WASHINGTON-The Personal Communications Industry Association is urging the Federal Aviation Administration to review its tower siting reporting rules because current and sometimes-conflicting interpretations “could create a paperwork and processing morass for both the wireless industry and the FAA.”
The rules in question have, in fact, been pending for almost 10 years and PCIA believes “it would be an unfortunate waste of significant resources for both the communication industry and the FAA if a resolution to the notification issues discussed in this letter is held hostage by a proceeding that shows no signs of completion,” said Sheldon R. Moss, PCIA director of government relations for wireless infrastructure, in a letter to FAA Administrator Jane Garvey.
In a footnote, PCIA indicates it will ask that the record be opened before the rules are finalized.
PCIA represents companies that manage and develop communication towers and antenna facilities through its Site Owners and Managers Alliance.
SOMA members own and manage 50,000 structures that undergo routine changes that some FAA regional offices believe should be reported.
“PCIA is concerned that such a deluge of paperwork would not only impair the tower owner’s administrative resources, the resulting need to process this huge volume of paperwork would overwhelm the FAA as well,” Moss said.
FAA policies effectively require tower owners to notify the FAA of any change of frequency or operating power of an antenna, even though the FAA’s regulations do not require such notice, said PCIA. Such interpretations “could force some tower owners and wireless carriers to file hundreds of notices every week,” PCIA added.
If it is a fear of electromagnetic interference causing problems with the air traffic control system, the FAA should require the filings only of FM radio operations, not wireless communications operators, since FM radio has the potential to cause EMI, PCIA said.
In other siting news, the village of Green Oaks, Ill., has put in place a moratorium on tower siting for six months “so that we don’t get an end-run from one of these companies into one of our residential neighborhoods,” said Rudy Magna, Green Oaks village attorney.
The moratorium could be lifted if a proposal was received to site a tower in a nonresidential area of the village, Magna added.
The Village Planning Commission is considering a draft ordinance that will regulate the size and placement of communications towers in the village.
The Chicago Tribune contributed to this report.
