Anchorage Changes Policies for Cell Towers in Neighborhoods

Draft regulations under consideration in Anchorage "would prohibit building large cellphone towers next to homes in dense urban settings."

1 minute read

December 8, 2015, 10:00 AM PST

By urbanguy

"The draft regulations encourage 'small-cell' technologies, or low-powered wireless base stations that can be mounted to light poles and typically help boost coverage in high-use areas like stadiums or malls."

"Other proposed changes include reducing the separation distance required between a cellphone tower and the nearest home. Current city law requires a separation distance equal to 200 percent of the height of the tower, but phone companies can get around that through loopholes. The new regulations are designed to close that loophole, officials said, through new guidelines for minimum separation distances. They would also set a maximum height of 65 feet for a tower in a residential district."

"Since they were released in mid-November, the draft regulations have gotten mixed reviews. Community activists said they’d like to see clearer definitions for certain types of towers and more ways for neighbors to weigh in on projects near their homes."

FULL STORY: Anchorage weighs new rules on cell towers in neighborhoods

Saturday, December 5, 2015 in Alaska Dispatch News

Infrastructure Land Use Technology Alaska Anchorage Cell Towers Regulations View More

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