Municipalities, wireless association, issue higher standards for antenna siting

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunication Association (CWTA) released a new wireless antenna siting protocol to address public concerns about new wireless antennas in their communities. The organizations said in a release that the new 35-page protocol establishes a more comprehensive notification and consultation process for the installation of antenna sites in Canada as rising wireless data consumption and smartphone use creates a need for more antennas. The Wire Report reported last year that residents often oppose new tower sites in their communities, saying that they are ugly, obstruct views, affect the flight paths of migratory birds, or cause health concerns. Bernard Lord, president and CEO of the CWTA, said in a phone interview that the new protocol benefits Canada’s municipalities and telecommunications carriers by establishing higher standards for consultations and the meeting of guidelines before an antenna system can be put up. The protocol outlines clearer expectations for carriers and municipalities, he said. “This is a benefit for citizens. It’s a benefit for municipalities and it’s more work for the carrier, but in return what carriers get is certainty,” Lord said. “We get an established process on how we can consult and we can meet the expectations of municipalities. In exchange, we know that once we start a process, the clock starts and by the end of the process as long as everything’s OK, then the antenna and the site can go up,” he said. Lord said the new protocol—which is an industry guideline and not a government regulation—addresses an Industry Canada regulatory exemption that allows broadcast and wireless towers less than 15 metres, or 49 feet, to be installed without a public consultation. Carrier Rogers Communications Inc. took advantage of that rule last April when it erected a monopole-style cellphone tower not taller than 15 metres in a residential backyard in Kirkland, Que., with the approval of the landowner. Lord said the new protocol will prevent such agreements. “Under our protocol that’s been proposed and that’s been adopted, every single tower, regardless of whether it’s below 15 metres or more than 15 metres, there will be a notice given to the municipality or the land use authority that there’s an antenna going up, and they will have to determine what kind of public consultation is recommended for that site,” he said. Section 4.2 of the new protocol says that “notwithstanding Industry Canada’s exemption for certain Antenna Systems, Municipalities should be informed of all new Antenna System installations within their boundaries.” This notification of new antennas, the protocol says, will allow municipalities to be prepared to respond to public inquiries, be aware of the sharing of wireless sites, maintain records, and engage in dialogue about the appearance of the antennas. Lord said the protocol is not being implemented to prevent antennas and cell sites from going up and it provides a consultation mechanism for people opposed to the sites to voice their concerns. It also gives the municipalities a chance to tell carriers where they would prefer cell sites to be placed, he said. “Municipalities can now use this protocol as a planning tool for new neighbourhoods and identifying locations beforehand, where towers should go up,” he said. “Identifying those preferences makes it easier for carriers to plan their networks.” The protocol also says carriers must consider what other options are available before submitting a proposal for a new antenna site. This includes site sharing, or modifying or replacing an existing antenna site. Carriers must “locate, analyze and attempt to use any feasible existing infrastructure, including (but not limited to) roof tops, water towers, utility poles or light standards,” the guidelines say. It adds that if an existing site cannot be used, a new antenna construction must be built with the ability for co-location, or site sharing. The document invites municipalities to list their preferred locations and aesthetics for sites, as well as areas they don't want sites constructed. “Antenna Systems should be designed in terms of appearance and aesthetics to respect their immediate surroundings (e.g. Residential, parkland, Heritage District, etc.), including being unobtrusive and inconspicuous, minimizing visual impact, avoiding disturbance to natural features, and reduce the need for future facilities in the same area, where appropriate,” the protocol says. The Wire Report reported last year that companies are building wireless towers disguised as trees, clock towers, flagpoles, light posts, or chimneys. After the consultation process, according to the protocol, the municipality will send a letter of support, or non support, to Industry Canada, to approve or reject the proposed antenna. “The Municipality will also forward to Industry Canada any comments on outstanding issues, including those raised during the public consultation process,” the guidelines say. Lord said the new protocol was established to create a “better working relationship” between municipalities and carriers across the country because more sites will be needed as wireless data consumption grows. “We could sense that sometimes, things weren’t going up the way they should’ve and we thought, ‘Let’s do a better job,” Lord said. The FCM and the CWTA said in the release that local governments and carriers are doing their part and that they welcome the federal government’s support. Marc Choma, a spokesman for the CWTA, said in an emailed statement that all wireless carriers support the protocol. “We would be very disappointed if a carrier did not follow it, but the Industry Canada impasse process still exists for municipalities,” he said. —With reporting by Danika Grenier at dgrenier@thewirereport.ca and editing by Simon Doyle at sdoyle@thewirereport.ca

Municipalities, wireless association, issue higher standards for antenna siting

News | February 28, 2013

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Municipalities, wireless association, issue higher standards for antenna siting

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