Cell Tower Laws

A special form of the radio tower is the telescopic mast. These can be set up very quickly. Telescopic masts are mainly used for the establishment of temporary radio connections for reporting on important news events and for temporary communication in case of emergency. They are also used in tactical military networks. They can save money by only having to withstand strong winds when they are lifted, and are therefore widely used in amateur radio. In the 1950s, AT&T built many concrete towers that looked like silos rather than towers for its first transcontinental microwave route. [8] [9] The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), which manages ESA, provides an online mapping tool to determine which species should be considered for proposed facilities. A qualified biologist or the FWS must determine the impact that a proposed facility will have on protected resources. If a qualified biologist or the FSW determines that a proposed facility may have adverse effects, the applicant must notify the FCC and submit an environmental assessment. Applicants must submit an application for compliance of the FWS with the applicant`s impact assessment. If a qualified biologist or the FWS determines that the proposed facility will have a negative impact on protected species or habitats, applicants must initiate a formal consultation with the FWS. All licensees, applicants, tower companies and their FCC representatives have a general designation and have the right to contact and cooperate with the FWS as non-federal representatives of the FCC for the purpose of consultation with the FWS.

In significant areas of the United States, applicants must follow the FWS procedure to consider effects on the Long-eared Northern Myotis. In some regions, FWS offers blanket authorization to proposed facilities that meet certain criteria to streamline these processes. Masts and radio towers are usually tall structures designed to support antennas for telecommunications and broadcasting, including television. There are two main types: taut and self-supporting structures. They are among the tallest man-made structures. Masts are often named after the broadcasting organizations that originally built them or are currently using them. In Germany and the Netherlands, most towers built for point-to-point microwave connections are built of reinforced concrete, while in the UK, most are lattice towers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has developed voluntary guidelines for the siting of towers to consider possible effects on migratory birds. These guidelines include suggestions on the location, height and lighting of towers to avoid adverse effects on migratory birds. The Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC), a collaboration between the utility industry, wildlife agencies, conservation groups, and manufacturers of bird protection products, has also developed guidelines on methods to reduce electric shocks and bird and power line collisions, thereby reducing bird mortality and associated power outages. Tower owners should consider incorporating these guidelines into their tower projects and maintenance.

One problem with radio masts is the risk of wind-induced vibrations. This is a particular problem in tubular steel construction. This can be reduced by incorporating cylindrical shock absorbers into the construction. Such shock absorber mounts, which resemble cylinders thicker than the mast, can be found, for example, on the radio masts of the DHO38 in Saterland. There are also structures consisting of a freestanding tower, usually made of reinforced concrete, on which a stretched radio mast is installed. An example is the Gerbrandy Tower in Lopik, the Netherlands. Other towers of this construction are located near Smilde, the Netherlands and the TV tower in Waldenburg, Germany. There are a few boundary designs that are partly self-supporting and partly taut, also known as taut towers. For example, your community planners are interested in hearing your opinion. They evaluate both sides of the cell tower argument; They try to weigh the location of a structure that the community may need against the wishes of the majority of their citizens who do not want the tower (but want the service it provides).

Contact your local planners. Contact your mobile service provider. Or visit our websites on the future of wireless and how your community can use cell tower development standards to better regulate tower location. Reinforced concrete towers are relatively expensive to build, but offer a high degree of mechanical rigidity in strong winds. This can be important if antennas with narrow beam widths are used, such as those used for point-to-point directional radio connections, and if the structure is to be occupied by people. Once applicants have received an absence of hazard determination from the FAA, the asR rules require applicants to submit the FAA study number to the commission along with the FCC Form 854. The Commission then verifies with the FAA the accuracy of the labelling and lighting specifications submitted by the applicant. If the commission accepts the request, it will issue a registration (Form 854R), which typically includes the “No Hazard” marking and/or FAA lighting specifications and assigns an ASR number to the antenna. Once an antenna structure is registered, its owner must ensure that it complies with all relevant FAA chapters specified in the registration, otherwise the owner may be subject to enforcement action by the Commission. Changes to the ASR specifications are not permitted without the prior approval of the FAA and the Commission; Owners who wish to change the specifications of an antenna structure must first obtain FAA approval and only then submit an application to the Commission to amend the ASR.

Before changing the marking or lighting of the structure, owners of the antenna structure must receive from the Commission an amended ASR form containing the change. Once the antenna structure or tower has been constructed or modified, the owner must file Form FAA 7460-2, Notice of Completion of Construction or Modification with the FAA, and Form FCC 854 with the FCC to inform both agencies that construction is complete. The NPA requires project advocates to use form FCC 620 (new rounds) and form FCC 621 (co-locations), which are available on the FCC forms page. Forms 620 and 621 must be completed by qualified persons as indicated on the forms. These forms are submitted directly to the SHPO and are not sent to the FCC unless requested to do so by the FCC. Project advocates are encouraged to complete Forms 620 and 621 using the E106 system because the forms are easier to complete and the system includes internal checkpoints to ensure they are complete and accurate. The use of the E106 system facilitates FCC access to answer questions or resolve issues during the section 106 process. Prior to submission, the applicant must confirm whether the specific SHPO uses E-106 for Section 106 examinations and determine its preferred submission procedures. Many SHPOs are required by state law to keep printed copies.

While the Commission requires owners of antenna structures to register and assume primary responsibility for painting and lighting antenna structures that meet the registration criteria, licensees and authorized entities located on the tower or antenna structure are also responsible for ensuring that the structure meets all FAA and FCC paint and lighting requirements.