2/20/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Planning Director Stan Boling introduced Dr. Frank Caimi, P.E., the County's RF engineering consultant. Dr. Caimi, resident of Vero Beach and adjunct faculty member of electrical and computer engineering at Florida Institute of Technology, summarized the goals and provisions included in the draft ordinance with regard to a provider's ability to give adequate service in this county. He noted the type of things to be considered when installing a new type of service: 1) Antenna height is a very important planning parameter in establishing coverage limits for communication services. 2) Getting above the tree height is important because radio waves are blocked or reduced by the presence of buildings, trees, etc. 3) Maintain a minimum height for certain types of service. Dr. Caimi advised that he reviewed Collier County's provisions for locating new antennae and was pleased to see the depth that was provided in those documents in specifying how a particular provider may come in and procedurally apply for a site location of a new antenna. He felt IRC's drafted ordinance is more general than that of Collier County and suggested that perhaps the providers may want to give their input for the inclusion of more specifics. Collier's ordinance requires that the provider look at a potential site in a particular area and make a proposal, submitting a set of documents which detail the technical service that he is interested in providing. That includes the type of antenna, the power and other different technical parameters. Then there is negotiation between the site owner and the provider to determine whether it is a feasible site. If the site owner does not agree to have a provider come on his site, or does not reply in a timely manner, then that site is deemed non -useable. In addition, there is a difference between the way Collier County's draft defines the average tower height in that they measure to the top of the support structure. General Discussion of Drafted ordinance Commissioner Macht understood that we accept the engineer's seal rather than Code Board approval, and Director Boling indicated that was the case. Director Boling felt the Board may want to address the placement of inter modular equipment on the same antenna and the space that is allowed between providers' equipment. Collier County gives incentives for co -location but puts the responsibility on the providers to find an acceptable site. Basically, there is a limit to the number of providers_ that can be located on a tower due to the amount of equipment needed. FEBRUARY 20, 1997 13 �ooau FAG-