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 n the US, most apartment complexes have a pre-existing agreement with a particular cable company. Once you move in, call the local cable operator to activate the connection and sign up for service. You do not have the choice to opt for a particular cable service, as only one company can service an apartment or townhouse complex at one time. However, you will not face a dearth of choices as all cable companies offer various kinds of services or packages. Basic cable service, costing between $20 and 30 a month is provided to all subscribers within a cable company's service area. The package does not include any discretionary services such as pay TV or packages or specialty services, which are offered for an additional fee over and above the price of basic service. The movie channels of your choice may not be included in the basic plan. By paying an additional $10 you can chose a package which allows you access to these channels. Do not get carried away by the marketing gimmicks used by cable operators to advertise various packages. If you are not careful and blindly sign for an attractive sounding package, you may have to cough up $50 to 60 in a single month. Hence remember to crosscheck the price of various packages before you sign on. The cable Company will charge you a connection fee between $15 and 20.
Apart from cable television, you have the choice of installing a satellite dish. For H-1B professionals who spend a greater part of the week at the work place and intend to travel on wekends, this is an expensive option. The satellite dish could cost a minimum of $100, apart from the monthly programming fee. The only advantage is that although initial setup costs are higher, the monthly fee is frequently lower than the cable. Before taking a decision to invest in a personal dish, verify with the apartment management whether satellite dishes are permitted. If you encounter resistance, remember, according to the FCC, you are not required to apply for a permit, pay fees or even ask for approval from the property owner before installing a dish as long as the dish is placed on your portion of property and you can't get similar or better service from your complex.
Related Sites:
FCC
Dish Network
Direct TV
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