Thursday, 6 February 2014

Changes to Canada’s Antenna Tower Siting Policy

This is an email I received from the President of FCM, Claude Dauphin.

I am pleased to inform you that Industry Canada has announced a new process a company must follow when installing a new radio communication antenna tower. The changes closely mirror the Joint Protocol on Antenna Siting developed last year by FCM and the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA).

Now, companies must share towers where possible, consult with the local land-use authority (generally the municipality) and the public as required, and adhere to any local antenna siting protocol that exists. Industry Canada has also permanently closed a major loophole that let antenna towers under 15 meters be built without notification or consultation with municipalities and the public.

FCM has been leading the effort to make the antenna siting process responsive to community needs. The antenna protocol template we launched last year went beyond Industry Canada’s then-existing regulations to include consultation on all towers regardless of height and has greatly improved the antenna siting process in many communities.

Industry Canada’s policy change is an important recognition of the role of municipalities and the public in providing input on the siting of antenna towers in our communities.

Sincerely,

Claude Dauphin
President

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