Transcript Tower Regulation for Beginners

Tower
Regulation for
Beginners
Tim Ellam VE6SH
Ham Radio University 2007
April 10, 2007
About me
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Licensed in 1977
Licensed as G4HUA in 1978
[email protected]
234-7977
or 260-3533
What every ham wants!
Do you really need a tower?
• It depends!
• HF (40-10m)
• ON4UN-leading authority
on Low Band DX
Two local examples
• VE6LB
– “…a successful Low Band DXer from an urban
QTH, from the middle of nowhere, right in the
auroral doughnut, using simple antennas…”
• Vertical antennas (Butternut HF2V/SteppIR)
» Low Band Dxing (2005) 2-2
• VE6WZ
– “…Steve is usually the first, if not the only one, I
hear in Europe when the band decides to open up
from his Northerly location. It is amazing what
Steve does from a residential area.”
• 2 element 80 meter Yagi on a 28 meter crank up tower
» Low Band Dxing (2005) 13-7
What do you need?
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Support of your family
Support of your neighbours
Time and infinite patience
The right location
Money
– $2000 to $4000 for an installed tower
– $250-$750 for a rotator
– $200-$1500 for the antenna
What you need to know
• Height and sitting of towers for federally
authorized/licensed services regulated
by s. 8 of the Radio Communications Act
• Industry Canada
• Limited role for Provincial and local
governments
– Townsend Report 1989
– “Townsend II” 2005
What does IC expect?
• CPC - 2-0-03 (Issue 3, June 24, 1995)
“Environmental Process, Radio
Frequency Fields and Land Use
Consultation.”
• Type of Station - Type I or Type II
• Type II - Non site specific
Procedures for Type II Stations
• Environmental Concerns
– The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act
(CEAA)
• Not applicable
• Radio Frequency Fields
– Must comply with Safety Code 6
• Land Use Consultation
– Prior to the installation of an antenna structure for
which it is felt that community concerns could be
raised, owners of Type 2 stations must consult with
their land-use authority.
Procedures for Type II Stations
• Industry Canada expects Type 2 radio station
owners to address the concerns of the
community in a responsible manner, and to
consider seriously all requests put forward by
the land-use authority.
• Where Industry Canada believes that the
installation of an antenna structure is not
appropriate within its surroundings, it may
request submissions explaining why the
structure should not be altered or removed.
The Process in Calgary
• Policy Guidelines for the Development of
Amateur Radio Antenna Structure in
Residential Areas OE98-61 (September 9,
1998)
• The “Calgary Guidelines”
– towers and antenna up to a maximum height of 13
metres (42.64 feet) may be erected in all
residential areas without the need for a public
consultation process;
– the City of Calgary will support erection of
structures up to a height of 18 metres (59.04 feet)
subject to a “public consultation process”;
General Rules
• Development Requirements
– no structure shall be erected in the front yard;
– no structure shall be located in a “minimum required rear or side
yard”, unless attached to the principal building;
– except where attached to the principal building, no guide wires or
other similar structural support devices shall be provided;
– no antenna boom or other appurtenance attached to the attached
structure shall project within one metre of any property line of the
site;
– no structure shall be illuminated or carry advertising, flags, graphics
or other such devices unrelated to the function of an amateur radio
antenna structure, except for warning markings and lights required
by other federal or provincial legislation; and
– visual screening shall be provided that masks at least the lower
three metres of the structure through the use of appropriate
landscaping measures.
Structures under “42 feet”
• Under Forty Feet
– Provide to the City the following:
– name, address and telephone number;
– proposed total height of the structure and its distance from the
nearest property line;
– dimensions of any antenna boom attached to the tower structure;
– distance from the base of the antenna structure to the nearest
neighbouring dwelling;
– type of antenna structure;
– landscaping or screening measures to reduce the visual impact of
the antenna structure on neighbouring properties; and
– a site plan showing the footprint of the antenna structure and its
relationship to the building structures and the existing proposed
landscaping on the site.
The City should send a letter to Industry Canada indicating that no
public consultation is required.
60` Structures
• Over Forty Feet
– the public consultation process requires the amateur to notify
owners of properties within 100 metres (328 feet) of the
boundaries of the site for the proposed antenna;
– the amateur is also required to notify the local community
association, alderman and the federal Member of Parliament.
The notification would include all information on the proposed
structure including its type, height and location;
– the recipient of the letter of notification had 30 days in which
to send their comments to the City administration;
– the applicant or any notified party could, if necessary,
convene a public meeting to assist with the notification
process;
– within 45 days, the City administration will provide a letter to
Industry Canada indicating its position on the proposed
antenna structure and to confirm that the consultation
process had been undertaken.
What Information Should I Submit?
• Sample documents on the RAC website
• CPC 2-0-03
• Copy of Dean Straw’s article “Antenna Height
and Communication Effectiveness” (2001).
Available from the ARRL website.
• A simple explanation as to why you need an
antenna at the proposed height.
• Brian Churchman-City of Calgary
Development Officer
What you (hopefully) receive
Do`s and Don`ts
• Follow the Guidelines
– 40` means 40`!
• Be prepared to respond to your
neighbors
• Copy IC with what you are doing
• Photos of the installation
• Insurance
• Professional installation
• Maintenance
The Future
RAC Submissions
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More formal consultation
Specific guidelines
65’ height limit in urban areas
100’ height limit in rural areas
Increased height limits on application
Report Recommendations
• Specific guidelines for different spectrum users
• More Policy guidance
• Local authorities should be educated on limits to their
jurisdiction
• Dispute resolution process
• Regulator take a more active role
• Environmental impact for significant structures
• “amateur radio operators should not be required to
engage in a ‘debate’ with municipal officials or consult
with their immediate neighbours on the question as to
whether a particular antenna installation modification
is needed “
Concerns
• No specific guidelines for amateurs
• No time frame for review of existing legislation
• Regulator inconsistent with directions to
amateurs
• Local authorities still unaware of limits on their
jurisdiction
• Local authorities have a restrictive policy to
new installations
• No new Guidelines
Conclusion
• Regulator will “study” recommendations
– Don`t hold your breath!
• RAC needs to be involved
• Lack of Canadian case law
• Regulator endorses a 40 foot/12 metre
limit
• Don`t give up!