As used in this chapter, the following terms are defined.
ANSI/IEEE. The current version of the ANSI standard governing human exposure to RFR. The full title of the C95.1-1992 of the ANSI RFR standard is “Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 KHz to 300 GHz”. FCC recently adopted NCRP Report No. 86 (1986) to govern RFR exposure.
ANTENNA. A device or system of wires, poles, rods, dishes, discs or similar devices used for the transmission and/or receipt of electromagnetic waves.
BASE TRANSCEIVER STATION (BTS). The electronic equipment housed in cabinets that together with antennas comprises a PCS facility of “site”. The cabinets include an air conditioning unit, heating unit, electrical supply and telephone hook-up and back-up power supply.
CELLULAR SERVICE. A telecommunications facility comprising a single telecommunications tower, monopole or building-supporting antennas owned or used by more than one telecommunications carrier.
CO-LOCATION. A telecommunications facility comprising a single telecommunications tower, monopole or building supporting antennas owned or used by more than one telecommunications carrier.
DIGITAL SIGNAL. A nominally discontinuous electrical signal that changes from one state to another in discrete steps. “Digital compression” allows large amounts of information to be squeezed into a single conduit, allowing video images to be transported in the same amount of space that previously could carry only voice.
DIRECTOR. The Director of Building and Planning Departments of San Benito County or his or her authorized replacement.
FACADE-MOUNTED ANTENNA. An antenna that is directly attached or affixed to any facade of a building. Also known as BUILDING-MOUNTED ANTENNAE.
FCC. Federal Communications Commission, the federal government agency that licenses all radio services.
FREESTANDING. A stand-alone structure that is attached to the roof of a building and not to the facade of the building.
FREESTANDING MONOPOLE. A stand-alone structure that is not camouflaged.
GROUND-MOUNTED ANTENNA. An antenna with its support structure placed directly on the ground, the total height of which does not exceed 15 feet including the height of the antennas.
HERTZ. A unit of frequency or cycles per second, abbreviated as Hz.
GHz. Gigahertz or 1,000,000,000 cycles per second (1,000 MHZ = 1 GHz).
LATTICE TOWER. An open steel frame structure used to support telecommunications equipment.
MHZ. Megahertz or 1,000,000 cycles per second.
MICROWAVE. That portion of the radio spectrum between 950 MHZ and 30,000 MHZ.
MONOPOLE. A structure composed of a single spire used to support communications equipment.
OMNI-DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA. An antenna that is equally effective in all directions, the size of which varies with the frequency for which it is designed.
PANEL ANTENNA. An antenna or array of antennas designed to concentrate a radio signal in a particular area. Panel antennas are typically flat, rectangular, long devices approximately six square feet or less in size. Also known as DIRECTIONAL ANTENNAS.
ROOF-MOUNTED. An antenna directly attached or affixed to the roof of an existing building, water tank, tower or structure other than a telecommunications tower.
STEALTH FACILITY. Any communications facility, which is designed to blend into the surrounding environment, and is visually unobtrusive. Examples of stealth facilities may include architecturally screened roof-mounted antennas; building-mounted antennas painted and treated as architectural elements to blend with the existing building. Also known as CONCEALED TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS. Any transmission, emission or reception of signals, images and sound or information of any nature by wire, radio, visual or electromagnetic system that work on a “line-of-sight” principle.
TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITY. A land use facility supporting antennas that sends and/or receives radio frequency signals. TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES include antennas and all other types of equipment for the transmission or receipt of the signal; telecommunication towers or similar structures built to support the equipment; equipment cabinets (base transceiver stations), and other accessory development.
TELECOMMUNICATION TOWER. A monopole, lattice tower, freestanding tower or other structures designed to support antennas.
WHIP ANTENNA. An antenna that transmits signals in 360 degrees. WHIP ANTENNAS are typically cylindrical in shape. They are also known as OMNI-DIRECTIONAL, STICK OR PIPE ANTENNAS.
(1966 Code, § 34-19) (Ord. 762, § 1(part), 2003)