Details about FCC/FAA Tower registration

[TelcomJunkie]

Hopefully this answers the questions regarding FCC/FAA Tower registration.


First off any tower can be registered in under the FCC's ASR system. If the
tower owner wants to put out the effort they're free to do so. FCC ASR numbers
are 7 digits and if the tower has a 6 digit number it's not a current number.

The only reason a site would HAVE to be registered would be because of height.
The FCC/FAA does NOT require registration based on technologies used, frequencies,
color of tower owners hair or anything other than height.

Straight from the FCC, no hearsay on this.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/antenna

FCC registration is required if a tower is:

1. 200ft above ground level (AGL).
2. Within a certain slope (distance/height) from a local airport.
   If the tower is in an approach area of an airport you'll also need to notify the FAA in addition to FCC registration.
3. If the tower is located on an airport.

Now a tower is EXEMPT from registration if it in the following:

1. It's completly shielded by either existing structures of permanent or substantial character or by naturally occuring terrain of equal or greater height AND is located it is located in the congested part of a city where there is NO WAY the tower is shielded from all aircraft.
2. Any tower less than 20ft (except when it increases the height of another structure)
3. Any air navigation device or landing aid type accepted by the FAA and which it's height and location is fixed by it's function.

Let's detail that 20ft rule as it affects rooftop locations.

1. If the building and the tower and the height of the tallest antenna does NOT break 200ft, then it DOES NOT need to be registered.
2. If the building is 201ft tall and has a 20ft tower on top of it, but the antennas are below the top of the 20ft tower then it DOES NOT need to be registered.
3. If the building is 201ft tall and has a 20ft tower on top of it and the top of the antennas as above the top of the 20ft tower then it DOES NEED to be registered.
4. If the building is 201ft tall and has a 40ft tower on top of it, regardless of the antenna height it DOES NEED to be registered as the tower breaks the 20ft rule.
5. If the building is 190ft tall and the tallest point on the tower brings the total height to 209 ft if DOES NOT NEED to be registered as it doesn't break the 20ft rule.

More detail on the 200ft AGL rule

1. If the total height of the tower including antennas is less than 200ft registration IS NOT REQUIRED.
2. If the tower is less than 200ft but the antennas bring it to MORE than 200ft registration IS REQUIRED.
3. If the tower structure itself regardless of antennas is MORE than 200ft then registration IS REQUIRED.

In regards to the slope ration from an airport that is determined via a TOWAIR search.


I hope this clears up some of the discrepancies that get posted here.

[TelcomJunkie]

I forgot to add, quite often a carrier will build the site and then sell it to a tower leasing company. So many of the towers will not be in the carriers names but in others (Such as American Tower/Spectrasite, Global Signal/Pinnacle).

[jrip]

The 200' rule is why so many towers are 190' give or take 5'. Registration of a tower is free, it only cost a few minutes to fill out the registration online. Most cellular carriers do not register their cell sites because consumers could easily locate their cell sites.

[nKrypteD1]

Originally Posted by jrip

The 200' rule is why so many towers are 190' give or take 5'. Registration of a tower is free, it only cost a few minutes to fill out the registration online. Most cellular carriers do not register their cell sites because consumers could easily locate their cell sites.

Stupid question here, but I know where 4 of the local Cingular towers and 1 of the local verizon towers are, I have physical access to two (as in legal and justifiable property access) what's so bad about that? Consumers should be allowed to know where the towers they use are, and no offense to anybody that disagree's but a tall concrete pole sticking out of the middle of some woods is a dead giveaway :p

[TelcomJunkie]

Originally Posted by nKrypteD1

Stupid question here, but I know where 4 of the local Cingular towers and 1 of the local verizon towers are, I have physical access to two (as in legal and justifiable property access) what's so bad about that? Consumers should be allowed to know where the towers they use are, and no offense to anybody that disagree's but a tall concrete pole sticking out of the middle of some woods is a dead giveaway :p

It's not to keep them secret that they don't register them. For starters most aren't owned by the cellular company they're owned by the tower broker so it's up to the broker to register them. It takes time to register the towers and if there isn't a benefit to do it, why take the time? The carriers aren't out looking for colo's on their own owned towers, if someone is interested they'll contact them (The other carriers have access to that information). On the broker side most have a website detailing locations so dual registration isn't needed. A lot of small quantity tower owners will register as it provides a way of finding the guy that owns one or two towers. Time is money and it takes time to register, if no money comes back in because of it, why'd you do it?

[nKrypteD1]

Oh I agree I was being a smart in regards to the post above.