How Commercial Antennas Are Becoming Less Intrusive

By Essie Osborn


The thick forest of television antennas that used to grow from the rooftops of suburbia has disappeared, a welcome result of evolving technology. Although the digital age has arrived, modern communications still rely heavily upon over-the-air, antenna-based reception and transmission, requiring the construction of many additional antenna structures. While excellent coverage is essential, those new units should not create a negative impact on daily life.

Any basic antenna is a system of wires, poles, dishes or other metallic devices that can send or receive electromagnetic signals. Those loosely defined as commercial antennas are being used for the purpose of making money, and may include radio, television, and cell phone towers. Devices that are used mainly in residences, such as amateur radio transmitters or home satellite dishes, are not.

Business operators are increasingly faced with a variety of issues that must be addressed before any new equipment can be placed. Consumers buying electronic communications devices naturally want them to work dependably and with reliable reception, but do not want to actually see the necessary towers or broadcast installations that make good electronic service possible. Most cities have been forced to create new regulations on location, size and visibility.

An installation bristling with metallic spikes might appeal to a technocrat, but not to most people living beside it. Operators of most systems have been forced by this understandable public attitude to be creative with new antenna placement and design, and try to make them as unobtrusive as possible. Creative design solutions begin with the idea that new facilities should be nearly invisible.

The most basic way of accomplishing that is called co-location, a common solution to placement issues. Co-location puts new equipment on an existing tower, eliminating the need for additional construction. This process often involves working together with other companies using that tower, must not interfere with current operations, and must conform to existing standards of aesthetic appearance.

When co-location is not an option, and a new tower must be built, local regulations are the key to success. Although the laws vary, many cities have approved strict new rules regarding the appearance of these towers. For example, many residential neighborhoods forbid placing a new antenna in a side or front yard simply because it looks bad. New installations cannot interfere with vehicle flow, or eliminate parking capacity.

Color schemes must be compatible with the existing site, and cannot alter the view from nearby properties. Many locales today require that all the connective wiring must be placed underground, and the visible portions covered by landscaping or vegetation. Height ordinances must also be taken into consideration. While these general rules may seem restrictive, the positive result has been a proliferation of antennas that most people never even notice.

Where ugly metal once sprouted, people now see greenery. In New York state, towers are disguised as deciduous trees, while in Los Angeles they may resemble palms. Some newer antennas are specially created to match and blend into other unique natural environments, and many are doing that job very well. The result, although initially somewhat costlier, is proving very popular with service providers and consumers alike.




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