[TowerTalk] Is the FCC sharp? Is ARRL counsel swift?

[George Skoubis]

Rick,

  I live in Wisconsin and the latest trend is to impose county-wide
ordinances limiting antenna towers.  It doesn't matter how far you live from
town, or if you own a section (640 acres), you still need to go to the
variance committee if you want to build a tower taller than the allowable
height (I can't remember what it is in our county).

  I went to the county meeting when they were drawing up the draft proposal
(there were about 10 other hams that went also).  The committee said the
main purpose is to limit the number of cell towers and their location but
that they were only excluding amateur towers less than 50 or 60 feet (I just
don't remember the height that was agreed upon).

  I talked to the head of the zoning department after the meeting and he
mentioned that the ordinance doesn't apply to me since I live in the city
limits.  The city has no antenna/tower ordinance and I am exempt from the
county one.  I can build a taller tower (without a variance hearing) on my
city lot than my brother-in-law can on his farm a mile away.

  The county I live in is Iowa county Wisconsin, there are probably as many
cows as people here.  I don't think this is just an issue for people who
live in cities, suburbs, or CC&R restricted communities.  These county
ordinances will continue to happen and every ham should speak up to their
county representative when the ordinance is still in the planning stage.

  Our proposed county ordinance did not originally exempt amateurs, it
restricted all antennas/structures that could TRANSMIT a radio signal.  A
local amateur club notified the local hams and we contacted the zoning
administrator and sent him information as well as attended the meeting.
There were many citizens that didn't want to exempt hams at all (most of
them cited visual pollution as their dislike).

  Don't think we can leave these issues to our elected representatives and
they will protect our interests.  They listen to those that complain the
loudest, they only changed their mind when presented with facts and
testimonials (they seemed most impressed with a letter from the National
Weather Service emphasizing our weather spotting help).

  If the county introduced this ordinance and none of us spoke up to have it
amended we would have a county ordinance that banned all antennas that could
transmit a signal.  This would have been contrary to PRB-1, but you would
have to go to court to get it turned over.  Who pays for this? The ham does
twice! Your tax dollars pay for the attorneys for the municipality to go to
court and amend the ordinance after it is overturned.  You also would
probably hire an attorney to take the case against the municipality.

  I do NOT agree that is not right to impose our likes on our neighbors,
they don't pay my taxes. I wouldn't LIKE it if they painted their house
purple, but I wouldn't try to get an ordinance passed against purple houses.
If you don't pose a health or safety hazard to others and you pay your taxes
you should be able to use your land for any legal use you see fit. Period.

  My father came to the U.S. from Greece when he was 15 to start a better
life in a free country.  I can go to Greece and build a tower on his land
and notify no one.  I find that ironic.

 Sorry about the rant, I just feel that we can't just sit by and let these
restrictions of our rights continue without putting up a fight.

73,

George / KF9YR


Hello All
I have been following this thread and I read the newsletter from the ARRL. I
don't think this is an issue for the ARRL or the FCC. After all if you
choose to buy a house in an area that has CC&R's then you know from the time
you bought the house you couldn't put up a tower or outside antenna. If you
buy a house without CC&R's then find out that the city has restrictions on
towers or outside antennas then you can use PB-1 to fight it.
It is up to the buyer to find out these things before you buy a house. You
can make it part of the contract that there are no restrictions on towers or
outside antennas. If it is revealed that there are restrictions then the
contract is void.
If you can't find an area where their are no CC&R's then you can buy land in
the country and have plenty of room for towers and such. You have to decide
which is more important to you and your family, no antennas or ham radio and
a nice neighborhood close to schools malls and work or a country home

maybe not as nice as a city home) where you can have all the towers you want
but have to drive farther to work, schools and the mall. You have choices it
is not fair to impose our likes on our neighbors just because we are hams.
Just my point of view on this
73
Rick
KC5AJX
P.S. I live in the country. 20 min drive to the nearest town of any size and
45 min drive to the nearest big city.


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AN Wireless Self Supporting Towers are now available!  Windloading tables,
foundation diagrams and charts, along with full details are now at the
AN Wireless Web site:  http://www.ANWireless.com

-----
FAQ on WWW:               http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions:              towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests:  towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems:                 owner-towertalk@contesting.com