Definition of terms.
AGL
Above ground level. The actual height of the PWSF from the
ground to the highest part of the mount or the antenna, whichever
is higher.
ANTENNA
A whip (omnidirectional antenna), panel (directional antenna),
disc (parabolic antenna) or similar device used for transmission and/or
reception of radio frequency signals.
ANTENNA ARRAY
One or more whips, panels, discs or similar devices used
for the transmission or reception of radio frequency signals, which
may include omnidirectional antennas (whips), directional antennas
(panels) and parabolic antennas (discs). The antenna array does not
include the mount as defined herein.
APPLICANT
A person or entity with an application before the Town for
a permit for a personal wireless service facility (PWSF).
CAMOUFLAGE
A way of painting and mounting a PWSF that requires minimal
exterior changes to the host structure in order to accommodate the
facility.
CARRIER
A company licensed by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) that provides wireless services. A tower builder is not automatically
a carrier.
CELLULAR
A mobile telephone service operating in the 800 MHz spectrum.
COAPPLICANT
Any person and/or entity joining with an applicant in an
application for a permit for a PWSF, including the owner(s) of the
PWSF, owner(s) of the subject property and any proposed tenant(s)
for the PWSF.
COLLOCATION
The use of a common PWSF or common site by two or more wireless
license holders or by one wireless license holder for more than one
type of communications technology and/or placement or two or more
PWSF's on adjacent properties.
COMMERCIAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICES (CMRS)
Any of several technologies using radio signals at various
frequencies to send and receive voice, data and video as per Section
704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. According to the FCC, these
services are "functionally equivalent services." Section 704 of the
Telecommunications Act prohibits unreasonable discrimination among
functionally equivalent services.
CONCEAL
To enclose a PWSF with a natural or man-made feature resulting
in the facility being either invisible or made part of the feature
enclosing it.
DESIGN
The appearance of PWSF's, such as their materials, colors
and shape.
DISGUISE
To design a PWSF to appear to be something other than a PWSF.
ELEVATION
The measurement of height above sea level. Also "AMSL," or
"above mean sea level."
EQUIPMENT CABINET/EQUIPMENT SHELTER
An enclosed structure at the base of the mount within which
is housed the equipment for the PWSF, such as batteries and electrical
equipment.
FALL ZONE
The area on the ground within a prescribed radius from the
base of a PWSF. The fall zone is the area within which there might
be a potential hazard from falling debris or collapsing material.
FUNCTIONALLY EQUIVALENT SERVICES
Cellular, PCS, enhanced specialized mobile radio, specialized
mobile radio and paging. Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act
prohibits unreasonable discrimination among functionally equivalent
services.
GUYED TOWER
A monopole or lattice tower that is anchored to the ground
or to another surface by diagonal cables.
HEIGHT
The distance measured from above ground level (AGL) to the
highest point of a PWSF, including the antenna array. For purposes
of measuring height, all antennas or other attachments mounted on
a structure shall be included in the measurements to determine overall
(i.e., combined) height.
LATTICE TOWER
A type of mount that is usually ground-mounted and self-supporting
with multiple legs and cross-bracing of structural steel.
LICENSED CARRIER
A company authorized by the FCC to construct and operate
a commercial mobile radio services system. A licensed carrier must
be identified for every PWSF application.
LOCATION
The area where a PWSF is located or proposed to be located.
MICROCELL
Any PWSF that is designed and limited to generate lower power
density than that limited by the FCC Guidelines for Evaluating the
Environmental Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation.
MITIGATION
The reduction or elimination of visual impacts by the use
of one or more methods, including but not limited to concealment,
camouflage and disguise.
MODIFICATION
The changing of any portion of a PWSF from its description
in a previously approved permit. The FCC definitions for "modification"
are different than local government rules.
MONOPOLE
A structure that is self-supporting with a single shaft of
wood, steel or concrete and antennas at the top and/or along the shaft.
[Amended 4-9-2002 by L.L. No. 2-2002]
MOUNT
The structure or surface upon which antennas are mounted,
e.g:
(1) ROOF-MOUNTED -- Mounted on the roof of a building.
(2) SIDE-MOUNTED -- Mounted on the side of a building.
(3) GROUND-MOUNTED -- Mounted on the ground.
(4) STRUCTURE-MOUNTED -- Mounted on a structure other than a building.
(5) INTERIOR-MOUNTED -- Mounted within a building.
PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICE FACILITY (PWSF)
A facility for the provision of personal wireless services,
as defined by Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. A
PWSF is any facility for the transmission and/or reception of personal
wireless services, usually consisting of an antenna array, transmission
cables, equipment shelter and a mount.
PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICES
Any personal wireless service defined in the Federal Telecommunications
Act, which includes Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensed
commercial wireless telecommunications services, including cellular,
personal communications services (PCS), specialized mobile radio (SMR),
enhanced specialized mobile radio (ESMR), paging as well as unlicensed
wireless services, and common carrier wireless exchange access services.
RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) ENGINEER
Someone with a background in electrical engineering or microwave
engineering who specializes in the study of radio frequencies.
RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) SIGNAL
The actual beam or radio waves sent and received by a PWSF.
A signal is the deliberate product of a PWSF. The RF radiation is
the by-product.
SECURITY BARRIER
A locked, impenetrable wall, fence or berm that completely
seals an area from unauthorized entry or trespass.
SEPARATION
The distance between one carrier's antenna array and
another carrier's antenna array.
SHORT MOUNTS
Alternatives to monopoles or guyed and lattice towers, such
as masts or poles. For example, two short poles or three short masts
might be an alternative to one tall lattice tower.
SITE
That portion of a subject property where a PWSF is to be
placed. Any acceptable location may have several potential sites within
it.
SITING
The method and form of placement of PWSF's on a specific
area of a subject property.
SPECIALIZED MOBILE RADIO (SMR)
A form of dispatch or two-way communication used by companies
that rent space or time from an SMR carrier; used primarily for data,
delivery vans, truckers or taxis within a small, definable geographic
area.
STANDARDS
Rules or measures by which acceptability is determined. Personal
wireless service facilities are measured by standards measuring visibility
or safety. Wireless planning tends to regulate PWSF's on three
levels: location (or where the PWSF site can go), siting (or how the
PWSF is placed within its setting) and design (or what the PWSF looks
like)
TOWER
A term used to describe a tall, nonhabitable structure which
may be used for a variety of purposes, such as a water tower, lattice
tower, an antenna tower, and so forth. For purposes of this chapter,
the term "tower" shall not include monopoles, as defined in this section,
utility poles, flagpoles, transmission line facilities, or similar
structures.
[Amended 4-9-2002 by L.L. No. 2-2002]
UNLICENSED WIRELESS SERVICES
Commercial mobile services that can operate on public domain
frequencies and therefore need no FCC license for their sites.
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
Any form of signaling by wireless, including personal wireless
services, that require a transmitter, a receiver and a path, sometimes
straight, sometimes indirect, between them.