| Subject: Cell Towers |
Author:
FYI
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Date Posted: 17:43 06/20/08 Fri
In reply to:
Dropped in Dracut
's message, "Cell Tower" on 09:43 06/20/08 Fri
According to the Center for Municipal Solutions, there have been more than 150,000 communication tower facilities erected in the last 5 years and industry estimates are that more than 1 million more will be needed in the next few years. CMS suggests that as many as 50% of the towers erected in the last 5 years don't need to exist, an even greater percentage don't need to be as tall as they are and many wireless facilities, including towers, don't need to be recognizable as such.
The FCC licenses Wireless Service Providers in every community in the nation. All these providers need towers and/or buildings for their services. As a result, communities need to take control of the siting of cell towers in their jurisdictions. Our community should stay ahead of the game and be able to protect our citizenry from the unnecessary blight of cell tower proliferation. Without an ordinance, any resident could willingly lease land for a tower without any review or discussion with the community at large.
The issue of health impacts from wireless communications systems is an issue of concern for many people and organizations. The "Telecommunications Act of 1996 prevents states and local governments from “regulating the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent that such facilities comply with the Commission's [FCC's] regulations concerning such emissions."
What a Community Can Control:
Cost of Expert Assistance - Can be required to be paid for by Applicant (No Cost to Community)
No towers on 'Speculation', i.e. without a service provider who can prove the need for the facility
Verification/Determination of actual Need (How do you know that the Tower or Wireless Facility is really needed? You’d Probably be surprised at how many times there is no provable need.)
Location (You can prioritize preferred locations . . . without violating the prohibition against 'zoning them out')
Height (Does it really have to be as tall as the service provider says ? Almost never!)
Visibility
Required Co-location of facilities (to minimize the number of towers)
Number of Sites in the Community
Application Fees - Amount
Non-tax Revenue (Different than Fees)
Verification of compliance with the FCC’s RF Emission Standards
Aesthetics/Appearance (It doesn't have to be recognizable as a wireless facility)
Lighting can be prohibited
Setback
Signage
Screening
Structural Adequacy and Integrity
Site Security
Utilities (Underground versus Aerial)
Removal Bond (In the event the facility is ever abandoned)
Indemnification for use of municipally-owned property
Insurance
Interference with other communications & electronic devices
Inspection to assure that what is constructed is what was permitted
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