(A) Communications tower acronyms.
ASR | Antenna structure registration |
FAA | Federal Aviation Administration |
FCC | Federal Communications Commission |
(B) Communications tower definitions. For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURE. A structure that is not primarily constructed for the purpose of holding antennas but on which one or more antennas may be mounted, including buildings, water tanks, pole signs, billboards, church steeples, and electric power transmission towers.
AMATEUR RADIO TOWER. Any tower used for amateur radio transmissions consistent with the FCC Part 97 Rules and Regulations for amateur radio towers.
ANCILLARY STRUCTURE. For the purposes of § 153.115(B), any form of development associated with a communications facility, including foundations, concrete slabs on grade, guy anchors, generators, and transmission cable supports, but excluding equipment cabinets.
ANTI-CLIMBING DEVICE. A piece or pieces of equipment, which are either attached to a tower, or which are freestanding and are designed to prevent people from climbing the structure, including fine mesh wrap around structure legs, squirrel-cones, and other approved devices, but excluding the use of barbed or razor wire.
ANTENNA. Any apparatus designed for the transmitting and/or receiving of electromagnetic waves, including telephonic, radio, or television communications. Types of elements include omni-directional (whip) antennas, sectionalized (panel) antennas, multi or single bay (FM and TV), yagi, or parabolic (dish) antennas.
ANTENNA ARRAY. A single or group of antenna elements 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 electromagnetic waves.
ANTENNA ELEMENT. Any antenna or antenna array.
ASR. The Antenna Structure Registration Number as required by the FAA and FCC.
BASE STATION. The electronic equipment utilized by the wireless providers for the transmission and reception of radio signals.
BREAKPOINT TECHNOLOGY. The engineering design of a monopole wherein a specified point on the monopole is designed to have stresses concentrated so that the point is at least 5% more susceptible to failure than any other point along the monopole so that in the event of a structural failure of the monopole, the failure will occur at the breakpoint rather than at the base plate, anchor bolts, or any other point on the monopole.
BROADCAST FACILITIES. Towers, antennas, and/or antenna arrays for AM/FM/TV/HDTV broadcasting transmission facilities that are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission.
CO-LOCATION. The practice of installing and operating multiple wireless carriers, service providers, and/or radio common carrier licensees on the same tower or attached communication facility using different and separate antenna, feed lines, and radio frequency generating equipment.
COMBINED ANTENNA. An antenna or an antenna array designed and utilized to provide services for more than one wireless provider, or a single wireless provider utilizing more than one frequency band or spectrum, for the same or similar type of services.
CONCEALED. A tower, ancillary structure, or equipment compound that is not readily identifiable as such, and is designed to be aesthetically compatible with existing and proposed building(s) and uses on a site. There are two types of concealed facilities:
(a) Antenna attachments. Antenna attachments, including painted antenna and feed lines to match the color of a building or structure, faux windows, dormers, or other architectural features that blend with an existing or proposed building or structure; and
(b) Freestanding. Freestanding concealed towers usually have a secondary, obvious function which may include church steeple, windmill, bell tower, clock tower, light standard, flagpole with or without a flag, or tree.
DEVELOPMENT AREA. The area occupied by a communications facility including areas inside or under an antenna-support structure’s framework, equipment cabinets, ancillary structures, and/or access ways.
DISCONTINUED. Any tower without any mounted transmitting and/or receiving antennas in continued use for a period of 180 consecutive days.
EQUIPMENT CABINET. Any structure above the base flood elevation including cabinets, shelters, pedestals, and other similar structures and used exclusively to contain radio or other equipment necessary for the transmission or reception of wireless communication signals.
EQUIPMENT COMPOUND. The fenced-in area surrounding the ground-based wireless communication facility including the areas inside or under a tower’s framework and ancillary structures such as equipment necessary to operate the antenna on the structure that is above the base flood elevation including cabinets, shelters, pedestals, and other similar structures.
FEED LINES. Cables used as the interconnecting media between the transmission/receiving base station and the antenna.
FLUSH-MOUNTED. Any antenna or antenna array attached directly to the face of the support structure or building such that no portion of the antenna extends above the height of the support structure or building. Where a maximum flush-mounting distance is given, that distance shall be measured from the outside edge of the support structure or building to the inside edge of the antenna.
GEOGRAPHIC SEARCH RING. An area designated by a wireless provider or operator for a new base station, produced in accordance with generally accepted principles of wireless engineering.
GUYED STRUCTURE. See TOWER.
HANDOFF CANDIDATE. A wireless communication facility that receives call transference from another wireless facility, usually located in an adjacent first tier surrounding the initial wireless facility.
LATTICE STRUCTURE. See TOWER.
LEAST VISUALLY OBTRUSIVE PROFILE. The design of a wireless communication facility intended to present a visual profile that is the minimum profile necessary for the facility to properly function.
MITIGATION. A modification of an existing tower to increase the height, or to improve its integrity, by replacing or removing one or several tower(s) located in proximity to a proposed new tower in order to encourage compliance with § 153.115(B), or improve aesthetics or functionality of the overall wireless network.
MONOPOLE STRUCTURE. See TOWER.
NON-CONCEALED. A wireless communication facility that is readily identifiable as such and can be either freestanding or attached.
PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICE. Commercial mobile services, unlicensed wireless services, and common carrier wireless exchange access services as defined in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT. All communications equipment utilized by a public entity for the purpose of ensuring the safety of the citizens of the county and operating within the frequency range of 700 MHZ and 1,000 MHZ and any future spectrum allocations at the direction of the FCC.
RADIO FREQUENCY EMISSIONS. Any electromagnetic radiation or other communications signal emitted from an antenna or antenna-related equipment on the ground, tower, building, or other vertical projection.
RADIO FREQUENCY PROPAGATION ANALYSIS. Computer modeling to show the level of signal saturation in a given geographical area.
REPLACEMENT. See MITIGATION.
SATELLITE EARTH STATION. A single or group of parabolic or dish antennas mounted to a support device that may be a pole or truss assembly attached to a foundation in the ground, or in some other configuration, including the associated separate equipment cabinets necessary for the transmission or reception of wireless communications signals with satellites.
STREAMLINED PROCESSING. Expedited review process for co-locations.
STRUCTURE. For purposes of § 153.115(B), anything constructed or erected, the use of which required permanent location on the ground, or attachment to something having a permanent location on the ground, including advertising signs.
TOWER. Any staffed or unstaffed location for the transmission and/or reception of radio frequency signals or other wireless communications, and usually consisting of an antenna or group of antennas, transmission cables, equipment cabinets, and may include a tower. The following developments shall be deemed a communications facility: new, mitigated, or existing towers; public towers; replacement towers; co-location on existing towers; attached wireless communications facilities; concealed wireless communication facilities; and non-concealed wireless communication facilities. Towers do not include any device used to attach antennas to an existing building, unless the device extends above the highest point of the building by more than 20 feet. Types of support structures include “guyed tower”, “lattice structure”, and “monopole structure”.
(a) TOWER, GUYED. A style of tower consisting of a single truss assembly composed of sections with bracing incorporated. The sections are attached to each other, and the assembly is attached to a foundation and supported by a series of wires that are connected to anchors placed in the ground or on a building.
(b) TOWER, LATTICE STRUCTURE. A tapered style of tower that consists of vertical and horizontal supports with multiple legs and cross bracing, and metal crossed strips or bars to support antennas.
(c) TOWER, MONOPOLE STRUCTURE. A style of freestanding tower consisting of a single shaft usually composed of two or more hollow sections that are in turn attached to a foundation. This type of tower is designed to support itself without the use of guy wires or other stabilization devices. These facilities are mounted to a foundation that rests on or in the ground or on a building’s roof. All feed lines shall be installed within the shaft of the structure.
TOWER BASE. The foundation, usually concrete, on which the tower and other support equipment are situated. For measurement calculations, the TOWER BASE is that point on the foundation reached by dropping a line perpendicular from the geometric center of the tower.
TOWER HEIGHT. The vertical distance measured from the grade line to the highest point of the tower, including any antenna, lighting, or other equipment affixed thereto.
TOWER SITE. The land area that contains, or will contain, a proposed tower, support structures, collapse zone, and other related buildings and improvements.
(Ord. passed 10-17-2011)