Cell towers are structures set up by cellular network companies on various tall buildings or empty lots in an attempt to bolster their signal strength. The Federal Communications Commission or FCC regulates the establishment of these towers. If you are a prospective lessor, here are some of the legislations you should know about:

Backup Power Regulation

After Hurricane Katrina ravaged a huge part of the country and took many towers out of commission, the backup power regulation was implemented. Basically, it states that every cell tower should have an efficient means of generating power in case of electrical failure. This applies to large towers of major networks as much as to utility poles used by small phone companies.

Notifying the FAA

The FCC also mandates that before setting up a tower, you first have to submit a notice with the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA. This is important because the minimum altitude requirements that make towers efficient might obstruct the FAA’s safe flight zones within urban areas.

Maintenance Requirements

Moreover, the FCC also acknowledges the need for constant maintenance to enable these towers to function properly. This is especially true for towers that are deemed air navigation hazards, as the companies need to ensure that their tower is visible to incoming aircraft 100% of the time. This mandate includes repainting the tower with the appropriate aircraft detectable paint, if necessary.

If you can’t imagine life without your smartphone or any other gadget that connects to a cellular network, then you probably can’t live without cell towers as well. These structures, also referred to as base stations, transmit and receive radiofrequency (RF) signals that cellular phones use to send messages or call. Although cell towers are usually out of sight, since they have to be high enough to cover an area (around 50-200 feet high), it still pays to know a little bit about them given the vital role they play in telecommunications.

How do they work?

Whenever you use your cellular phone, it sends RF waves to nearby cell towers that transmit your call or message to its destination. Multiple carriers or providers can share the use of a single tower by placing their own equipment, or radio transmitters and receivers on the site.

Why are they valuable?

Other than their value in telecommunications, several landlords and investors actually consider cell towers as potentialiy lucrative opportunities. A tower located in a strategic areamakes it indispensable to numerous carriers. In fact, a number of cell phone companies would be willing to pay large rents just to maintain, or increase the scope of their service.