I have a different take on this commercial/ham tower issue. One of our problems is that there are way too many towers (antenna support structures) in Metro Portland and probably elsewhere too. Seems to me someone ought to suggest that at least commercial interests consolidate. We could have several cell companies on one tower and likewise paging etc. on a single tower. Sure there are coverage issues but someone could sure consolidate and cut down the number of towers. I have known hams with commercial paging antennas etc on their towers. To the extent that this prevented another tower for the same thing, I see it as beneficial. In fact the great number of commercial towers around may sways public opinion against us putting up another tower. I suggest that it might be beneficial if a ham were to indicate that he/she were going to collocate some commercial antennas and thus keep more towers from a given area. Art's picture of course goes to the extreme and beyond. I would not be so quick to disparage a ham/commercial tower. Remember there are lots of commercial towers with ham antennas on them (repeaters etc.). 73/Greg W7OZ ----- Original Message ----- From: Frank Fallon <mailto:n2ff@optonline.net> To: arrl-odv <mailto:arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 5:38 PM Subject: [ARRL-ODV:7345] Re: Antenna Rights Chris, In all my experiences when presenting a request for an "amateur" support structure we have always stressed that we are unpaid volunteers and generally ride a white horse and all the rest. When a ham puts a commercial system on his tower he really changes the political dynamic of his situation. These cases/hearings/struggles are always political. I would not be comfortable dealing with your problem in Rancho Palos Verdes. Many towns here are often afraid to give us too much or even anything as it will set a precedent, they feel, for any future dealings they have with the commercial cell tower folks. I do think that any ham who adds a commercial transmitter to his tower clouds the issue and he is certainly no longer riding a white horse as far as the neighbors and the town are concerned, but I guess it is for the courts to determine whether he is wearing a mask in these instances. Frank...N2FF.... W3KD@aol.com wrote: In a message dated 6/14/2002 3:23:13 PM Eastern Standard Time, n2ff@optonline.net writes: My position is, once you put one commercial transmitter on your ham tower it becomes a commercial tower forever. That is exactly the opposite of an argument I have been making in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, as Art well knows. But it is subject to debate, I will concede. Chris