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Siting Cellular Towers: What You Need to Know, What You Need to Do In most parts of the United States, there only are two companies providing cellular telephone service today. But the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized two more companies to provide personal communications. services (PCS), the next generation of personal wireless services, in each of the major markets. Soon, the FCC will authorize up to four more PCS providers in each of the smaller basic trading markets in the nation. In many areas, therefore, local officials can expect to see as many as eight providers seeking facilities to site antennas in their communities during the next year. The number of such antennas could grow in the United States by more than six times - to 120,000 - by the year 2000. The companies planning to offer PCS service have already made a huge up-front investment. The federal government awards PCS licenses through an auction process which to date has generated almost $20 billion for the federal treasury. Some PCS providers paid more than $500 million for a license in a single market. Each provider wants to build its network quickly and obtain a competitive edge in the market. In addition, consumer demand for personal wireless services is growing tremendously in response to the introduction of light- weight portable phones and increasingly affordable rates and equipment prices. Today, more than 40 million Americans use these services. That number is expected to grow to more than 100 million by the year 2000. The growth also reflects the importance of wireless services to businesses in general and to selected business operations. Many residents object to the placement of new antennas and towers in their communities. They are concerned that these facilities will jeopardize human health and safety, damage private property, and compromise the community's aesthetics. They worry that 200-foot towers may present safety hazards in bad weather, such as ice storms or hurricanes. They are unhappy about the prospect of locating unsecured towers near school playgrounds. They are nervous about the electro- magnetic radiation generated by a cellular communications facility. Finally, they do not want to see large, unsightly antenna towers dispersed throughout the community cluttering the landscape and reducing their property values. Local government officials are faced with the challenge of balancing the demand for wireless service with the concerns of residents. To date, the response of local governments to the tower siting dilemma has varied, ranging from blind acceptance of industry demands to active participation as partners in the siting process. Many cities and counties have amended their zoning ordinances to accommodate the growth of wireless systems and the communications needs of residents and businesses while protecting the public against any adverse impacts. Some jurisdictions, in the process of reviewing their laws, have adopted moratoria on the granting of any new applications pending completion of the review process. Many localities also have formed partnerships to deal effectively with the siting of cellular towers in their communities. These parmerships take many forms, including agreements between service providers and local governments to site antenna facilities on public property and agreements to construct new towers to support the facilities of both public and private wireless services networks. By entering into partnerships, local governments may improve their own public safety and other communications systems and reap additional revenue as well. Some cities and counties are cooperating across jurisdictional boundaries to develop a comprehensive uniform approach to the siting of wireless facilities within their region. The pages that follow describe what personal wireless sen. ices are, explain what limits the 1996 Telecommunications Act places on local government zoning authority, and describe steps local governments are taking to develop effective cellular tower ordinances and siting policies. The guidebook is designed to help local officials meet the challenge of reconciling industry's goal - the rapid building of wireless networks -with long-term community goals and the legitimate concerns residents have about antenna and tower facilities. 2