Chapter 16.36
RADIO AND TELEVISION ANTENNAS AND CABLES
Sections:
16.36.010 Definitions.
16.36.020 Electrical inspector – Powers and duties.
16.36.030 Interfering with electrical inspector prohibited.
16.36.040 Technical construction specifications.
16.36.050 Construction and installation of equipment – Adjustments following city improvements.
16.36.060 Moving of equipment – Conditions.
16.36.070 Liability limitations.
16.36.080 Antenna – Distance from coaxial cable.
16.36.090 Cable television hookups.
16.36.100 Additional rules authorized when.
16.36.110 Antenna – Deemed nuisance when.
16.36.120 Violation – Penalty.
16.36.010 Definitions.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:
A. “Antenna” means the outdoor portion of the receiving equipment used for receiving television or radio waves from space.
B. “Electrical inspector” means the building and electrical inspector of the city, or any of his authorized assistants.
C. “Height” means the overall vertical length of the antenna system or coaxial cable above the ground or, if such system is located on a building, then above that part of the level of such building upon which the system or cable rests.
D. “Mast” means that portion of the outside antenna system to which the antenna is attached and the support or extension required to elevate the antenna to a height deemed necessary for adequate operation.
E. “Operator” means any person who lays down and operates in, over, upon and under the streets, alleys and public highways of the city conduits for the purpose of erecting and operating a coaxial cable subscription system for television signal distribution to subscriber’s homes and business establishments.
F. “Person” means and includes any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
G. “Temporary installation” means the installation of any antenna for a period of not to exceed 10 days, for the purpose of finding the best location for an antenna or for the demonstration of appliances. (1958 code § 2.20.010)
16.36.020 Electrical inspector – Powers and duties.
A. It shall be the duty of the electrical inspector and his authorized assistants to inspect all television and radio receiving antenna and coaxial cable distribution systems to ascertain if the work has been done in a workmanlike manner and to investigate all complaints from the general public pertaining to such installations.
B. The electrical inspector and his assistants are empowered to inspect or reinspect any wiring, cable, equipment or apparatus conducting or using electric current or radio frequency for radio and television receiving service in the city, and if conductors, equipment or apparatus are found to be unsafe to life or property, or are not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, the electrical inspector shall notify the person owning or operating the hazardous wiring or equipment to correct the condition within a 48-hour period, or within the time the electrical inspector specifies. Failure to correct violations within the specified time shall constitute a violation of this chapter. (1958 code § 2.20.020)
16.36.030 Interfering with electrical inspector prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to hinder or interfere with the electrical inspector or his authorized representatives in the discharge of their duties under the provisions of this chapter. (1958 code § 2.20.030)
16.36.040 Technical construction specifications.
All television and radio receiving antenna installations and coaxial cable television signal distribution systems from and after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be made in accordance with the following rules and regulations:
A. Masts and antennas shall be of noncombustible and corrosive-resistant material.
B. Every mast and antenna installed on a roof shall be mounted on its own platform or plate, covering two or more rafters of the roof, and shall be securely anchored with guy wires.
C. Masts and antennas shall not be fastened directly to the roof or supported by combustible members or materials.
D. Outdoor antennas shall be of an approved type, and shall not exceed the maximum height of 50 feet above a roof support or 70 feet above a ground support.
E. Every antenna must be adequately grounded for protection against a direct stroke of lightning, with an adequate ground wire.
F. In no case shall an antenna be installed nearer to the street or sidewalk than the height of the antenna plus 10 feet, and no wires, cables or guy wires shall cross or extend over any part of any street or sidewalk.
G. Whenever it is necessary to install an antenna near power lines, or where damage would be caused by the antenna falling, a separate safety wire must be attached to the cross-arm of the antenna, and secured in a direction away from the hazard.
H. Anchor points for antennas, masts and guy wires must be lead anchor-screws or lead expansion-shields drilled into solid block, concrete or other noncombustible construction.
I. Transmission lines must be kept at least six inches clear of telephone or light wires.
J. Rawl plugs are approved only for supporting transmission lines.
K. Stand-off support insulators must be used at least every 10 feet in running the transmission line.
L. Where radio or television receiving antennas are installed on a private residence, the antenna may be installed on the roof of a frame structure, provided the support and anchor screws are securely fastened to rafters or beams or other substantial members; and provided further, that no antenna installed on a roof of a frame construction or in any way supported by material of combustible construction shall exceed a height of 50 feet above the roof of the building.
M. Lightning arrestors shall be approved as safe by the Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., and both sides of the line must be adequately protected with proper arrestors or neon lamps to remove static charges accumulated on the line, except when a folded dipole or other type of antenna is used which is already grounded to the mast.
N. When lead-in conductors of polyethylene-ribbon type are used, lightning arrestors must be installed in each conductor.
O. When coaxial cable or shielded twin lead is used for lead-in, suitable protection may be provided without lightning arrestors by grounding the exterior metal sheath.
P. Antennas shall be designed and installed to withstand a wind pressure of 25 pounds per square foot, and in no case shall guy wires be less than 3/32-inch, five-strand cable or equivalent, galvanized. Rawl plugs shall not be used for guy wires or for mounting brackets.
Q. Ground wires shall be of the type approved by the 1951 edition of the National Electrical Code for grounding masts and lightning arrestors, and shall be installed in a mechanical manner with as few bends as possible, maintaining a clearance of at least two inches from combustible material.
R. Ground straps for grounding masts and attaching arrestors to water pipe shall be approved ground fitting.
S. The miscellaneous hardware, such as brackets, turnbuckles, thimbles, clips and similar-type equipment subject to rust or corrosion, shall be protected with a zinc or cadmium coating by either galvanizing or sherardizing process after forming. These finishes are selected to guard against corrosion due to stack gases and other deposits and to protect the elements against electrolytic action due to the use of adjoining dissimilar metals.
T. Turnbuckles shall be protected against turning by threading the guy wires through the turnbuckle.
U. Band iron may be used to secure masts to chimneys or other structures, provided brackets are not used. Masts must be parallel to and in contact with the chimney.
V. Band iron or straps that encircle chimneys or other structures shall not be used to support brackets unless assembled as a unit and so approved.
W. All transmission lines, guy wires and/or cables used to anchor or support any antenna or mast upon the roof of any commercial building or multiple-family dwelling of four families or more, shall be at least seven feet above the surface of such roof at all points except at the immediate point of anchorage.
X. The original erection of any poles or antennas, running of wires or cables either upon poles owned by the operator or others, excluding connections from the cable to individual residences or businesses, shall be done only in accordance with a plan or design first submitted to and approved by the building and electrical inspector. Any repair work requiring interference with the free use of the street or streets shall not be undertaken until permission and approval of the construction and manner of doing the work is obtained from the electrical inspector.
Y. Television cable transmission cables shall follow the named streets, and shall enter the building being served from the front, rear or sides, and no cables will be permitted to run across the tops of buildings unless supported at least every 20 feet, and are eight feet above the highest point of roof which may be walked upon. Transmission lines shall maintain a height of 18 feet over all streets, alleys and driveways.
Z. The cables, wires, antenna and conductors constructed, run or suspended by the operator or persons hereunder shall be properly insulated, connected and fastened so as not to be or come in contact with any object, through or by which a ground or short circuit could be formed, and shall be run, stretched and constructed so as not to interfere with the free and unobstructed use of streets. All construction authorized by this chapter shall conform to the requirements of the National Electric Safety Code, and the state and city regulations governing overhead and underground construction and maintenance of wires or cables carrying low-voltage electricity. (1958 code § 2.20.040)
16.36.050 Construction and installation of equipment – Adjustments following city improvements.
A. All poles, cables, wires, antenna, conduits or appurtenances shall be constructed and erected in a neat, workmanlike manner and shall be of such height and occupy such position as the electrical engineer shall direct. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the city from sewering, planking, paving, grading, altering or otherwise improving or reimproving any of the streets of the city; and the city shall not be liable for any damage resulting to the operator by reason of the performance of such work or by exercise of such rights of the city.
B. Whenever and to whatever extent any street is improved or the grade thereof changed, modified, raised or lowered, or the size, position or location of any city-owned public utilities changed, modified or altered, any of the installations belonging to the operator which may be affected by or conflict with any such changes, alterations or additions shall promptly be adjusted, removed, altered, raised, lowered or otherwise modified to conform to the improvements or changes made, by and at the cost and expense of the operator and in conformity with the requirements of the electrical engineer. (1958 code § 2.20.050)
16.36.060 Moving of equipment – Conditions.
Whenever permission is obtained from the city for use of any streets of the city for the purpose of removing any building or structure, the operator, upon 48 hours’ notice from the city, shall raise and remove any wires, cables or conductors which may obstruct the removal of such building or structure; and in case of the operator’s refusal or failure to comply with such notice, the city may raise or remove such wires, cables or conductors at the expense of the operator for the purpose aforesaid. (1958 code § 2.20.060)
16.36.070 Liability limitations.
The operator shall indemnify and save the city free and harmless from any liability, loss, cost, damage or expense due to casualty, accident or damage, either to itself or to persons or property of others, which may at any time arise or occur by reason of the maintenance of a coaxial cable television signal transmission system. (1958 code § 2.20.070)
16.36.080 Antenna – Distance from coaxial cable.
No television or radio antenna or mast or other wired device shall be erected, installed, maintained or placed closer than six feet to the coaxial cable installed by the operator thereof. (1958 code § 2.20.080)
16.36.090 Cable television hookups.
The operator of any coaxial cable television signal distribution system shall install hookups from the cable to individual houses or businesses in such manner that they will be run parallel (so far as practicable) to existing wires running to and servicing such home or business, and at least 20 feet minimum height, or in such other manner as the electrical inspector shall prescribe consonant with safety. (1958 code § 2.20.090)
16.36.100 Additional rules authorized when.
In order to take advantage of progress and change in the industry, the electrical inspector may consult with members of the industry and other qualified persons, and may put into effect any reasonable rules and regulations not in conflict with the provisions of this chapter. (1958 code § 2.20.100)
16.36.110 Antenna – Deemed nuisance when.
In addition to the criminal penalties provided in this chapter, any antenna or mast hereafter installed which is not in conformity with this chapter is expressly declared to be a nuisance. (1958 code § 2.20.120)
16.36.120 Violation – Penalty.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not exceeding $100.00, or by imprisonment in the City Jail not exceeding 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day such violation is committed or permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and shall be punishable as such under this chapter. (1958 code § 2.20.110)