Tag Archives: Towers

Drones for Tower Inspections? Lookout for FAA Regulations

By FHH Law on March 17, 2017 Posted in Media, Unlicensed Operations and Emerging Technologies

FAA Waivers May Be Required Last summer, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued its first regulations allowing commercial flights of small unmanned aircraft (sUAS, colloquially known as drones). As we reported, those rules place a number of restrictions on flying drones for commercial use, although the agency provided the opportunity to obtain waivers of some … Continue Reading

The FCC’s Tower Approval Process: Round and Round It Goes, When Will It Stop? Nobody Knows!

By Donald Evans and Harry Cole on July 27, 2015 Posted in Cable, Media, Wireless

FCC OK’s reopening of seemingly closed historic review process … eight years after the question is raised. Getting governmental approval to build a tower can take a long time. As a recent FCC decision demonstrates, it can take a lot longer when the government can’t decide when the approval process has come to an end. … Continue Reading

FAA Throws in the Towel On FM Spectrum, Apparently

By Harry Cole on February 25, 2015 Posted in Media

After nearly a decade, the FAA has advised that it is no longer pursuing a proposal that would have inserted it deeply into the regulation of FM stations.… Continue Reading

FAA to Ease (a little) Its System for Reporting Tower Light Outages

By Harry Cole on December 10, 2014 Posted in Cellular, Media, Telecommunications, Wireless

If you're responsible for a tower subject to FAA-imposed lighting requirements, your life may be getting a bit easier early next year.… Continue Reading

Update: Comment Deadlines Set in Wireless Infrastructure Rulemaking

By FHH Law on December 5, 2013 Posted in Cellular, Deadlines, Wireless

Deadlines have been announced in the wireless infrastructure proceeding the FCC initiated in September.… Continue Reading

When it Comes to Infrastructure Construction: Will Less Mean More?

By FHH Law on October 2, 2013 Posted in Wireless

The FCC is considering changes to allow antennas -- especially smaller antennas -- to get up and into use more rapidly.… Continue Reading

Congress Requires State/Local Rubber Stamp Approval of Some Wireless Tower Modifications

By Donald Evans on February 22, 2012 Posted in Cellular, Media, Wireless

Buried in the payroll tax cut extension law passed by Congress last week is a little-noticed section requiring state and local governments to approve modifications of wireless towers and base stations -- as long as the modifications don't substantially change the dimensions of the existing structures.… Continue Reading

FAA Backs Off Proposal To Expand EMI-Based Review Of Radio Applications

By Harry Cole on August 3, 2010 Posted in Cellular, Media

Four years ago the FAA proposed to dramatically expand its influence over radio spectrum users. But now the FAA has retreated from that proposal.… Continue Reading

Hark! The Tower Angels Sing!

By FHH Law on May 26, 2010 Posted in Media

The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau streamlines the antenna structure registration process for certain tower owners.… Continue Reading

New Tower Safety System Proposed

By Anne Goodwin Crump on March 25, 2010 Posted in Cable, Cellular, Media, Wireless

What would you think about a tower safety device that reduces the number of aircraft collisions with towers, is environmentally friendly, and eliminates the need for towers to be continually lit?… Continue Reading

50,000,000 Birds Can’t Be Wrong . . . Can They?

By FHH Law on May 11, 2009 Posted in Cable, Cellular, Media, Telecommunications, Wireless

If you think you might be needing to build a tower in the next several years, listen up. The birding lobby has opened a new offensive in its long-running effort to force the FCC to give greater consideration to bird-related concerns when it authorizes tower construction.… Continue Reading

After 40+ Years, “Antenna Farm” Still Undefined

By FHH Law on May 3, 2009 Posted in Media

Do you know what constitutes an antenna farm? Nobody else does, either. Except maybe the FCC. But, for reasons that aren't exactly clear, they're not telling.… Continue Reading

Audio Division Addresses Environmental Assessment Requirements

By FHH Law on March 25, 2009 Posted in Media

The Audio Division recently reminded us all of the extensive steps required to confirm that proposed tower construction will not cause unacceptable disruption to environmental, historical or cultural interests. The clear message to applicants: take the environmental certification requirement seriously before you make that certification.… Continue Reading

Antennas: When is an Omni Not an Omni?

By FHH Law on December 19, 2008 Posted in Media

A petitioner, relying on an obscure 1984 public notice, recently tried to block a proposed station modification by claiming (among other things) that the omnidirectional antenna proposed should be treated as a directional. Broadcasters (and particularly FM stations) with plans to change their antennas in the near term may wish to take note.… Continue Reading

Comment Deadlines Set In FCC Tower Inquiry

By FHH Law on December 11, 2008 Posted in Cellular, Media

Back in September we reported on an invitation for comments on how to amend the rules regulating tower construction near AM stations. At long last the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SFNPRM) has made it into the Federal Register. Publication in the FedReg in turn establishes the dates for comments. If you want to file comments … Continue Reading

FCC Considers Regulating Construction of Towers (and Possibly Other Structures) Near AM Antennas

By FHH Law on September 28, 2008 Posted in Cellular, Media

FCC – the Federal Construction Commission? As reported elsewhere on this blog, the FCC has decided to permit most directional AM licensees to use “moment method” computer programs to verify antenna performance. In a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking included as a portion of that decision, the Commission has also invited comment on how to … Continue Reading

Tower Inspection Requirement Waived for Eagle, HARK Systems

By FHH Law on May 16, 2007 Posted in Media

By Harry Cole
703-812-0483
email

At the request of two companies - American Tower Corporation (ATC) and Global Signal, Inc. (Global) - that own thousands of towers subject to the FCC's Part 17 lighting requirements, the Commission has agreed to waive the requirement that each of those towers be inspected at least every three months to confirm that their lighting systems are operating properly. ATC and Global were able to convince the Commission that their respective automatic monitoring systems provide adequate safeguards against undiscovered outages. As a result, instead of quarterly (i.e., at least every three months) inspections, ...