FM / AM Tower Site Signage

[Lazy J]

Ok Guys,

I need to replace a bunch of missing signage at a bunch of different sites. Some have fences, some kinda don't.
What I need to know is what signage is REQUIRED in order to pass some upcoming FCC Alternate Inspections.
I need both FM and AM - Tower, fences, and building signage.
I have asked around and every engineer seems to have a different opinion.
Different colors, different wording, different placements.
So, I am asking the collective brain trust for an official answer.

Thanks!

 

[oldiesstation]

http://www.rfsafetysolutions.com/Products Pages/RF_Safety_Signs.html


Good info here.On Am& FM sites i have tower registration number,RF warning sign and even High Voltage signs.It keep the curious away,if you know what i mean.

 

[TomT]

If your budget is limited, as far as the FCC is concerned you just need the tower registration number. You can quickly create this with stick-on or nail on house numbers--I've found the letters, too. (E.G. FCC#12345678) They can go up on the transmitter building or enclosure, so long as it is visible. Sign should be near the base of the tower where it is visible without the need to get inside the fenced enclosure. Also, if the tower site is fenced (such as a tower in a farm field) or not very visible from a public road, find somewhere to post the sign near the road into the site.

To be safe, include a separate sign that also includes the tower owner's name and a 24 hour contact number.

If there is a translator at the site, you also need the translator call sign & a contact number for the translator as well.

Now to the "cheap" part to get a bunch of signs up quick: Create them on a word processor--using the largest font practical for the registration number & other info. Run a bunch of copies, trim the edges down to slightly smaller than 8 1/2 by 11. Go to your friendly Office Depot and have them laminate these signs--about $1~2 a piece.

As long as you are careful not to cut into the plastic-covered paper portion of the sign (thereby letting water in) the signs will last a couple of years. If you make some extras, you can leave them in the transmitter building & replace worn, missing or sun-damaged signs as needed.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

An interesting note with Rules and Zoning on signs being what they are:

The FCC advises that the sign should also include company logo and contact information. Size is note noted but this is a federal bypass for local Rules as it is noted the sign should include this. We have several signs in town for our short tower with registration.

 

[Bengalsfan]

To be safe, include a separate sign that also includes the tower owner's name and a 24 hour contact number.

There's no way I'd put the owner's name on the tower. Suppose you have a listener, former employee, or some other person, who has a beef with your station. How easy to you want to make it for them to find your tower? Telephone number, I can see that. Name? no way. That's what the registration number is for. If someone needs to know who owns the tower, let them go look it up.

 

[bilco]

Where in the rules does it require the company logo and contact information on the tower registration signs? Translators, yes, certain tenants of BLM etc. yes, but ASRN signs?????
Bill

 

[TomT]

Nothing requires the tower owner's name; just a convenience for FCC or others looking for it.
Definitely no requirement for a "logo." A contact number is useful, even for the FCC. Remember years ago working in Toledo when the FCC dropped by the tower of an FM station I worked for--they were chasing a spurious two-way signal but couldn't pin it down among the various towers on that side of town.

In that instance my employer was a tenant on the tower, but I was aware of what was installed on the tower. Having a phone number the FCC can call can be just as useful--especially where your tower has other land-mobile or broadcast tenants.

Especially now, where a number of (non-broadcast) services are licensed to "areas" and the FCC database doesn't indicate exact locations or details of the installation.

 

[ChiefEngineer]

Where in the rules does it require the company logo and contact information on the tower registration signs? Translators, yes, certain tenants of BLM etc. yes, but ASRN signs?????
Bill

If a location is conspicuous enough to post a "No Trespassing" sign or the owner's name and logo, then it is likely an appropriate place to post the Registration Number.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/antenna/index.htm?job=about_posting

 

[bradgoehl]

To go along with the cheap Laminated sign option, this could be useful.

http://www.says-it.com/safety/index.php

 

[Lazy J]

If a location is conspicuous enough to post a "No Trespassing" sign or the owner's name and logo, then it is likely an appropriate place to post the Registration Number.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/antenna/index.htm?job=about_posting

Good link, that answers the registration number part of the question.

As for the rest of the signage... I am getting a lot of great suggestions, but I was more hoping for the exact requirements.

The cost really isn't an issue. In fact, we usually buy the more expensive metal signs that will hold up longer.

I just can't seem to find a good breakdown of what signs are require and where they must be. (High Voltage, RF hazard, etc.)

 

[necrat123]

As for the rest of the signage... I am getting a lot of great suggestions, but I was more hoping for the exact requirements.

The cost really isn't an issue. In fact, we usually buy the more expensive metal signs that will hold up longer.

I just can't seem to find a good breakdown of what signs are require and where they must be. (High Voltage, RF hazard, etc.)

FCC 17.4(G)-(g) Except as described in paragraph (h) of this section, the Antenna
Structure Registration Number must be displayed in a conspicuous place
so that it is readily visible near the base of the antenna structure.
Materials used to display the Antenna Structure Registration Number
must be weather-resistant and of sufficient size to be easily seen at
the base of the antenna structure.

The only signage required is ASRN signage.

The RFR safety signage and no trespassing rules are based on OSHA rules.
So that should not be an issue with the alternate inspection, but it's a good idea to have them for RFR compliancy.
(OSHA 1910.145)

Check out this page from RF Safety Solutions
http://rfcomply.com/products_services/safety_signage/

 

[TomT]

What is REQUIRED by the FCC are two things:

1. The ARRN, if the tower has one;
2. For translators, call sign, name of owner & contact number
3. A general contact number for whoever takes care of the site is strongly recommended but not required.

For various other reasons, if you are buying the metal signs:

If it is an AM tower--high voltage and RF hazard. No particular FCC requirement, but conveys the warning not to climb over the fence into the enclosure.

If it is an FM tower, just the RF hazard sign (to be precise "RF Hazard Above," but try to find such a sign...)

This in addition to the required sign or house numbers for the FCC ARRN. The link is helpful to clarify that you should be able to drive up to the edge of the site & read the ARRN without leaving the public road or getting out of the car.

One further thought...no bearing on FCC rules, but useful to have the street number or "911" address* at some conspicuous point near the public road. Perhaps with the road name as well. The address should be posted somewhere inside the transmitter building as well or other visible place near the tower base. This is a safety consideration ...especially if the tower has tenants.

Rationale: Out-of-town contractors may have found the tower by GPS or "turn right at the Exxon station, go 2 miles" but may not know where they are in terms useful to the local emergency folks. So if there is an accident, they can look on the wall and tell 911 that they are at the radio tower at 2354 Green Road.

Putting the address out by the public road helps the emergency responders--who may not know the tower as "the WXXX radio tower" but can figure out where it is on Green Road if you tell them the number.

*"911 Address"..for 20 years our studio had no street number--as far as the post office was concerned this was a rural route & addresses were something like "RR3 box 129" (we use a P.O. box downtown for our mail). Never proved to be a problem for UPS/Fed Ex, etc.--they knew where we were, as we are only abt. 1000 feet off the main state route. However, couple years ago the state mandated that these rural addresses be numbered because of too many problems with emergency responders trying to locate some trailer up some hollow in the middle of the night. This fancy big-city idea of actually having a numbered street address is gradually being accepted around here.

 

[jnorth]

Good info here.

I am in Canada, a number of towers around here don't have a single sign to be found. Always puzzled me. What if there happened to be an emergency or problem at the tower site? No way to get in contact with anyone.. no numbers, names, nothing... just a mysterious giant tower

 

[Lazy J]

Awesome, that's exactly the answers I was looking for. I guess that's why I was getting so many different answers concerning the RF signage. I took care of all my ASRN signage months ago. I can sleep easier now....