FCC puts us in a position to prove the bird kill phenomenon isn?t real

I have been around guyed and other tower sites for 15 years and cannot recall any great amount of bird carcasses, or at least a number that would exceed what one expects to see in any woodland or urban environment.

I have read a little more than a hundred of the comments that have been sent to the FCC over the past years and they distill down to approximately two questionable studies that are typically cited as the reason for America?s purported outrage at the number of birds that are killed by the existence of communications towers.

Instead of Audubon groups and others providing adequate analysis and substantiated facts as to why the FCC?s considered changes are necessary, their reasoning is always based upon two flawed studies, according to the authors? scientific peer groups.

We?re all well-intentioned in our desire to insure that we leave a better environment for our grandchildren, but let?s not allow this cause celebre to hijack the emotions of the country and have the FCC react based upon insufficient guidance and information.
The FCC appears to be planning to require changing out all red incandescent systems to white strobe lights ? and they?re asking the public for their comments regarding this move.

There?s only one counterplan that is acceptable. When the FCC can provide empirical data from accredited studies that white strobes will solve the problem, the country will march in unison with that decision and relamp the industry.

Let?s not relegate this important issue to an unacceptable auto repair process of changing out parts until such time as a real diagnosis for the trouble can be made and the problem is resolved.

With this Notice of Public Rulemaking the FCC has put the tower industry in a position of having to prove that the national bird kill phenomenon isn't real, giving the appearance of credibility to conservation groups? beliefs based upon inadequate studies - and painting tower owners as uncaring custodians of our environment.

Bird fatalities around a small number of tower sites at certain times of the year are very real. But the inflated, faulty fatality projections and the FCC?s unacceptable quick fixes are not.

J. Sandford
Darien, CT