§ 19.530.020 — Definitions

19.530.020 - Definitions.

The following abbreviations, phrases, terms and words shall have the meanings assigned in this section, as may be amended from time to time, unless the context indicates otherwise. Words that are not defined in this section or other chapters or sections of the Riverside Municipal Code shall have the meanings as set forth in Chapter 6 of Title 47 of the United States Code, Part 1 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and, if not defined therein, their common and ordinary meaning. (1) Antenna means a wireless antenna and its associated equipment (rods, discs, poles, panels, or similar devices) used for the transmission or reception of radio frequency signals. The term includes a macrocell antenna and a microcell antenna. (2) Associated equipment means any and all on-site equipment, including, without limitation, back-up generators and power supply units, cabinets, coaxial and fiber optic cables, connections, shelters, radio transceivers, regular power supply units, and wiring, to which a wireless antenna is attached in order to facilitate mobile broadband service and personal wireless service delivered on mobile broadband devices. (3) Base-station means a structure or equipment at a fixed location that enables FCC-licensed or authorized wireless telecommunications between user equipment and a communications network. The term does not encompass a tower as defined herein or any equipment associated with a tower. Base-Station includes, without limitation: (i) Equipment associated with wireless telecommunications services such as private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul. (ii) Radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber-optic cable, regular and backup power supplies, and comparable equipment, regardless of technological configuration (including Distributed Antenna Systems ("DAS") and small-cell networks). (iii) Any structure other than a tower that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the city under this section, supports or houses equipment described in paragraphs (i)-(ii) above and has been previously reviewed and approved by the city. (4) Building-mounted means mounted to the side or façade of a building, or to the side of another structure such as a water tank, church steeple, freestanding sign, or similar structure, but not to include the roof of any structure. (5) Carrier on wheels or Cell on wheels (COW) means a portable self-contained facility that can be moved to a location and set up to provide personal wireless services. A COW is normally vehicle-mounted and contains a telescoping boom as the antenna support structure. (6) Collocation means the mounting or installation of transmission equipment on an eligible support structure for the purpose of transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency signals for communications purposes. (7) Distributed antenna system (DAS) means a distributed antenna network consisting of one or more nodes connected by a fiber system to a carrier's base transceiver station or other location commonly referred to in the communications industry as an "eNodeB", or "NodeB", or similar designation. DAS's are considered a neutral host facility for the purposes of this chapter. (8) Eligible facilities request means any request for modification of an existing tower or base-station that, within the meaning of the Spectrum Act, does not substantially change the physical dimensions of that tower or base-station, and involves (a) the collocation of new transmission equipment, (b) the removal of transmission equipment, or (c) the replacement of transmission equipment. (9) Eligible support structure means any existing tower or base-station that exists at the time the application is filed with the city. (10) Existing for a constructed tower or base-station means that the tower or base-station has been previously reviewed and approved under the applicable city zoning or siting process, or under another applicable state or local regulatory review process, provided that a tower that has not been reviewed and approved because it was not in a zoned area when it was built, but was lawfully constructed, is "existing" for purposes of this definition. (11) FCC means the Federal Communications Commission or successor agency. (12) Fixed wireless antenna facility means an un-staffed facility for the transmission or reception of wireless telecommunications services, commonly consisting of an antenna array, connection cables, a support structure to achieve the necessary elevation, and an equipment facility or subterranean vault to house accessory equipment that may include cabinets, pedestals, shelters and similar protective structures. (13) Fixed wireless services means any personal wireless services as defined in the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, including federally licensed wireless telecommunications services consisting of cellular services, personal communications services (PCS), specialized mobile radio services (SMR), enhanced specialized mobile radio services (ESMR), paging and similar services that currently exist or that may be developed in the future. (14) Ground-mounted means mounted to a base (e.g. pole, tower or other freestanding structure specifically constructed for the purpose of supporting an antenna or wireless communication facility) placed directly on the ground. (15) Project means a WCF to be located in the City of Riverside for which a permit is required by the city. (16) RF means radio frequency on the radio spectrum. (17) Spectrum Act means Section 6409(a) of the Middle Class Tax Relief Act and Job Creation Act of 2012, 47 U.S.C. § 1455(a) (providing, in part, "… a State or local government may not deny, and shall approve, any Eligible Facilities Request for a modification of any existing wireless Tower or Base-Station that does not substantially change the physical dimensions of such Tower or Base-Station."). (18) Small cell network(s) means a network consisting of one or more nodes connected, directly or indirectly, by fiber to a carrier's mobile switching center or other point of interconnection. Small cell networks are considered to be neutral host facilities for the purposes of this chapter. (19) Stealth facility means any facility that is architecturally integrated into a building or other concealing structure, such that no portion of any antenna, antenna equipment or any other apparatus associated with the function of the facility is visible. A stealth facility may also refer to any ground or building-mounted facility that is designed to mask or blend the facility with the surrounding environment in such a manner to render it unnoticeable to the casual observer. The concealing structure shall have an aesthetically pleasing architectural design which fits into the context of its surroundings. (20) Substantially changes means, in the context of an eligible support structure, a modification of an existing tower or base-station where any of the following criteria is met: i. For a tower not located in the public rights-of-way: 1. The height of the tower is increased by (I) more than ten percent, or (II) by the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed 20 feet, whichever is greater; or 2. There is added an appurtenance to the body of the tower that would protrude from the edge of the tower by (I) more than 20 feet, or (II) more than the width of the tower at the level of the appurtenance, whichever is greater. ii. For a tower located in the public rights-of-way and for all base-stations: 1. The height of the tower or Base-Station is increased by more than ten percent or ten feet, whichever is greater; or 2. There is added an appurtenance to the body of that structure that would protrude from the edge of that structure by more than six feet; or 3. It involves the installation of ground cabinets that are more than ten percent larger in height or overall volume than any other ground cabinets associated with the structure; or 4. It involves the installation of any new equipment cabinets on the ground if there is no pre-existing ground cabinet associated with that structure. iii. For any eligible support structure: 1. It involves the installation of more than the standard number of new equipment cabinets for the technology involved, but not to exceed four cabinets; or 2. There is entailed in the proposed modification any excavation or deployment outside of the current site of the tower or base-station; or 3. The proposed modification would cause the concealment/camouflage elements of the tower or base-station to be defeated; or 4. The proposed modification would not comply with the conditions associated with the prior siting approval of construction or modification of the tower or base-station, unless the non-compliance is due to an increase in height, increase in width, addition of cabinets, or new excavation that does not exceed the corresponding thresholds in this section. iv. To measure changes in height for the purposes of this section, the baseline is: 1. For deployments that are or will be separated horizontally, measured from the original support structure; 2. For all others, measured from the dimensions of the tower or base-station, inclusive of originally approved appurtenances and any modifications that were approved by the city prior to February 22, 2012. v. To measure changes for the purposes of this section, the baseline is the dimensions that were approved by the city prior to February 22, 2012. (21) Support structure means a freestanding structure that is designed and constructed for the specific purpose of supporting an antenna array and that may consist of a tower, mast, self-supporting lattice tower, guy-wire support tower, or other similar structures. (22) Tower means any structure built for the sole or primary purpose of supporting any FCC-licensed or -authorized antenna, including any structure that is constructed for wireless telecommunications service. This term does not include a base-station. (23) Transmission equipment means equipment that facilitates transmission of any FCC-licensed or authorized wireless communication service, including, but not limited to, radio transceivers, antennas and other relevant equipment associated with any necessary to their operation, including coaxial or fiber-optic cable, and regular and backup power supply. (24) Wireless means any Commission-authorized wireless telecommunications service, including broadcast and WiFi. (25) Wireless telecommunications facility or WTF means any antenna, associated equipment, base-station, small cell system, tower, and/or transmission equipment located in the City of Riverside. (26) Wireless telecommunications service means, without limitation, all FCC-licensed back-haul and other fixed wireless services, broadcast, private, and public safety communication services, and unlicensed wireless services.

(Ord. 7331 §86, 2016; Ord. 7105 §3, 2010; Ord. 6966 §1, 2007)