Drake Services also requested that the WTB consider a more expeditious approval route, suggesting that “other tower owners using the Drake System be allowed to obtain the same relief as Vertical Bridge, on an expedited basis, by submitting a signed certification that they are using the Drake System on their towers.” Currently, approvals take 12 to 19 months.
The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Tuesday granted Vertical Bridge REIT, LLC, and Drake Services, Inc., an exemption from the mandatory quarterly inspections of antenna structure lighting systems stipulated under existing regulations (see below).
The exemption specifically pertains to the requirements under 47 CFR § 17.47(b), which mandates owners of antenna structures to conduct thorough inspections of their lighting systems every three months. However, the WTB has recognized that systems like the Drake Tower Light Monitoring System (DMS), equipped with self-diagnostic capabilities, render these frequent manual inspections unnecessary.
Vertical Bridge, the largest privately owned tower company in the United States with ownership of over 9,000 structures, and Drake Services, a manufacturer of LED lighting and monitoring systems, submitted a joint petition on August 22, 2022, seeking relief from the inspection mandate.
They argued that the technological advancements inherent in the DMS system ensure continuous and effective monitoring of tower lighting systems, thereby making quarterly checks obsolete.
After a thorough review, including requests for additional information to ascertain the system’s technical characteristics and operational capabilities, the WTB concluded that the DMS meets the criteria for exemption. The approval is available here.
The WTB said it has established an expedited process for other tower owners who utilize similar systems.
Vertical Bridge and Drake Services’ petition for exemption took 19 months to be approved. Similarly, an exemption request by American Electric Power Service Corporation took 12 months to be approved in January 2023.
Drake requested that the WTB consider a swifter route, requesting “other tower owners using the Drake System be allowed to obtain the same relief as Vertical Bridge, on an expedited basis, by submitting a signed certification that they are using the Drake System on their towers.”
First requests were applied for almost two decades ago
The earliest approvals were made in 2007 after American Tower Corp. and Global Signal, Inc. (acquired by Crown Castle the same year) argued before the FCC that quarterly inspections of monitoring systems had been rendered unnecessary.
The requests were filed in 2005, and in 2006, the WTB released a public notice seeking comments on the waivers. ATC was using Flash Technologies’ Eagle monitoring system, and Crown Castle utilized a system by HARK.
PCIA, now WIA – Wireless Infrastructure Associon, had filed a Petition for Rulemaking with the FCC to amend the monitoring requirements to exempt systems using NOC-based monitoring technology from the quarterly inspections.
According to Wireless Estimator reporting, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) objected to the inspection waiver, stating that the technology required further evaluation. AOPA indicated that it favored introducing and using new technologies but believed that quarterly inspections should continue until those new technologies have been thoroughly evaluated. The FCC did not find their concerns persuasive.
47 CFR § 17.47 Inspection of antenna structure lights and associated control equipment
- The owner of any antenna structure that is registered with the Commission and has been assigned lighting specifications referenced in this part:
(a)(1) Shall make an observation of the antenna structure’s lights at least once each 24 hours either visually or by observing an automatic properly maintained indicator designed to register any failure of such lights, to insure that all such lights are functioning properly as required; or alternatively,
(2) Shall provide and properly maintain an automatic alarm system designed to detect any failure of such lights and to provide indication of such failure to the owner.
(b) Shall inspect at intervals not to exceed 3 months all automatic or mechanical control devices, indicators, and alarm systems associated with the antenna structure lighting to ensure that such apparatus is functioning properly.
(c) Is exempt from paragraph (b) of this section for any antenna structure monitored by a system that the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has determined includes self-diagnostic features sufficient to render quarterly inspections unnecessary, upon certification of use of such system to the Bureau.