[BC] Cell Companies

[Stanley Adams]

Let me make a few statements about cell companies since I have worked on
both the broadcasting and cellular side of RF.

I will make some bullets for those who might wish to discuss but also 'food
for thought' for the rest.

1.  It is wise for broadcasters, especially AM broadcasters, to check with
their local representatives and zoning districts from time to time; this is
one way to watch for the erection of ANYTHING that might be in their area of
interest.  Buildings, power lines, and other things, not just cell towers.
Prefab concrete buildings are horrible re-radiators, so are also large
Butler type buildings.  And many of the bricked or stucco office structures
going up today are made of metal 2 x material.  I have just had a six story 
office complex go up in front of a cell site that is on a four story
building's roof. So what do you think happens to my 14 watt 1.965.25 GHz
signal? It suffers more than your 1 Kw or 5 Kw HF signal.

2.  As most of you know, all AM broadcasters are protected by the 1 km
(actually 0.8 but we use 1 km) rule (non-DA) and the 3.2 km rule (DA
arrays).  This protection is the very least that is offered by the FCC and
it is up to the broadcaster to make sure that this happens.  In our company,
it is all part of the initial planning phase which would also include FAA
analysis, FCC license filing and Prior Coordination Notification for
microwave users in the 2 GHz region. We have detuned about eight structures
in the Memphis market where we are close to AM broadcasters.

Some of you may have known the late Joe Bellis, he has done a number of
de-tuning projects for us in Sprint.

http://beradio.com/mag/radio_tune_detuning/index.html


If you see a cellular tower within this radius then you have a right to
complain all you want and see that you are heard.

Read up on the cellular requirements and make sure that your voice is heard
where necessary.  Over the years many AM patterns have changed due to
suburban ingress and large power lines being constructed and the such like.
And while some AM broadcasters have been able to constructively work around
such things, others have just been caught flat-footed because of
non-vigilance.  You cannot remove a building once it is built.
Too many of you on this list know that by a lot of personal experience.
So, be vigilant and make the law work for you.  It is no problem for me if
you oppose me in a zoning meeting. And one area in which the cellular field
has broken down is in the prior notification to the broadcaster.  And also,
many cases where a letter goes to notify a broadcaster and somebody just
pitches it in the trash.

These are two representations (descriptions) of the law in actual
application.  One for communications systems and one for non-communications
systems.
  
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/decdoc/letter/1987--08--11--tower.html

http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Databases/documents_collection/Letter_
to_Southwestern_Bell_Mobile_Systems-10-02-1997.html

For those who might want to know more about the cellular side of the world
we are listed under wireless/advanced wireless systems.

Thanks

Stan Adams
Sr RF Engineer
Sprint Nextel
Memphis MTA