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intrastate but also interstate and transcontinental, and that requires antennae with certain heights and configurations. The Board of County Commissioners on several occasions have issued proclamations honoring the Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club and the Treasure Coast Repeater Association. When a ham operator invests time and expense to erect a tower, he does not want it to fall on his own house, much less on somebody else's house, so they are built and installed according to safe structural practices. Mr. Arnold also pointed out that ham radio operation allows people with visual or other impairments to "travel" all around the world without leaving their homes, and they are the ones who man the base stations during emergencies. Gary Metzler, president of the Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club, urged the Board to allow the federal regulations to be the standard for the County's requirements. John Slayton, resident of Vero Beach, was a radio operator during World War II, and knew a little bit about radio signals. He was aware that amateur radio operators can operate very well with a 75 -foot antenna. He related that when he lived next door to a ham radio operator, his television reception was affected. Mr. Slayton was concerned about the circuit court decision regarding antenna height. We have the right of appeal and he asked whether the County planned to appeal that decision. He mentioned wireless cable television and cellular phones and thought that new technology might require additional towers all over the community. He asked the Commissioners to research this thoroughly before making a final decision. Pat Waggaman, stated that he sails throughout the world, including the South Pacific, and he counts on the amateur radio operators to aid him in communicating with his home and his elderly and ill mother. Ham operators aid in rescues at sea by directing rescue agencies to boats in distress. Mr. Waggaman stated that his sailboat mast is 65 feet tall, plus the VHF whips on top which are removable for bridges, making his boat a mobile antenna tower. He did not want an ordinance restricting the height of his mast. Antenna towers are light aluminum, do not cause great damage, and the antenna owner can be dealt with through liability insurance. John Boniface, licensed amateur radio operator for 33 years, refuted the concerns about towers going up all over the community because cable television towers exist now. He further explained that interference with television reception is due to poor grounding of the cable where it connects at the house. He agreed with the statements about the services of ham radio operators. He also commented that he has seen what happens to towers in strong 15 DEC 141993 BOOK 91 F'A,'