FCC Regulation Document

Part: 
Topic: C

47 CFR Part 17 Subpart A (up to date as of 2/20/2024)
                                                                                 47 CFR Part 17 Subpart A (Feb. 20, 2024)
General Information

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 47 —Telecommunication
Chapter I —Federal Communications Commission
Subchapter A —General
Part 17 —Construction, Marking, and Lighting of Antenna Structures
      Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 301, 303, 309.

Subpart A General Information
  § 17.1 Basis and purpose.
  § 17.2 Definitions.
  § 17.4 Antenna structure registration.
  § 17.5 Commission consideration of applications for station authorization.
  § 17.6 Responsibility for painting and lighting compliance.

Subpart A—General Information
§ 17.1 Basis and purpose.
      (a) The rules in this part are issued pursuant to the authority contained in Title III of the Communications Act
          of 1934, as amended, which vest authority in the Federal Communications Commission to issue licenses
          to radio stations when it is found that the public interest, convenience, and necessity would be served
          thereby, and to require the painting, and/or illumination of antenna structures if and when in its judgment
          such structures constitute, or there is reasonable possibility that they may constitute, a menace to air
          navigation.

      (b) The purpose of this part is to prescribe certain procedures for antenna structure registration and
          standards with respect to the Commission's consideration of proposed antenna structures which will
          serve as a guide to antenna structure owners.

[61 FR 4362, Feb. 6, 1996, as amended at 79 FR 56984, Sept. 24, 2014]

§ 17.2 Definitions.
      (a) Antenna structure. The term antenna structure means a structure that is constructed or used to transmit
          radio energy, or that is constructed or used for the primary purpose of supporting antennas to transmit
          and/or receive radio energy, and any antennas and other appurtenances mounted thereon, from the time
          construction of the supporting structure begins until such time as the supporting structure is dismantled.

      (b) Antenna farm area. A geographical location, with established boundaries, designated by the Federal
          Communications Commission, in which antenna structures with a common impact on aviation may be
          grouped.

      (c) Antenna structure owner. For the purposes of this part, an antenna structure owner is the individual or
          entity vested with ownership, equitable ownership, dominion, or title to the antenna structure that is
          constructed or used to transmit radio energy, or the underlying antenna structure that supports or is

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47 CFR Part 17 Subpart A (up to date as of 2/20/2024)
                                                                                                                 47 CFR 17.2(d)
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           intended to support antennas and other appurtenances. Notwithstanding any agreements made between
           the owner and any entity designated by the owner to maintain the antenna structure, the owner is
           ultimately responsible for compliance with the requirements of this part.

     (d) Antenna structure registration number. A unique number, issued by the Commission during the registration
         process, which identifies an antenna structure. Once obtained, this number must be used in all filings
         related to this structure.

[32 FR 8813, June 21, 1967, and 32 FR 11268, Aug. 3, 1967, as amended at 39 FR 26157, July 17, 1974; 61 FR 4362, Feb. 6, 1996;
79 FR 56984, Sept. 24, 2014]

§ 17.4 Antenna structure registration.
     (a) The owner of any proposed or existing antenna structure that requires notice of proposed construction to
         the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to physical obstruction must register the structure with the
         Commission. (See § 17.7 for FAA notification requirements.) This includes those structures used as part
         of stations licensed by the Commission for the transmission of radio energy, or to be used as part of a
         cable television head end system. If a Federal Government antenna structure is to be used by a
         Commission licensee, the structure must be registered with the Commission. If the FAA exempts an
         antenna structure from notification, it is exempt from the requirement that it register with the
         Commission. (See § 17.7(e) for exemptions to FAA notification requirements.)

           (1) For a proposed antenna structure or alteration of an existing antenna structure, the owner must
               register the structure prior to construction or alteration.

           (2) For a structure that did not originally fall under the definition of “antenna structure,” the owner must
               register the structure prior to hosting a Commission licensee.

     (b) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, each owner of an antenna structure described in
         paragraph (a) of this section must electronically file FCC Form 854 with the Commission. Additionally,
         each owner of a proposed structure referred to in paragraph (a) of this section must submit a valid FAA
         determination of “no hazard.” In order to be considered valid by the Commission, the FAA determination of
         “no hazard” must not have expired prior to the date on which FCC Form 854 is received by the
         Commission. The height of the structure will be the highest point of the structure including any
         obstruction lighting or lightning arrester. If an antenna structure is not required to be registered under
         paragraph (a) of this section and it is voluntarily registered with the Commission after October 24, 2014,
         the registrant must note on FCC Form 854 that the registration is voluntary. Voluntarily registered antenna
         structures are not subject to the lighting and marking requirements contained in this part.

     (c) Each prospective applicant must complete the environmental notification process described in this
         paragraph, except as specified in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

           (1) Exceptions from the environmental notification process. Completion of the environmental notification
               process is not required when FCC Form 854 is submitted solely for the following purposes:

                 (i)   For notification only, such as to report a change in ownership or contact information, or the
                       dismantlement of an antenna structure;

                 (ii) For a reduction in height of an antenna structure or an increase in height that does not
                      constitute a substantial increase in size as defined in paragraph I(E)(1)–(3) of appendix B to
                      part 1 of this chapter, provided that there is no construction or excavation more than 30 feet
                      beyond the existing antenna structure property;

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                                                                                                       47 CFR 17.4(c)(1)(iii)
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                (iii) For removal of lighting from an antenna structure or adoption of a more preferred or equally
                      preferred lighting style. For this purpose lighting styles are ranked as follows (with the most
                      preferred lighting style listed first and the least preferred listed last): no lights; FAA Lighting
                      Styles that do not involve use of red steady lights; and FAA Lighting Styles that involve use of
                      red steady lights. A complete description of each FAA Lighting Style and the manner in which it
                      is to be deployed can be found in the current version of FAA, U.S. Dept. of Transportation,
                      Advisory Circular: Obstruction Marking and Lighting, AC 70/7460;

                (iv) For replacement of an existing antenna structure at the same geographic location that does not
                     require an Environmental Assessment (EA) under § 1.1307(a) through (d) of this chapter,
                     provided the new structure will not use a less preferred lighting style, there will be no
                     substantial increase in size as defined in paragraph I(E)(1)–(3) of appendix B to part 1 of this
                     chapter, and there will be no construction or excavation more than 30 feet beyond the existing
                     antenna structure property;

                (v) For any other change that does not alter the physical structure, lighting, or geographic location
                    of an existing structure;

                (vi) For construction, modification, or replacement of an antenna structure on Federal land where
                     another Federal agency has assumed responsibility for evaluating the potentially significant
                     environmental effect of the proposed antenna structure on the quality of the human
                     environment and for invoking any required environmental impact statement process, or for any
                     other structure where another Federal agency has assumed such responsibilities pursuant to a
                     written agreement with the Commission (see § 1.1311(e) of this chapter); or

                (vii) For the construction or deployment of an antenna structure that will:

                      (A) Be in place for no more than 60 days,

                      (B) Requires notice of construction to the FAA,

                      (C) Does not require marking or lighting under FAA regulations,

                      (D) Will be less than 200 feet in height above ground level, and

                      (E) Will either involve no excavation or involve excavation only where the depth of previous
                          disturbance exceeds the proposed construction depth (excluding footings and other
                          anchoring mechanisms) by at least two feet. An applicant that relies on this exception
                          must wait 30 days after removal of the antenna structure before relying on this exception
                          to deploy another antenna structure covering substantially the same service area.

           (2) Commencement of the environmental notification process. The prospective applicant shall
               commence the environmental notification process by filing information about the proposed antenna
               structure with the Commission. This information shall include, at a minimum, all of the information
               required on FCC Form 854 regarding ownership and contact information, geographic location, and
               height, as well as the type of structure and anticipated lighting. The Wireless Telecommunications
               Bureau may utilize a partially completed FCC Form 854 to collect this information.

           (3) Local notice. The prospective applicant must provide local notice of the proposed new antenna
               structure or modification of an existing antenna structure through publication in a newspaper of
               general circulation or other appropriate means, such as through the public notification provisions of
               the relevant local zoning process. The local notice shall contain all of the descriptive information as
               to geographic location, configuration, height and anticipated lighting specifications reflected in the

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47 CFR Part 17 Subpart A (up to date as of 2/20/2024)
                                                                                                           47 CFR 17.4(c)(4)
General Information

                submission required pursuant to paragraph (c)(2) of this section. It must also provide information as
                to the procedure for interested persons to file Requests for environmental processing pursuant to §§
                1.1307(c) and 1.1313(b) of this chapter, including any assigned file number, and state that such
                Requests may only raise environmental concerns.

           (4) National notice. On or after the local notice date provided by the prospective applicant, the
               Commission shall post notification of the proposed construction on its Web site. This posting shall
               include the information contained in the initial filing with the Commission or a link to such
               information. The posting shall remain on the Commission's Web site for a period of 30 days.

           (5) Requests for environmental processing. Any Request filed by an interested person pursuant to §§
               1.1307(c) and 1.1313(b) of this chapter must be received by the Commission no later than 30 days
               after the proposed antenna structure goes on notice pursuant to paragraph (c)(4) of this section.
               The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau shall establish by public notice the process for filing
               Requests for environmental processing and responsive pleadings consistent with the following
               provisions.

                 (i)   Service and pleading cycle. The interested person or entity shall serve a copy of its Request on
                       the prospective ASR applicant pursuant to § 1.47 of this chapter. Oppositions may be filed no
                       later than 10 days after the time for filing Requests has expired. Replies to oppositions may be
                       filed no later than 5 days after the time for filing oppositions has expired. Oppositions shall be
                       served upon the Requester, and replies shall be served upon the prospective applicant.

                (ii) Content. An Environmental Request must state why the interested person or entity believes that
                     the proposed antenna structure or physical modification of an existing antenna structure may
                     have a significant impact on the quality of the human environment for which an Environmental
                     Assessment must be considered by the Commission as required by § 1.1307 of this chapter, or
                     why an Environmental Assessment submitted by the prospective Antenna Structure
                     Registration (ASR) applicant does not adequately evaluate the potentially significant
                     environmental effects of the proposal. The Request must be submitted as a written petition
                     filed electronically, setting forth in detail the reasons supporting Requester's contentions. If the
                     filer is unable to submit electronically, or if filing electronically would be unreasonably
                     burdensome, the Request may be submitted by mail, with a request for waiver under §
                     1.1304(b) of this chapter.

           (6) Amendments. The prospective applicant must file an amendment to report any substantial change in
               the information provided to the Commission. An amendment will not require further local or national
               notice if the only reported change is a reduction in the height of the proposed new or modified
               antenna structure; if proposed lighting is removed or changed to a more preferred or equally
               preferred lighting style as set forth in paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section; or if the amendment
               reports only administrative changes that are not subject to the requirements specified in this
               paragraph. All other changes to the physical structure, lighting, or geographic location data for a
               proposed registered antenna structure require additional local and national notice and a new period
               for filing Requests pursuant to paragraphs (c)(3), (c)(4), and (c)(5) of this section.

           (7) Environmental Assessments. If an Environmental Assessment (EA) is required under § 1.1307 of this
               chapter, the antenna structure registration applicant shall attach the EA to its environmental
               submission, regardless of any requirement that the EA also be attached to an associated service-
               specific license or construction permit application. The contents of an EA are described in §§ 1.1308
               and 1.1311 of this chapter. The EA may be provided either with the initial environmental submission
               or as an amendment. If the EA is submitted as an amendment, the Commission shall post
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                                                                                                      47 CFR 17.4(c)(8)
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                notification on its Web site for another 30 days pursuant to paragraph (c)(4) of this section and
                accept additional Requests pursuant to paragraph (c)(5) of this section. However, additional local
                notice pursuant to paragraph (c)(3) of this section shall not be required unless information has
                changed pursuant to paragraph (c)(6) of this section. The applicant shall serve a copy of the EA
                upon any party that has previously filed a Request pursuant to paragraph (c)(5) of this section.

           (8) Disposition. The processing Bureau shall resolve all environmental issues, in accordance with the
               environmental regulations (47 CFR 1.1301 through 1.1319) specified in part 1 of this chapter, before
               the tower owner, or the first tenant licensee acting on behalf of the owner, may complete the antenna
               structure registration application. In a case where no EA is submitted, the Bureau shall notify the
               applicant whether an EA is required under § 1.1307(c) or (d) of this chapter. In a case where an EA is
               submitted, the Bureau shall either grant a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) or notify the
               applicant that further environmental processing is required pursuant to § 1.1308 of this chapter.
               Upon filing the completed antenna structure registration application, the applicant shall certify that
               the construction will not have a significant environmental impact, unless an Environmental Impact
               Statement is prepared pursuant to § 1.1314 of this chapter.

           (9) Transition rule. An antenna structure registration application that is pending with the Commission as
               of the effective date of this paragraph (c) shall not be required to complete the environmental
               notification process set forth in this paragraph. The Commission will publish a document in the
               FEDERAL REGISTER announcing the effective date. However, if such an application is amended in a
               manner that would require additional notice pursuant to paragraph (c)(6) of this section, then such
               notice shall be required.

     (d) If a final FAA determination of “no hazard” is not submitted along with FCC Form 854, processing of the
         registration may be delayed or disapproved.

     (e) If the owner of the antenna structure cannot file FCC Form 854 because it is subject to a denial of Federal
         benefits under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U.S.C. 862, the first tenant licensee authorized to
         locate on the structure (excluding tenants that no longer occupy the structure) must register the structure
         electronically using FCC Form 854, and provide a copy of the Antenna Structure Registration (FCC Form
         854R) to the owner. The owner remains responsible for providing to all tenant licensees and permittees
         notification that the structure has been registered, consistent with paragraph (f) of this section, and for
         posting the registration number as required by paragraph (g) of this section.

     (f) The Commission shall issue to the registrant FCC Form 854R, Antenna Structure Registration, which
         assigns a unique Antenna Structure Registration Number. The antenna structure owner shall immediately
         provide to all tenant licensees and permittees notification that the structure has been registered, along
         with either a copy of Form 854R or the Antenna Structure Registration Number and a link to the FCC
         antenna structure website: http://wireless.fcc.gov/antenna/. This notification must be done electronically.

     (g) Except as described in paragraph (h) of this section, the Antenna Structure Registration Number must be
         displayed so that it is conspicuously visible and legible from the publicly accessible area nearest the base
         of the antenna structure along the publicly accessible roadway or path. Where an antenna structure is
         surrounded by a perimeter fence, or where the point of access includes an access gate, the Antenna
         Structure Registration Number should be posted on the perimeter fence or access gate. Where multiple
         antenna structures having separate Antenna Structure Registration Numbers are located within a single
         fenced area, the Antenna Structure Registration Numbers must be posted both on the perimeter fence or
         access gate and near the base of each antenna structure. If the base of the antenna structure has more
         than one point of access, the Antenna Structure Registration Number must be posted so that it is visible

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47 CFR Part 17 Subpart A (up to date as of 2/20/2024)
                                                                                                                  47 CFR 17.4(h)
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           at the publicly accessible area nearest each such point of access. Materials used to display the Antenna
           Structure Registration Number must be weather-resistant and of sufficient size to be easily seen where
           posted.

     (h) The owner is not required to post the Antenna Structure Registration Number in cases where a federal,
         state, or local government entity provides written notice to the owner that such a posting would detract
         from the appearance of a historic landmark. In this case, the owner must make the Antenna Structure
         Registration Number available to representatives of the Commission, the FAA, and the general public upon
         reasonable demand.

     (i)   Absent Commission specification, the painting and lighting specifications recommended by the FAA are
           mandatory (see § 17.23). However, the Commission may specify painting and/or lighting requirements for
           each antenna structure registration in addition to or different from those specified by the FAA.

     (j)   Any change or correction in the overall height of one foot or greater or coordinates of one second or
           greater in longitude or latitude of a registered antenna structure requires prior approval from the FAA and
           modification of the existing registration with the Commission.

     (k) Any change in the marking and lighting that varies from the specifications described on any antenna
         structure registration requires prior approval from the FAA and the Commission.

[61 FR 4362, Feb. 6, 1996, as amended at 77 FR 3953, Jan. 26, 2012; 79 FR 56985, Sept. 24, 2014; 80 FR 1270, Jan. 8, 2015; 85 FR
85532, Dec. 29, 2020]

Effective Date Note: At 80 FR 1270, Jan. 8, 2015, § 17.4(c)(1)(vii) was added. This paragraph contains
information collection and recordkeeping requirements and will not become effective until approval has been given
by the Office of Management and Budget.

§ 17.5 Commission consideration of applications for station authorization.
     (a) Applications for station authorization, excluding services authorized on a geographic basis, are reviewed
         to determine whether there is a requirement that the antenna structure in question must be registered
         with the Commission.

     (b) If registration is required, the registrant must supply the structure's registration number upon request by
         the Commission.

     (c) If registration is not required, the application for authorization will be processed without further regard to
         this chapter.

[61 FR 4362, Feb. 6, 1996]

§ 17.6 Responsibility for painting and lighting compliance.
     (a) The antenna structure owner is responsible for maintaining the painting and lighting in accordance with
         this part. However, if a licensee or permittee authorized on an antenna structure is aware that the
         structure is not being maintained in accordance with the specifications set forth on the Antenna Structure
         Registration (FCC Form 854R) or the requirements of this part, or otherwise has reason to question
         whether the antenna structure owner is carrying out its responsibility under this part, the licensee or
         permittee must take immediate steps to ensure that the antenna structure is brought into compliance and
         remains in compliance. The licensee must:
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                                                                                                      47 CFR 17.6(a)(1)
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           (1) Immediately notify the structure owner;

           (2) Immediately notify the site management company (if applicable);

           (3) Immediately notify the Commission; and,

           (4) Make a diligent effort to immediately bring the structure into compliance.

     (b) In the event of non-compliance by the antenna structure owner, the Commission may require each
         licensee and permittee authorized on an antenna structure to maintain the structure, for an indefinite
         period, in accordance with the Antenna Structure Registration (FCC Form 854R) and the requirements of
         this part.

     (c) If the owner of the antenna structure cannot file FCC Form 854 because it is subject to a denial of Federal
         benefits under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, 21 U.S.C. 862, the first tenant licensee authorized to
         locate on the structure (excluding tenants that no longer occupy the structure) must electronically register
         the structure using FCC Form 854, and provide a copy of the Antenna Structure Registration (FCC Form
         854R) to the owner. The owner remains responsible for providing to all tenant licensees and permittees
         notification that the structure has been registered, consistent with § 17.4(f), and for posting the
         registration number as required by § 17.4(g).

[61 FR 4363, Feb. 6, 1996, as amended at 79 FR 56985, Sept. 24, 2014; 85 FR 85532, Dec. 29, 2020]

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