| Rogers uses Fed Regulations to Screw People Rogers defends move to install antenna in Kirkland backyard
»westislandgazette.com/news/29626
Rogers Communications said it did everything by the book based on Industry Canada regulations in regards to recently installing a tower in a Kirkland backyard.
Dozens of people living near 75 Acres St., a residential strip of single-family homes with valuations in the $400,000 range, were horrified when a tower that stands about 15 metres was erected in the backyard in one day without prior notice two weeks ago. They fired off a petition to city hall demanding it be torn down.
City officials, who said they didn't approve a work permit for the tower, are promising to look into the matter on behalf of disgruntled neighbours and to set up a meeting.
Rogers officials, however, said the company had the approval of Industry Canada, the federal authority that regulates radio-communication and broadcasting installations.
For towers under 15 metres, Industry Canada does require communication companies to follow a public consultation process, according to Rogers representative Stephanie Jarrold.
"This tower is just under 15 metres," she said. "The tower also adheres to Safety Code 6 calculations (set by Health Canada).
"Yes, it's in a residential area and yes, Industry Canada accepted it," she added.
Since it falls under federal jurisdiction, Rogers did not need to seek a zoning change nor a work permit from the city in order to install the tower, Jarrold said, adding all its paperwork went through the Industry Canada process for approval. Continues...
In other words, Rogers purposely made sure the height was just under 15-meters in order to by-pass and avoid the public and the municipal zoning laws which would have also made it public.
What a great company. |
|
|
|
| Getting under IC's radar isn't the only reason they build 15m towers these days.
Since cell towers are much smaller than before, they no longer need to be anywhere near as high as they used to back in the days where cells were often more than 10km across. Shorter towers are also cheaper, lighter, quicker, safer to build, sturdier, easier and cheaper to maintain, etc. There are tons of advantages to sticking to the lowest practical height. |
|
| reply to oh LOOK
The property is owned by someone?
Sure they can put up a sub-15 metre pole. Can they really put it up on someone else property?
Couldn't the home owner tear it down? If its on his property I don't see the issue? |
|
| Towers are most likely built on "easements" just like utility poles - a part of "your property" that the city/government retains all rights to. If you build anything on easements that gets into utilities' way, utilities are authorized to remove it without compensation to you. |
|
 mlernerPremium
join:2000-11-25
Nepean, ON
kudos:5 | What InvalidError said. Not that I agree with it but on the title of my property Bell has an easement in place and can choose to use it however they want as far as I know. |
|
jfmezeiPremium
join:2007-01-03
Pointe-Claire, QC
kudos:22 | I know that the mobile companies do not even need to tell the city when they install a DAS antenna on a telephone pole or existing building. They need to talk to the city to install such an antenna on a light post. But this a business transaction, not one requiring approval.
I know that installing an antenna greater than 15m requires industry canada approval.
What is not clear is whether installing a 15m antenna requires a city building permit at the very least. |
|
| reply to oh LOOK
Rogers will pay rent or provide free services to people who allow towers to be built on there property. YAY for rogers for tricking the NIMBY people. |
|
| said by ummmnoos :Rogers will pay rent or provide free services to people who allow towers to be built on there property. YAY for rogers for tricking the NIMBY people. If people want service, the infrastructure required to provide those services has to go somewhere. If NIMBY was allowed to get in the way of everything, nearly nothing would ever get done anywhere. |
|
| reply to oh LOOK
If it was me i'd just push it over. How would Rogers ever know? You just wait for a very windy day and push it over. After they fix it you wait for another very windy day and push it over again. Pretty soon it will just stay pushed over. |
|
jfmezeiPremium
join:2007-01-03
Pointe-Claire, QC
kudos:22 | reply to InvalidError
Coat the wiring with peanut butter and let the squirrels do their job  |
|
| reply to Chuck sTruck
said by Chuck sTruck :If it was me i'd just push it over. How would Rogers ever know? You just wait for a very windy day and push it over. After they fix it you wait for another very windy day and push it over again. Pretty soon it will just stay pushed over.
Towers are built to survive the worst weather known to occur anywhere near the area for the public's safety. If towers are going down but not trees, utility poles, rooftops, etc., then they will automatically suspect vandalism and investigation can usually tell pretty easily. |
|
 nitzguyPremium
join:2002-07-11
Sudbury, ON
 ·TekSavvy DSL
| reply to ummmnoos
said by ummmnoos :Rogers will pay rent or provide free services to people who allow towers to be built on there property. YAY for rogers for tricking the NIMBY people.
In the article it says its in a private yard...that person = SMART...Rogers pays them X a month for lease of that land and poof, extra income...and what'd he/she have to do? Nothing...just let a small parcel of land they probably didn't use anyways, get used...and get better cell service as a result.
Smart to the property owner, if someone came to me and said, hey we want to build a tower and will pay you X per month in virtual perpetutity.....where do I freakin sign? It'd be a no brainer... |
|
| reply to jfmezei
said by jfmezei:What is not clear is whether installing a 15m antenna requires a city building permit at the very least.
Municipalities derive their powers from their respective provincial governments. Federal (telecom/broadcasting) jurisdiction trumps them both (no building permit or permission from the municipality is required). Regardless of height they follow Industry Canada rules. It is only when it is over 15m do they have to do the "public consultation" process. |
|
| reply to nitzguy
said by nitzguy:....where do I freakin sign? It'd be a no brainer...
You must be young.
Try and sell that house after.
You won't get what the market was asking for it before the tower. Nor will the neighbours. |
|
| reply to oh LOOK
I only have one small question, I notice that the original post/article finds it important to mention the value of the houses in the area. Does this mean it would be more acceptable in a lower value area? |
|
| Absolutely. |
|
| reply to oh LOOK
For Sale: House with perfect cell signal plus you never need to pay for service and they will also pay you.
I'd buy that house. In my mind it adds value.
In this day and age cell service is a must. |
|
 milnoc
join:2001-03-05
H3B
kudos:1 | But the neighbours don't get the same benefits, and the value of their homes will go down because of the eyesore.
--
Watch my future television channel's public test broadcast!
»thecanadianpublic.com/live |
|
| said by milnoc:But the neighbours don't get the same benefits, and the value of their homes will go down because of the eyesore.
How does the expression go...... let them mange gateaux, or something like that? |
|
milnoc
join:2001-03-05
H3B
kudos:1 | Do you remember what happened to the lady who said that?  |
|
