Tower Regulation for Beginners

Tim Ellam VE6SHHam Radio University 2007

April 10, 2007

About me

• Licensed in 1977

• Licensed as G4HUA in 1978

• ve6sh@iaru.org

• 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?

• 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

• 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!