Rules & Regs
24 Writer
The rules for tower site fencing
Combined image using Craig Aspen and SENEZ/Getty Images
“For safety every hour, fence up around your tower!”
Gregg P. Skall Telecommunications Law Professionals PLLC
I
have written previously about broadcasters’ responsibility to prevent dangers associated with towers and transmitters, as well as the requirements for tower site signage. (Find past columns at www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/ gregg-skall.) Because this area involves serious safety implications, the FCC’s rules are specific regarding the need to notify the public as they approach a broadcast tower. The Antenna Structure Registration or ASR number must be posted on a perimeter fence at the point of access. Since AM radio transmitters emit radiation at the tower site, it is important to warn the public of the potential danger, provide a means for identifying the specific tower and its location, and prevent unauthorized access. Accordingly, AM tower sites must be fenced off from public access.
AM towers emit electromagnetic energy transmitted from large antenna arrays, which can be harmful if humans get too close. The National Cancer Institute has noted that exposure in close proximity to the source of AM transmissions has been implicated in cases of leukemia and cancer. Maintenance workers who must operate near an AM tower and transmitter should be properly informed of these risks and must take appropriate precautionary measures to limit their exposure. The signage requirement, that the ASR number be displayed along with danger signs, enables professionals working near an AM broadcast site to identify the specific tower and contact the FCC, which can then coordinate a reduction in broadcast power during their work. The general public, however, is unlikely to have this level of awareness and must be prevented from accessing AM tower sites.
radioworld.com | September 10 2025