08-21-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recently, the public's interest in wireless communications systems has soared. The idea that a person can be reached at any given time at any place is appealing not only to large businesses, but also to small businesses and individuals. In 1992, there were approximately 10 million cellular telephone users across the United States, and by the end of 1994, that figure had grown to over 24 million. As impressive as this growth figure is, it does not include users of paging systems, Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR), or Personal Communications Services (PCS). Because the demand for these alternative wireless communications also is expected to increase, the potential for the industry's growth is logarithmic and has prompted providers to increase their number of transmission sites in order to gain coverage and calling capacity, and thus market share. This increase has required great coordination between providers and planning departments in addressing two main issues: the visual impacts of the antenna structures used in the transmission of communications, and health concerns. In March 1995, members of SANDAG's Regional Growth Management Technical Committee requested SANDAG's assistance in responding to a number of issues related to the siting of facilities (especially antennae) for cellular phones, mobile radios, and personal communications services. In response, a Communications Facilities Subcommittee of the Regional Growth Management Technical Committee was formed. The Subcommittee is comprised of staff members from local jurisdictions and representatives of the wireless communications industry. It recommended that an Issues Paper be prepared to provide information regarding health and safety issues, visual impacts, technology, and regulatory issues associated with wireless communications to local jurisdictions. The Issues Paper also includes recommended guidelines for siting these facilities. Section I of this report examines issues that local governments and the wireless communications industry currently face and provides insight into the guidelines for the permitting process; Section II provides an overview of the technical issues associated with wireless communications systems; Section III reviews the_rreg-ulator rework-of the-wireless-communications-industryand-Section IV addresses health and safety concerns. The appendices include the results of a wireless communications survey conducted by SANDAG in April of 1995, examples of local jurisdiction ordinances, and federal licensing information. Of primary interest to local elected officials are the guidelines the subcommittee prepared for local planning departments and decision-makers to use in developing their own local land use regulations. The guidelines included in the paper and listed below are intended to minimize the visual impacts of wireless communications facilities, address community concerns about potential health and safety issues, and facilitate the local permitting process. These guidelines are recommended to local governments in the San Diego region as they make decisions about wireless communications facilities: 1