For the purpose of this subchapter, certain abbreviations, terms and words shall be used, interpreted and defined as set forth in this section. Unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, words used in the present tense include the future tense and words used in the plural indicate the singular.
ACT. The Communications Act of 1934, being 47 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq., as it has been amended from time to time, including the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, being 47 U.S.C. Ch. 5, Subchs. I, II, and VI, and shall include future amendments to the Communications Act of 1934.
AFFILIATE. When used in relation to an operator, another person who directly or indirectly owns controls, is owned or controlled by, or is under common ownership or common control with the operator, or an operator’s principal partners, shareholders or owners of some other ownership interest; and when used in relation to the County Planning Department, any agency, board, authority or political subdivision affiliated with the Area Plan Commission or other person in which the County Planning Department has legal or financial interest.
ALTERNATIVE TOWER STRUCTURE. Human-made trees, clock towers, bell steeples, light poles and similar alternative-design mounting structures that camouflage or conceal the presence of antennas or towers. (See also STEALTH FACILITY.)
ANALOG TECHNOLOGY. Replicates and amplifies voice messages as they are carried from the transmitting antenna to the receiving antenna.
ANTENNA. Any exterior apparatus designed for telephonic, radio or television communications through sending and/or receiving or electromagnetic waves.
ANTENNA HEIGHT. The vertical distance measured from the base of the antenna support structure at grade to the highest point of the structure. If the support structure is on a sloped grade, then the average between the highest and lowest grades shall be used in calculating the antenna height.
ANTENNA SUPPORT STRUCTURE. Any pole, telescoping mast, tower tripod or any other structure which supports a device used in the transmitting and/or receiving of electromagnetic waves.
APPLICANT. A person who applies for a wireless facility siting. An APPLICANT can be the owner of the property, or someone who is representing the owner, such as a builder, developer, optional purchaser, consultant or architect.
BROADCAST. To transmit information over the airwaves to two or more receiving devices simultaneously. Information can be transmitted over local television or radio stations, satellite systems or wireless data communications networks.
CELL SITE. A tract or parcel of land that contains a cellular communication antenna, its support structure, accessory building(s), parking, and may include other uses associated with ancillary to cellular communications transmission.
CELLULAR SERVICE. A telecommunications service that permits customers to use wireless, mobile telephones to connect, via low-power radio transmission sites called cell sites, either to the public switched network or to other mobile cellular phones.
CELLULAR TELECOMMUNICATIONS. A commercial low power mobile radio service licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to providers in a specific geographical area in which the radio frequency spectrum is divided into discrete channels which are assigned in groups to geographic cells within a service area and which are capable of being reused in different cells within the service area.
CELLULAR TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY. A facility that consists of the equipment and structures involved in receiving telecommunication or radio signals from mobile radio communications sources and transmitting those signals to a central switching computer, which connects the mobile unit with the land-based telephone lines.
CO-LOCATION. Locating wireless communications equipment from more than one provider on a single site.
COMMON CARRIER. An entity licensed by the FCC or a state agency to supply local and/or long distance telecommunications services to the general public at established and stated prices.
COMMUNICATION TOWER. A guyed, monopole or self-supporting tower, constructed as a freestanding structure or in association with a building, other permanent structure or equipment, containing one or more antennas intended for transmitting and/or receiving television, AM/FM radio, digital microwave, cellular, telephone or similar forms of electronic communication.
COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY. A land use facility supporting antennas and microwave dishes that sends and/or receives radio frequency signals. COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES include structures or towers and accessory buildings.
COMMUNICATIONS TRANSMISSION SYSTEM or COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM. A wired communication transmission system, open video system, wireless communications transmission system regulated by these regulations.
COMPREHENSIVE OR MASTER PLAN. The current adopted plan of the Putnam County Planning Department.
C.O.W.s. Cells on “wheels”, see TEMPORARY WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY. Converts voice and data messages into digits that represent sound intensities at specific points of time and data content.
DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA. An antenna or array of antennas designed to concentrate a radio signal in a particular area.
DISH ANTENNA. A dish-shaped antenna used to link communications sites together by wireless transmission of voice or data. Also called MICROWAVE ANTENNA or MICROWAVE DISH ANTENNA.
ESMR. Enhanced specialized mobile radio.
FAA. Federal Aviation Administration.
FCC. Federal Communications Commission.
FREQUENCY. The number of cycles completed each second by a sound wave; measured in hertz (Hz).
GOVERNING AUTHORITY. The governing authority of the Putnam County Board of Zoning Appeals.
GRADE. The lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground, paving or sidewalk within the area between the structure and the property line or, when the property line is more than five feet from the structure, between the structure and a line five feet from the structure.
GUYED TOWER. A communication tower that is supported, in whole or part, by guy wires and ground anchors.
LATTICE TOWER. A guyed or self-supporting three or four sided, open, steel frame structure used to support telecommunications equipment.
LICENSE. The rights and obligations extended by the Board of Zoning Appeals to an operator to own, construct, maintain and operate its system within the jurisdiction of the Board of Zoning Appeals for the sole purpose of providing services to persons or areas outside the jurisdiction.
MHZ. Megahertz, or 1,000,000 Hz.
MICRO-CELL. A low power mobile radio service telecommunications facility used to provide increased capacity in high-call demand areas to improve coverage in areas of weak coverage.
MICROWAVE. Electromagnetic radiation with frequencies higher than 1,000 MHZ; highly directional signal used to transmit radio frequencies from point-to-point at a relatively low power level.
MICROWAVE ANTENNA. A dish-like antenna manufactured in many sizes and shapes used to link communication sites together by wireless transmission of voice or data.
MONOPOLE TOWER. A communication tower consisting of a single pole constructed without guy wires and ground anchors.
OMNIDIRECTIONAL ANTENNA. An antenna that is equally effective in all direction and whose size varies with the frequency and gain for which it was designed.
OWNER. The owner of the title to real property or the contract purchaser of real property of record, as shown on the latest assessment records in the office of the Assessor. OWNER also includes a deedholder or contract purchaser whose name does not appear in the latest assessment records, but who presents to the municipality a copy of a deed or contract of sale showing date, book and page of recording.
PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES or PCS. Digital wireless telephone technology such as portable phones, pagers, faxes and computers. Such mobile technology promises to allow each consumer the same telephone number wherever he or she goes. Also known as PERSONAL COMMUNICATION NETWORK (PCN).
PREEXISTING TOWERS AND ANTENNAS. Any tower or antenna on for which a permit has been issued prior to the effective date of these regulations and is exempt from the requirements of these regulations.
PUBLIC PROPERTY. Any real property, easement, air space or other interest in real estate, including a street, owned by or controlled by the County Planning Department or any other governmental unit.
ROOF AND/OR BUILDING MOUNT FACILITY. A low power mobile radio service telecommunications facility in which antennas are mounted to an existing structure on the roof (including rooftop appurtenances) or building face.
SCENIC VIEW. A view that may be framed, wide angle or panoramic and may include natural and/or human-made structures and activities. A SCENIC VIEW may be from a stationary viewpoint or be seen as one travels along a roadway, waterway or path. A VIEW may be to a far away object, such as a mountain, or of a nearby object.
SELF-SUPPORT TOWER. A communication tower that is constructed without guy wires and ground anchors.
SPECTRUM. Relating to any transmissions or reception of electromagnetic waves.
STEALTH FACILITY. Any communications facility which is designed to blend into the surrounding environment. Examples of STEALTH FACILITIES may include architecturally screened roof-mounted antennas, building-mounted antennas painted to match the existing structure, antennas integrated into architectural elements, and antenna structures designed to look like light poles. (See also ALTERNATIVE TOWER STRUCTURE.)
SYSTEM. The communications transmission system operated by a service provider in the jurisdiction of the County Planning Department.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS. The transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received.
TEMPORARY WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY. Any tower, pole, antenna and the like designed for use while a permanent wireless facility is under construction, or for a special event or conference where a majority of people attending are wireless users.
TOWER. Any structure that is designed and constructed primarily for the purpose of supporting one or more antennas, including self-supporting lattice towers, guy towers or monopole towers. The term includes, but is not limited to, radio and television transmission towers, microwave towers, common-carrier towers, cellular telephone towers and alternative tower structures.
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY. An all-encompassing definition; any towers, poles, antennas or other structures intended for use in connection with transmission or receipt of radio or television signals or any other spectrum-based transmissions/receptions.
WHIP ANTENNA. An antenna that transmits signals in 360 degrees. WHIP ANTENNAS are typically cylindrical in shape and are less than six inches in diameter and measure up to 18 feet in height. Also are called OMNIDIRECTIONAL, STICK OR PIPE ANTENNAS.
VIEW CORRIDOR. A three-dimensional area extending out from a viewpoint. The width of the VIEW CORRIDOR depends in the focus of the view. The focus of the view may be a single object, such as a mountain, which would result in a narrow corridor, or a group of objects, such as a downtown skyline, which would result in a wide corridor. Panoramic views have very wide corridors and may include a 360-degree perspective. Although the VIEW CORRIDOR extends from the viewpoint to the focus of the view, the mapped portion of the corridor extends from the viewpoint and is based on the area where base zone heights must be limited in order to protect the view.
(Ord. 2001-12-17, passed 12-17-2001)