When a budget for capital expenditure is available for new wireless site development, a search area can be designed and released by RF engineers. The client’s point of contact receives the search area and assigns it to a site acquisition vendor. The request for a new site is formalized in what is commonly known as a search area or site acquisition request form (SARF).
The request for a new site is formalized in what is commonly known as a search area or site acquisition request form (SARF). The SARF specifies criteria for the new site and includes a map that displays the boundary of the search area. Relevant detail contained within each SARF includes the following:
For wireless carriers and tower companies,1 collocation refers to wireless equipment of one carrier being located at a facility with one or more other carriers, implying the need for analysis to ensure the signals of one carrier do not cause disruptive radio interference to another carrier and vice versa. For local jurisdictions seeking to limit the proliferation of new antenna structures, collocation refers simply to wireless equipment of one carrier being located on any existing structure, thereby eliminating the need for a new structure to be built.
Since the identification of existing structures is a high priority in getting to know a search area, it is ideal to physically tour the search area early in the process. Depending on your proximity to the search area, however, this may not be practical, at least until enough research has been completed to make field time worth the travel expense. One popular way to log virtual windshield time is to take a tour of the search area on Google Earth. The FCC antenna structure registration (ASR)2 is a good online resource to research existing antenna structures in or near a search area. Most other tower databases are a manipulation of the FCC’s ASR database.3
The context of due diligence research depends upon whether it is a communications tower, a building roof, a water tower, or some other type of structure. While some site qualification issues apply to any structure (such as the antenna placement location, associated equipment space location, and provision for electric and fiber-optic utility service), each type of structure has different characteristics to investigate.
If so, it is known as a non-conforming use or structure, as discussed in Module 5 Wireless Facility Components. Properties and structures that conform to local codes and ordinances are great; however, non-conforming properties or structures tend to require extra work for permit approval by the jurisdiction.
In the early stages of site selection, it isn’t a given that collocation on an existing structure will work. There are multiple reasons why an existing structure may not appear feasible. The structure owner might not be interested in offering space on the structure. The existing structure may not be tall or structurally sound enough to meet the RF objectives. There may not be enough space on the site to accommodate associated equipment, if it is required.
Depending on the zoning ordinance and the willingness of local permit authorities and their constituency to allow a new antenna structure on any given location in the community, collocation on an existing structure may be optional or it might be mandatory. Nevertheless, the proximity of existing structures to the search area and whether any will work for RF engineering purposes is relevant. The structure’s capacity and the cooperativeness of the structure owner matter as well.
In less populated areas, it may be possible for a new antenna structure to receive permit approval even where existing towers are present nearby. This provides another property owner with a revenue opportunity. Rural neighbors may not have any objections.
© 2024 · John M. Rowe/Communications Real Estate, Inc./Telecom Birddogs, LLC