<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">This alert is from Karen Etter Hale of the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative<BR>
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The U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service estimates the number of migratory birds killed by collisions with communication towers to be between 4 million and 50 million per year. At least 96,000 towers are registered with the Federal Communications Commission nationwide, and more are built every year. <BR>
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The FCC is seeking comments on the possible adoption of measures that would reduce migratory bird kills at communication towers. After many years of pressure from the bird conservation community, this is the first opportunity for public input. <B><U>Comments are due by Jan. 22, 2007</U>. </B><BR>
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Communication towers have long been known, especially in Wisconsin, to be a hazard to birds, as the longest study to date was conducted here by Dr. Charles Kemper: <I>A Study of Bird Mortality at a West Central Wisconsin TV Tower from 1957-1995</I>. Over the 38-year period of the study, he collected 121,560 birds representing 123 species. On one night in 1963, he collected more than 12,000 birds, the largest single-night kill yet documented. <BR>
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The number of birds killed by communications towers varies based on the type of lighting (medium intensity white strobe lights appears to be much better than red obstruction lighting systems), the use of guy wires (free-standing towers are better), tower height, and location of the tower. Communication devices should be collocated (all on one tower) whenever possible; and Environmental Assessments (EAs), prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, should be required for proposed facilities that could have adverse effects on migratory birds. EAs would be of particular importance for any places where there could be cumulative impacts, such as known migratory pathways. A prime example is along the Gulf Coast, where birds make landfall after a lengthy and arduous migration. <BR>
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FCC is seeking all comments, <B>but prefers information based on the scientific or technical evidence</B>. All comments need to include the agency name and be identified by WT Docket No. 03–187, FCC 06–164. To submit your comments, choose one of the following options: <BR>
Go to <A HREF="http://www.regulations.gov/">http://www.regulations.gov</A> or to <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/">http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/</A> (this is also the website to access the docket and read background documents) <BR>
E-mail <A HREF="mailto:ecfs@fcc.gov">ecfs@fcc.gov</A> and include “get form” in the body of the e-mail to receive a sample form to fill in <BR>
Send via U.S. mail to Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. Good background resources can be found at <A HREF="http://www.towerkill.com/">www.towerkill.com</A> and at <A HREF="http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/issues/towers/comtow.html">www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/issues/towers/comtow.html</A> or you can read the entire proposal on the Federal Register at<BR>
<A HREF="http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-19742.pdf">http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-19742.pdf</A> <BR>
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Take a few minutes and provide comments to the FCC on this important regulatory issue.<BR>
Bob Fisher<BR>
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