For the convenience of the GCA residents, the GCA Board of Directors has adopted the following General Purpose Approval as it relates to Satellite or general roof antennas.
TV Satellite & Internet Antennas
The objective of this General Purpose Approval is to streamline the process required to approve the use of small TV satellite dish and Internet antennas within the GCA area of jurisdiction.
As of this date, the GCA Board of Directors has established a General Purpose Approval (GPA) Policy for TV Satellite Dish and Broadband Direct High-Speed Internet Access Antennas for the convenience of the GCA residents.
There is a growing desire by many of the GCA residents to install the new small diamond shaped "Broadband Direct High-Speed Internet Access Antennas". Currently, in accordance with the GCA covenants, installation of these antennas is not allowed. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is in the process of establishing rules that will dictate that HOAs allow installation of the antennas. When this happens, the FCC will also allow the HOAs to establish policies to manage the location of the antennas so that property values and community aesthetics may be maintained. These antennas are diamond shaped and approximately the same size as the small dish TV satellite antennas. Installation of these Internet antennas requires a clear line of sight alignment to connect with the transmitting antenna on Cheyenne Mt. In some cases, they may have to be mounted up high to achieve that line of sight alignment without any obstructions
Authority to Establish a GPA. The Covenants state in section 137, titled "Restrictions Requiring Declarant Authority", that the Declarant (GCA Board of Directors) may from time to time authorize approval of certain actions. Within that section of the covenants, the subject of antennas is addressed.
Purpose of this GPA. For the good of the community and to support individual needs, the GCA Board is establishing the GPA rules and guidelines in the spirit of maintaining the best possible property values and community aesthetics while continuing to accommodate new technologies in cooperation and compliance with the FCC. Failure to follow these processes and guidelines may result in a covenant violation.
FCC Guidance.
Date: Tue, 30 Jan 2001 08:30:49
From: "Margo Davenport"
The FCC's rules permit you to impose reasonable restrictions concerning the placement of both video and non-video antennas that are covered by the FCC's rules. You may restrict the placement of the antenna so long as the restriction does not interfere unreasonably with the signal quality; does not cause an unreasonable delay; and does not cause the resident to incur an unreasonable expense. For example, although you cannot have a rule requiring that the antenna be installed in the rear only, you may have a rule that expresses a preference for a rear installation. You may also require that the antenna be painted or otherwise made to blend in with the environment.
The objective of this GPA is to expedite the process required to approve the installation location of the internet antennas within the GCA area of jurisdiction in a non-intrusive manner so as not to detract from the overall aesthetics or value of the GCA community. Target reaction time to a request will be the same day the request is received.
The process for using this General Purpose Approval is as follows. Like all modifications to the exterior of our homes, individual homeowners must submit in writing to the GCA Architectural Control Chairman (ACC) a request to employ this General Purpose Approval. The request will be accompanied with a $20.00 processing fee to be made payable to the Gleneagle Civic Association. The letter must indicate the owner's name, address, phone number, and specific location that is planned for the mounting of the antenna. Upon receiving the written request, the GCA ACC will personally survey the site to determine suitability in keeping with the general aesthetics that now exist within the GCA community. Upon confirmation, the GCA ACC will issue a letter of approval to the homeowner. The Architectural Control Chairman will also inform the Board of Directors of the action taken. The Secretary of the Board will enter the action into the monthly Board Minutes to make it available for all residents to review. In addition, the Architectural Control Chairman will publish a short synopsis of all General Purpose Approvals granted in the GCA Eagle's View newspaper.
Approval Criteria. Adoption of this General Purpose Approval no longer requires; (1) the submission of a request for a variance in accordance with GCA Covenants Section 143; (2) letters of approval from immediate neighbors; (3) or a vote by the GCA Board of Directors. All that is required is a written request of the antenna location by the homeowner and a review and approval by the GCA ACC. In general, to be approved, since some of the antennas may be quite high, we will be requesting that they be located in the least obtrusive location possible and that they be masked or camouflaged to the best extent possible. It is preferable that the antennas and masts be located to the rear of the house and, if possible, that they not be visible from the road servicing the front of the house. This is desired in order not to intrude on the aesthetic or monetary values of the neighborhood or to become a major irritant to immediate neighbors.
Safety Warning. A word of caution to those that may be contemplating the installation of the antenna on a mast: El Paso County experiences an excessively high national incidence of lightning strikes during storms. All antenna masts should be professionally grounded. Additionally, it is highly recommended that the equipment to be served by the antenna be fitted with a high capacity surge protector.