21.90.020 Definitions.
The following definitions shall only apply to this chapter:
“Base station” means a structure or equipment at a fixed location that enables FCC-licensed or authorized wireless communications between user equipment and a communications network. The term does not encompass a tower as defined in this section or any equipment associated with a tower. The term “base station” includes, but is not limited to:
1. Equipment associated with wireless communications services such as private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as licensed wireless services and fixed services such as microwave backhaul.
2. Radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber-optic cable, regular and backup power supplies, and comparable equipment, regardless of technological configuration (including distributed antenna systems and small cell networks).
3. Any structure other than a tower that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the city under this chapter, supports or houses equipment as described in subsections (1) and (2) of this definition that has been reviewed and approved under the applicable zoning or siting process, or under another government regulatory review process, even if the structure was not built for the sole or primary purpose of providing such support.
4. The term does not include any structure that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the city under this section, does not support or house equipment described in subsections (1) and (2) of this definition.
“Co-location” means the mounting or installation of transmission equipment on an eligible support structure for the purpose of transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency signals for communications purposes.
“Distributed antenna system” or “DAS” means a network consisting of transceiver equipment at a central hub site to support multiple antenna locations throughout the desired coverage area.
“Eligible facility request” means any request for a modification of an existing wireless tower or base station that involves (A) co-location of new transmission equipment; (B) removal of transmission equipment; or (C) replacement of transmission equipment.
“Eligible support structure” means any tower or base station as defined in this section; provided, that it is existing at the time the relevant application is filed with the city under this chapter.
“Existing” means a constructed tower or base station that has been reviewed and approved under the applicable zoning or siting process, or under another government regulatory review process; provided, that a tower that has not been reviewed or approved because it was in a non-zoned area when it was built, but was lawfully constructed, is existing for the purposes of this definition.
“FCC” means the Federal Communications Commission.
“Site” means for towers other than towers in the public rights-of-way, the current boundaries of the leased or owned property surrounding the tower and any access or utility easements currently related to the site, and, for other eligible support structures, further restricted to that area in proximity to the structure and to other transmission equipment already deployed on the ground.
“Small cell facility” means a personal wireless services facility that meets both of the following qualifications:
1. Each antenna is located inside an antenna enclosure of no more than three cubic feet in volume or, in the case of an antenna that has exposed elements, the antenna and all of its exposed elements could fit within an imaginary enclosure of no more than three cubic feet; and
2. Primary equipment enclosures are no larger than 17 cubic feet in volume. The following associated equipment may be located outside the primary equipment enclosure and, if so located, are not included in the calculation of equipment volume: electric meter, concealment, telecom demarcation box, ground-based enclosures, battery back-up power systems, grounding equipment, power transfer switch, and cutoff switch.
“Spectrum Act” means Title VI of the Middle-Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, codified at 47 USC Section 1455.
“Substantial change” means a proposed facility modification that will substantially change the physical dimensions of an eligible support structure if it meets any of the criteria in LMC 21.90.275.
“Tower” means any structure built for the sole or primary purpose of supporting any FCC-licensed or authorized antennas and their associated facilities, including structures that are constructed for wireless communications services including, but not limited to, private, broadcast and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul, and the associated site.
“Transmission equipment” means equipment that facilitates transmission for any FCC-licensed or authorized wireless communications service, including, but not limited to, radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber optic cable, and regular and backup power supply. The term includes equipment associated with wireless communications services including, but not limited to, private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul. (Ord. 3290 § 2, 2018)