This chapter is titled the "Telecommunications Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way," and amends all applicable provisions of the Code of the Township of South Hackensack, and any existing local laws, rules, orders, resolutions and ordinances relating to the subject matter of this chapter.
A. 
It is the intent of this chapter to regulate the placement of telecommunications equipment, including poles, towers, antennas and other infrastructure located on municipal rights-of-way. The placement of telecommunications equipment outside of the municipal right-of-way shall be governed by the applicable provision of Chapter 208, Zoning.
B. 
It is furthermore intended that this chapter shall control in the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of this chapter and any existing agreements, licenses or franchises in existence and which govern existing small wireless facilities in the municipal right-of-way, and that the prevailing terms of this chapter shall supersede and replace any conflicting terms in said agreements or licenses, and shall govern all future relationships between the Township and the applicable parties in said licenses and agreements.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
Ministerial review of an application by the Township relating to the review and issuance of a permit, including review by the designee, a wireless consultant with knowledge beyond the expertise of Township personnel, as well as the Construction Official, Zoning Officer, engineer, or other Township staff or designees to determine whether the issuance of a small cell permit is in conformity with the applicable provisions of this chapter. Administrative permit issuance is nondiscretionary and based on whether an application is in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, as well as any other applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations governing small cell deployment. This process does not involve the exercise of discretion.
ANTENNA
Communications equipment that transmits and/or receives over-the-air electromagnetic signals used in the provision of wireless services. This definition does not apply to broadcast antennas, antennas designed for amateur radio use, or satellite dishes for residential or household purposes.
APPLICABLE CODES
Uniform building, fire, safety, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical codes adopted by a recognized national code organization to the extent such codes have been adopted by the Township or otherwise are applicable in the jurisdiction.
APPLICANT
A person or entity who submits an application under this chapter.
APPLICATION
A written request submitted by an applicant to the Township for a small cell permit i) to locate or collocate, or to modify, a communications facility underground or on any existing support structure, pole, or tower, or ii) to construct, modify or replace a new support structure, pole or tower or any other structure on which a communications facility will be collocated.
COLLOCATE
To install, mount, maintain, modify, operate and/or replace a communications facility on an existing support structure, pole, or tower or any other structure capable of supporting such communications facility. "Collocation" has a corresponding meaning. The term does not include the installation of a new pole, tower or support structure in the public right-of-way.
COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY
Collectively, the equipment at a fixed location or locations that enables communication between user equipment and a communications network, including: i) radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial, fiber-optic or other cabling, power supply (including backup battery), and comparable equipment, regardless of technological configuration; and ii) all other equipment associated with any of the foregoing. A communications facility does not include the pole, tower or support structure to which the equipment is attached. A wireless facility is an example of a communications facility.
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDER
A cable operator, as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 522(5), a provider of information service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 153(24); or a provider of telecommunications service, as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 153(53); or provider of fixed wireless or other wireless services as defined in 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(C)(i). A wireless service provider is an example of a communications service provider.
CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
A contract through which the Township has entered into an arrangement with an individual, attorney consultant or firm for same to provide professional consulting services pursuant to this chapter, said contract being in conformance with New Jersey Public Contracts Law, Pay-to-Play Laws and other applicable laws governing such contracts and agreements. The contract between the designee and the Township is an example of a contract for professional services.
DECORATIVE POLE
A Township pole that is specially designed and placed for aesthetic purposes.
DEPLOYABLE
A portable, self-contained wireless facility that can be moved to a specified location or area and provide wireless services on a temporary or emergency basis such as a "cell on wheels" or "COW," "cell on light truck" or "COLT," tethered balloon, tethered drone or other unmanned device.
DESIGNEE
Hoplite Communications, LLC, appointed by the Township and contracted for professional services to serve as the point-of-contact and primary consultant and specialist for the Township for all matters concerning this chapter. Hoplite contact information: office address: Hoplite Communications, LLC, 197 Route 18, Suite 3000, East Brunswick, NJ 08816; phone: 732-207-3912; Email: Peter.lupo.hoplite@gmail.com.
DISCRETIONARY REVIEW
Review of an application by the Township relating to the review and issuance of a permit, that is other than an administrative review. Discretionary review involves discretion on the part of the Township (subject to any applicable limits on such discretion) in determining whether to issue a permit and may be subject to one or more public hearings or meetings, including appearances before the planning board, zoning board of adjustment and referral to any applicable board or commission for commentary and recommendations. Discretionary review may be subject to provisions of Chapter 208, Zoning, as well as other applicable provisions as determined by the applicable governing authority.
ELIGIBLE FACILITIES REQUEST
An eligible facilities request as set forth in 47 CFR Section 1.6100(b)(3), as may be amended from time to time.
FCC
The Federal Communications Commission of the United States.
FEE
A one-time, nonrecurring charge, whether a fixed amount or cost-based amount based on time and expense.
HISTORIC PROPERTY
Any prehistoric or historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in, or eligible for inclusion in, the National Register maintained by the United States Secretary of the Interior (in accordance with Section VI.D.1.a.i-v of the Nationwide Programmatic agreement codified at 47 CFR Part 1, Appendix C) or established pursuant to state historic preservation law.
LAWS
Collectively, any and all federal, state, or local law, statute, common law, code, rule, regulation, order, or ordinance.
OCCUPANT
Any occupant of the public right-of-way, including any wireless provider, wireless infrastructure provider, utility company, or public or private entity with a physical presence or right to maintain a physical presence on, under or across the public right-of-way.
ORDINARY MAINTENANCE, REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT
i) With respect to a communications facility and/or the associated support structure, pole or tower, inspections, testing, repair and modifications that maintain functional capacity, aesthetic and structural integrity, and (ii) with respect to a communications facility only, the replacement of antennas and/or other components of the communications facility (specifically, such as a swap out of small cell antennas and radio equipment as required by the applicant), with antennas and/or other components substantially similar, in color, aggregate size and other aesthetics to that previously permitted by the Township (and/or consistent with the same height and volume limits for wireless facilities under this chapter), so long as the support structure, pole, or tower will structurally support, or prior to installation will be modified to support, the structural load. Modifications are limited to by the structural load analysis supplied by the applicant to the Township, and by the volume limits in § 209-11, Design standards.
PERMIT or SMALL CELL PERMIT
A written authorization (in electronic or hard copy format) required by the Township to initiate, continue, or complete the installation, upgrade or modification of a communications facility, or an associated support structure, pole, or tower.
PERSON
An individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust, or other entity or organization, including the Township.
POLE
A pole, such as a utility, lighting, traffic, or similar pole, made of wood, concrete, metal or other material, located or to be located within the public right-of-way or utility easement. The term includes the vertical support structure for traffic lights but does not include a horizontal structure to which signal lights or other traffic control devices are attached unless the Township grants a waiver for such pole. The term does not include electric transmission poles or structures. A pole does not include a tower or support structure.
PROVIDER
A communications service provider or a wireless provider.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, PUBLIC ROW or MUNICIPAL ROW
The area on, below, or above property that has been designated for use as or is used for a public roadway, highway, street, sidewalk, alley or similar purpose, but not including a federal interstate highway or other area not within the legal jurisdiction, or within the legal ownership or control of the municipality.
RATE
A recurring charge.
REPLACE or REPLACEMENT
In connection with an existing pole, support structure or tower, or communications facility, as the case may be, to replace (or the replacement of) same with a new structure, similar in design, size and scale to the existing structure and in conformance with current Township building code, zoning provisions and other applicable regulations, in order to address limitations of, or change requirements applicable to, the existing structure to structurally support collocation of a communications facility. In connection with replacement of a pole or tower to support collocation of a wireless facility, similarity in size and scale shall be evaluated consistent with 47 CFR 1.6100(b)(7).
SMALL WIRELESS FACILITY
A wireless facility that meets both of the following qualifications: i) each wireless provider's antenna (including, without limitation, any strand-mounted antenna) could fit within an enclosure of no more than three cubic feet in volume; and ii) all other wireless equipment associated with the facility is cumulatively no more than 28 cubic feet in volume. The following types of associated, ancillary equipment are not included in the calculation of equipment volume: electric meter, concealment elements, telecommunications demarcation box, grounding equipment, power transfer switch, cut-off switch, and vertical cable runs for connection of power and other services. The following additional parameters apply to small wireless facilities: i) Total height of small wireless facility and supporting structure is less than 50 feet, or the small wireless facility is mounted on structures no more than 10% taller than adjacent structures, or the small wireless facility does not extend the existing structure to a height of greater than 50 feet or by more than 10% of the original height, whichever is greater.
STATE
The State of New Jersey.
SUPPORT STRUCTURE
A building, a billboard, a water tank or any other structure to which a communications facility is or may be attached. Support structure does not include a pole or a tower.
TOWER
Any structure built for the sole or primary purpose of supporting a wireless facility, such as a self-supporting tower, a monopole, a lattice tower or a guyed tower. Tower also includes a structure designed to conceal from the general public the wireless facility. A tower does not include a pole or a support structure.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of South Hackensack, or any agency, department, district, subdivision or any instrumentality thereof, including, but not limited to public utility districts, or municipal electric utilities. The term shall not include courts of the state having jurisdiction over the Township or any entities that do not have zoning or permitting authority or jurisdiction. The Township may hereinafter be referred to as the "Township," "the Township of South Hackensack," or "South Hackensack."
TOWNSHIP POLE
A pole owned, managed or operated by or on behalf of the Township.
UTILITY EASEMENT
The area on, below, or above privately owned property that has been designated for use as or is used for a specific utility purpose (such as for electric, cable or other utility purpose), and is evidenced by a recorded instrument in the public land records pursuant to a recorded plat, easement or right of way or is otherwise a legally enforceable easement, and does not include any portion of a public right-of-way.
WIRELESS FACILITY
A communications facility installed and/or operated by a wireless provider. The term does not include: i) the support structure, tower or pole on, under, or within which the equipment is located or collocated; or ii) coaxial, fiberoptic or other cabling that is between communications facilities or poles or that is otherwise not immediately adjacent to or directly associated with a particular antenna. A small wireless facility is one example of a wireless facility.
WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDER
Any person, including a person authorized to provide telecommunications service in the state, that builds or installs and/or operates wireless facilities or poles, towers or support structures on which wireless facilities are or are intended to be used for collocation, but that is not a wireless services provider.
WIRELESS PROVIDER
A wireless infrastructure provider or a wireless services provider.
WIRELESS SERVICES
Any wireless services including, without limitation, personal wireless services as that term is defined in 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(C)(i).
WIRELESS SERVICES PROVIDER
A person who provides wireless services.