FCC Cracks Down on Tower Companies

The FCC isn’t playing around and has issued two Notices of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order regarding tower owners failing to keep their structures properly lit. On June 10th, the FCC proposed a fine of $15,000 against Northeast Passage Corporation, the owner of an antenna structure in Highstown, New Jersey, for violating the rules concerning antenna lighting. According to the NAL, “Agents from the Enforcement Bureau’s Philadelphia Office found that NE Passage was neither properly monitoring nor maintaining the daytime lights on its antenna structure. NE Passage also failed to notify the Commission of an increase in the antenna structure’s height. NE Passage’s disregard for the rules posed a potential safety hazard to air traffic and warrants an increased penalty.” More recently, on June 19th, the FCC proposed a penalty of $10,000 against Duhamel Broadcasting Enterprises for the same reason. According to the NAL, “Although Duhamel believed that the structure did not require lighting because of its position in a three-tower array, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notified Duhamel officially that lighting was required for the antenna structure. Given that public safety is at risk when antenna structures are not properly illuminated, Duhamel’s failure to light the structure after the FAA notification warrants a significant penalty.” Make sure to keep your towers lit! If you supply tower lighting products and wish to be a part of Inside Tower’s July Product Showcase featuring Tower Lighting, then please contact Phil.