even harder on their installers and there WILL be a higher churn rate or they will demand more money. This will also lead to higher costs for the consumer and more consumers dropping satellite for cable.
Dish Network and Directv should advertise this on the local stations in their area or put it on the program guide or something regarding what is going on and urge people to go to that meeting.
If the national or local electrical code requires grounding then the grounding should be enforced. Besides, I find it amazing that few people ground their satellite or outside TV antenna. IMHO, they're asking for trouble if it isn't grounded - a few local former BUD owners had their sat receivers fried - I don't know if the surge came in on the power line or antenna lead though. However, I've never lost a sat receiver for any reason, let alone due to any surges. 
Yes, inspecting every three years is cuckoo. What NFPA 70 (NEC) spec requires this? This only sounds like the goal for a recurring revenue source.
I see that the city coucil guy is motivated by objection to the appearance of dishes on people's homes.
And, what's the deal with "wind-resistance rules"? What's that all about?
Also, the cable TV companes get a pass on the ostensible premise of safety as an issue.
I see that the city coucil guy is motivated by objection to the appearance of dishes on people's homes.
And, what's the deal with "wind-resistance rules"? What's that all about?
Also, the cable TV companes get a pass on the ostensible premise of safety as an issue.
If so, it should be enforced in all cases. (cable installations and OTA antennas too...)
Can't speak to all the tax differences, but if you drive a fairly new or expensive car(s), and are planning to move to York County, SC (not sure which part of SC you are 10 miles from
)...you might want to check into the insane car tax we're saddled with. That alone might kill your savings. So I emailed all 4 City Council members who voted for this, and just stated they should be ashamed for passing this, and I wanted to know why this did not apply to cable. I did not use any profanities. 2 have sent me very kind emails, but I want to post my response from Garry Gernandt:
"Spoken truly by a disgusting uninformed human, you should be ashamed of yourself."
That is the exact email he sent me, what a self serving low life. Here is his contact info:
Garry Gernandt
District 4
(402) 444-5522
Garry.Gernandt@ci.omaha.ne.us
"Spoken truly by a disgusting uninformed human, you should be ashamed of yourself."
That is the exact email he sent me, what a self serving low life. Here is his contact info:
Garry Gernandt
District 4
(402) 444-5522
Garry.Gernandt@ci.omaha.ne.us
Not to mention the SC governorCan't speak to all the tax differences, but if you drive a fairly new or expensive car(s), and are planning to move to York County, SC (not sure which part of SC you are 10 miles from
.
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Yes, I believe that's what I said about grounding.
As for wind resistance/loading, they want to make sure that your antenna is adequately attached to your house so that, short of a tornado, it won't be blown off the structure and land in someone's living room or car - which could, of course, injure or kill someone.
