FCC Regulation Document

Part: 
Topic: C

47 CFR Part 17 Subpart C (up to date as of 2/20/2024)
                                                                                       47 CFR Part 17 Subpart C (Feb. 20, 2024)
Specifications for Obstruction Marking and Lighting of Antenna Structures

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 C Specifications for Obstruction Marking and Lighting of Antenna Structures
  § 17.21 Painting and lighting, when required.
  § 17.22 [Reserved]
  § 17.23 Specifications for painting and lighting antenna structures.
  § 17.24 Existing structures.
  §§ 17.25-17.45 [Reserved]
  § 17.47 Inspection of antenna structure lights and associated control equipment.
  § 17.48 Notification of extinguishment or improper functioning of lights.
  § 17.49 Recording of antenna structure light inspections in the owner record.
  § 17.50 Cleaning and repainting.
  § 17.51 [Reserved]
  § 17.53 Lighting equipment and paint.
  § 17.54 Rated lamp voltage.
  § 17.56 Maintenance of lighting equipment.
  § 17.57 Report of radio transmitting antenna construction, alteration, and/or removal.
  § 17.58 [Reserved]

Subpart C—Specifications for Obstruction Marking and Lighting of Antenna Structures
§ 17.21 Painting and lighting, when required.
Antenna structures shall be painted and lighted when:

      (a) Their height exceeds any obstruction standard requiring notification to the FAA (see § 17.4(a) and § 17.7).

      (b) The Commission may modify the above requirement for painting and/or lighting of antenna structures,
          when it is shown by the applicant that the absence of such marking would not impair the safety of air
          navigation, or that a lesser marking requirement would insure the safety thereof.

      (c) An antenna installation is of such a nature that its painting and lighting specifications in accordance with
          the FAA airspace recommendation are confusing, or endanger rather than assist airmen, or are otherwise
          inadequate. In these cases, the Commission will specify the type of painting and lighting or other marking
          to be used for the particular structure.

[32 FR 11269, Aug. 3, 1967, as amended at 42 FR 54824, Oct. 11, 1977; 79 FR 56986, Sept. 24, 2014]

47 CFR 17.21(c) (enhanced display)                                                                                  page 1 of 5
47 CFR Part 17 Subpart C (up to date as of 2/20/2024)
                                                                                                           47 CFR 17.22
Specifications for Obstruction Marking and Lighting of Antenna Structures

§ 17.22 [Reserved]
§ 17.23 Specifications for painting and lighting antenna structures.
Unless otherwise specified by the Commission, each new or altered antenna structure must conform to the FAA's
painting and lighting specifications set forth in the FAA's final determination of “no hazard” and the associated FAA
study for that particular structure. For purposes of this part, any specifications, standards, and general requirements
set forth by the FAA in the structure's determination of “no hazard” and the associated FAA study are mandatory.
Additionally, each antenna structure must be painted and lighted in accordance with any painting and lighting
requirements prescribed on the antenna structure's registration, or in accordance with any other specifications
provided by the Commission.

[79 FR 56986, Sept. 24, 2014]

§ 17.24 Existing structures.
No change to painting or lighting criteria or relocation of airports shall at any time impose a new restriction upon
any then existing or authorized antenna structure or structures, unless the FAA issues a new determination of “no
hazard” and associated FAA study for the particular structure.

[79 FR 56986, Sept. 24, 2014]

§§ 17.25-17.45 [Reserved]
§ 17.47 Inspection of antenna structure lights and associated control equipment.
The owner of any antenna structure which is registered with the Commission and has been assigned lighting
specifications referenced in this part:

     (a)

           (1) Shall make an observation of the antenna structure's lights at least once each 24 hours either
               visually or by observing an automatic properly maintained indicator designed to register any failure
               of such lights, to insure that all such lights are functioning properly as required; or alternatively,

           (2) Shall provide and properly maintain an automatic alarm system designed to detect any failure of
               such lights and to provide indication of such failure to the owner.

     (b) Shall inspect at intervals not to exceed 3 months all automatic or mechanical control devices, indicators,
         and alarm systems associated with the antenna structure lighting to insure that such apparatus is
         functioning properly.

     (c) Is exempt from paragraph (b) of this section for any antenna structure monitored by a system that the
         Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has determined includes self-diagnostic features sufficient to
         render quarterly inspections unnecessary, upon certification of use of such system to the Bureau.

[61 FR 4363, Feb. 6, 1996, as amended at 79 FR 56986, Sept. 24, 2014]

47 CFR 17.47(c) (enhanced display)                                                                           page 2 of 5
47 CFR Part 17 Subpart C (up to date as of 2/20/2024)
                                                                                                                   47 CFR 17.48
Specifications for Obstruction Marking and Lighting of Antenna Structures

§ 17.48 Notification of extinguishment or improper functioning of lights.
The owner of any antenna structure which is registered with the Commission and has been assigned lighting
specifications referenced in this part:

     (a) Shall report immediately to the FAA, by means acceptable to the FAA, any observed or otherwise known
         extinguishment or improper functioning of any top steady burning light or any flashing obstruction light,
         regardless of its position on the antenna structure, not corrected within 30 minutes. If the lights cannot be
         repaired within the FAA's Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) period, the owner shall notify the FAA to extend the
         outage date and report a return-to-service date. The owner shall repeat this process until the lights are
         repaired. Such reports shall set forth the condition of the light or lights, the circumstances which caused
         the failure, the probable date for restoration of service, the FCC Antenna Structure Registration Number,
         the height of the structure (AGL and AMSL if known) and the name, title, address, and telephone number
         of the person making the report. Further notification to the FAA by means acceptable to the FAA shall be
         given immediately upon resumption of normal operation of the light or lights.

     (b) An extinguishment or improper functioning of a steady burning side intermediate light or lights, shall be
         corrected as soon as practicable, but notification to the FAA of such extinguishment or improper
         functioning is not required.

[32 FR 11273, Aug. 3, 1967, as amended at 39 FR 26157, July 17, 1974; 40 FR 30267, July 18, 1975; 61 FR 4364, Feb. 6, 1996; 79
FR 56986, Sept. 24, 2014]

§ 17.49 Recording of antenna structure light inspections in the owner record.
The owner of each antenna structure which is registered with the Commission and has been assigned lighting
specifications referenced in this part must maintain a record of any observed or otherwise known extinguishment or
improper functioning of a structure light. This record shall be retained for a period of two years and provided to the
FCC or its agents upon request. The record shall include the following information for each such event:

     (a) The nature of such extinguishment or improper functioning.

     (b) The date and time the extinguishment or improper operation was observed or otherwise noted.

     (c) Date and time of FAA notification, if applicable.

     (d) The date, time and nature of adjustments, repairs, or replacements made.

[48 FR 38477, Aug. 24, 1983, as amended at 61 FR 4364, Feb. 6, 1996; 79 FR 56987, Sept. 24, 2014]

§ 17.50 Cleaning and repainting.
Antenna structures requiring painting under this part shall be cleaned or repainted as often as necessary to
maintain good visibility. Evaluation of the current paint status shall be made by using the FAA's In-Service Aviation
Orange Tolerance Chart. This chart is based upon the color requirements contained in the National Bureau of
Standards Report NBSIR 75–663, Color Requirements for the Marking of Obstructions.

[79 FR 56987, Sept. 24, 2014]

§ 17.51 [Reserved]

47 CFR 17.51 (enhanced display)                                                                                      page 3 of 5
47 CFR Part 17 Subpart C (up to date as of 2/20/2024)
                                                                                                              47 CFR 17.53
Specifications for Obstruction Marking and Lighting of Antenna Structures

§ 17.53 Lighting equipment and paint.
The lighting equipment, color or filters, and shade of paint referred to in the specifications are further defined in the
following government and/or Army-Navy aeronautical specifications, bulletins, and drawings (lamps are referred to
by standard numbers):

 Outside white                                   TT-P-1021 (Color No. 17875, FS-595).
 Aviation surface orange                         TT-P-591 (Color No. 12197, FS-595).
 Aviation surface orange, enamel                 TT-E-4891 (Color No. 12197, FS-595).
 Aviation red obstruction light—color            MIL-C-250502.
 Flashing beacons                                CAA-4463 Code Beacons, 300 mm.
 Do                                              MIL-62732.
 Double and single obstruction light             L-8103 (FAA AC No. 150/5345-24).
 Do                                              MIL-L-78302.
 High intensity white obstruction light          FAA/DOD L-856 (FAA AC No. 150/5345-43B4).
 116-Watt lamp                                   No. 116 A21/TS (6,000 h).
 125-Watt lamp                                   No. 125 A21/TS (6,000 h).
 620-Watt lamp                                   No. 620 PS-40 (3,000 h).
 700-Watt lamp                                   No. 700 PS-40 (6,000 h).

1Copies of this specification can be obtained from the Specification Activity, Building 197, Room
301, Naval Weapons Plant, 1st and N Streets, SE., Washington, D.C. 20407.

2
 Copies of Military specifications can be obtained by contacting the Commanding Officer, Naval
Publications and Forms Center, 5801 Tabor Ave., Attention: NPPC-105, Philadelphia, Pa. 19120.

3Copies of Federal Aviation Administration specifications may be obtained from the Chief,
Configuration Control Branch, AAF–110, Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, D.C. 20591.

4Copies of Federal Aviation Administration advisory circulars may be obtained from the
Department of Transportation, Publications Section, TAD–443.1, 400 7th St. SW., Washington, D.C.
20590.

[33 FR 11540, Aug. 14, 1968, as amended at 40 FR 30267, July 18, 1975]

§ 17.54 Rated lamp voltage.
To insure the necessary lumen output by obstruction lights, the rated voltage of incandescent lamps used shall
correspond to be within 3 percent higher than the voltage across the lamp socket during the normal hours of
operation.

[42 FR 54826, Oct. 11, 1977]

47 CFR 17.54 (enhanced display)                                                                                 page 4 of 5
47 CFR Part 17 Subpart C (up to date as of 2/20/2024)
                                                                                                        47 CFR 17.56
Specifications for Obstruction Marking and Lighting of Antenna Structures

§ 17.56 Maintenance of lighting equipment.
Replacing or repairing of lights, automatic indicators or automatic control or alarm systems shall be accomplished
as soon as practicable.

[79 FR 56986, Sept. 24, 2014]

§ 17.57 Report of radio transmitting antenna construction, alteration, and/or removal.
The owner of an antenna structure for which an Antenna Structure Registration Number has been obtained must
notify the Commission within 5 days of completion of construction by filing FCC Form 854–R and/or dismantlement
by filing FCC Form 854. The owner must also notify the Commission within 5 days of any change in structure height
or change in ownership information by filing FCC Form 854. FCC Forms 854 and 854–R, and all related
amendments, modifications, and attachments, shall be filed electronically.

[85 FR 85532, Dec. 29, 2020]

§ 17.58 [Reserved]

47 CFR 17.58 (enhanced display)                                                                           page 5 of 5