As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
ANTENNA: Means any exterior transmitting or receiving device mounted on a tower, building or structure and used in communications that sends or receives digital signals, analog signals, radio frequencies or wireless communication signals.
ANTENNA ARRAY: Means a single or group of antenna elements, not including small cell antennas, and associated mounting hardware, transmission lines, or other appurtenances which share a common attachment device such as a mounting frame or mounting support structure for the sole purpose of transmitting or receiving wireless communication signals.
APPLICANT: Means any person engaged in the business of providing wireless communication services or the wireless communications infrastructure required for wireless communications services and who submits an application.
BACKHAUL NETWORK: Means the lines that connect a provider's towers or cell sites to one or more cellular telephone switching offices or long distance providers, or the public switched telephone network.
BASE STATION: Means a structure or equipment at a fixed location that enables FCC-licensed or authorized wireless communications between user equipment and a communications network. The term does not encompass a tower as defined in this article or any equipment associated with a tower.
A. The term includes, but is not limited to, equipment associated with wireless communications services such as private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul.
B. The term includes, but is not limited to, radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber- optic cable, regular and backup power supplies, and comparable equipment, regardless of technological configuration (including distributed antenna systems and small cell networks).
C. The term includes any structure other than a tower that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the City under this article, supports or houses equipment described in this section that has been reviewed and approved under the applicable zoning or siting process, or under State or local regulatory review process, even if the structure was not built for the sole or primary purpose of providing such support.
D. The term does not include any structure that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the State or the City under this article, does not support or house equipment described in this section.
COLLOCATION: Means the mounting or installation of an antenna on an existing tower, building or structure for the purpose of transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency signals for communications purposes.
DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM OR DAS: Means a network consisting of transceiver equipment at a central hub site to support multiple antenna locations throughout the desired coverage area.
ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUEST: Means any request for modification of an existing tower or base station that does not substantially change the physical dimensions of such tower or base station, involving:
A. Collocation of new transmission equipment;
B. Removal of transmission equipment; or
C. Replacement of transmission equipment.
ELIGIBLE SUPPORT STRUCTURE: Means any tower or base station as defined in this section, provided that it is existing at the time the relevant application is filed with the City under this article.
EXISTING: Means a tower or base station that has been reviewed and approved under the applicable zoning or siting process, or under another State or local regulatory review process, provided that a tower that has not been reviewed and approved because it was not in a zoned area when it was built, but was lawfully constructed, is existing for purposes of this definition.
FAA: Means the Federal Aviation Administration.
FCC: Means the Federal Communications Commission.
MACROCELL: Means an antenna or antennas mounted on a tower, ground-based mast, rooftops and other towers or structures, at a height that provides a clear view over the surrounding buildings and terrain.
SITE: Means, in relation to a tower that is not in the public right-of-way, the current boundaries of the leased or owned property surrounding the tower and any access or utility easements currently related to the site. In relation to support structures other than towers, site means an area in proximity to the structure and to other transmission equipment already deployed on the ground.
SMALL CELLS: Mean compact wireless equipment that contain their own transceiver equipment and function like cells in a wireless network but provide a smaller coverage area than traditional macrocells.
STEALTH DESIGN: Means technology that minimizes the visual impact of wireless communication facilities by camouflaging, disguising, screening or blending into the surrounding environment. Examples of stealth design include but are not limited to facilities disguised as trees (monopines), flagpoles, utility and light poles, bell towers, clock towers, ball field lights and architecturally screened roof-mounted antennas.
SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE: Means a modification that substantially changes the physical dimensions of an eligible support structure if it meets any of the following criteria:
A. For towers other than towers in the public rights-of-way, it increases the height of the tower by more than ten percent (10%) or by the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed twenty feet (20'), whichever is greater; for other eligible support structures, it increases the height of the structure by more than ten percent (10%) or more than ten feet (10'), whichever is greater. Changes in height should be measured from the original support structure in cases where deployments are or will be separated horizontally, such as on buildings' rooftops; in other circumstances, changes in height should be measured from the dimensions of the tower or base station, inclusive of originally approved appurtenances and any modifications that were approved prior to the passage of the Spectrum Act (47 USC section 1455 (a));
B. For towers other than towers in the public rights-of-way, it involves adding an appurtenance to the body of the tower that would protrude from the edge of the tower more than twenty feet (20'), or more than the width of the tower structure at the level of the appurtenance, whichever is greater; for other eligible support structures, it involves adding an appurtenance to the body of the structure that would protrude from the edge of the structure by more than six feet (6');
C. For any eligible support structure, it involves installation of more than the standard number of new equipment cabinets for the technology involved, but not to exceed four (4) cabinets; or, for towers in the public rights-of-way and base stations, it involves installation of any new equipment cabinets on the ground if there are no pre-existing ground cabinets associated with the structure, or else involves installation of ground cabinets that are more than ten percent (10%) larger in height or overall volume than any other ground cabinets associated with the structure;
D. It entails any excavation or deployment outside the current site;
E. It would defeat the concealment elements of the eligible support structure; or
F. It does not comply with conditions associated with the siting approval of the construction or modification of the eligible support structure or base station equipment, provided however that this limitation does not apply to any modification that is non-compliant only in a manner that would not exceed the thresholds identified in subsections A through D of this definition.
TOWER: Means any structure built for the sole or primary purpose of supporting any FCC-licensed or authorized antennas and their associated facilities, including structures that are constructed for wireless communications services including, but not limited to, private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul, and the associated site.
TOWER HEIGHT: Means the vertical distance measured from the base of the tower structure at grade to the highest point of the structure including the antenna. A lightning rod, not to exceed ten feet (10') in height, shall not be included within tower height.
TRANSMISSION EQUIPMENT: Means equipment that facilitates transmission for any FCC-licensed or authorized wireless communication service, including, but not limited to, radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber-optic cable, and regular and backup power supply. The term includes equipment associated with wireless communications services including, but not limited to, private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul.
UTILITY SUPPORT STRUCTURE: Means utility poles or utility towers supporting electrical, telephone, cable or other similar facilities; street light standards; or pedestrian light standards.
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES OR WCF: Means a staffed or unstaffed facility or location or equipment for the transmission or reception of radio frequency (RF) signals or other wireless communications or other signals for commercial communications purposes, typically consisting of one or more antennas or group of antennas, a tower or attachment support structure, transmission cables and other transmission equipment, and an equipment enclosure or cabinets, and including small cell technologies. (Ord. 3590, 2017)