March 16, 2026
by John Baich, SECC Chair & CBA ABIP Inspector
Sangre de Cristo Broadcast Consulting, LLC
2026 Q1 ends this month (March), which means stations owning their towers must complete and document their “Quarterly Tower Lighting System Inspection.”
Let’s review the basic responsibility of tower owners whose towers must meet FAA painting/lighting requirements. Not all towers with an Antenna Structure Registration number (ASR) are required to meet specific FAA lighting/marking.
Daily
Section 17.47 (a) states that tower owners are required to observe and log the antenna structure’s lights at least once each 24 hours. You can accomplish this visually or by observing an automatic indicator designed to register the proper operations of such lights. Alternatively, the tower owner can install an automatic alarm system designed to detect any failure of such lights and to provide an immediate notification of any failure to the owner.
Quarterly
Section 17.47(b) Tower owners shall inspect every 3 months all automatic or mechanical control devices, indicators, and alarm systems associated with the antenna structure lighting to ensure that such apparatus is functioning properly.
There is an exemption per Section 17.47(c) where the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has certified a specific tower that is equipped with self-diagnostic equipment meeting their exemption requirements.
Documentation
The tower owner must maintain reports verifying each quarterly inspection for period of two years. Each tower quarterly inspection report should include the tower ASR #, Lat/Long, and height. These quarterly reports must be reviewed and signed by the Chief Operator or their alternate. I included the quarterly report in my weekly log review file for easy access during any inspection/complaint.
Leased Towers
If you are a tenant of a tower that you do not own, you are not required to maintain these inspections/records. Keep a lease agreement on hand should your Station is inspected by the FCC/FAA. As a licensed station leasing space on a tower, you do bear some responsibility if you are aware that a lighting system failure has not been reported.
Tower Lighting Failure Notification Requirements.
You are required to provide Immediate notification (within 30 minutes) for top light or flashing light failures. Reporting failures of steady burning side lights are not required but should be repaired as soon as practable. To report a failure, contact the FAA’s 24/7 hotline at 877-487-6867 or use the online portal.
Information Needed:
- Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) Number.
- Location (Lat/Long) and height of the tower.
- Nature of the lighting failure.
- Estimated time of repair.
If the outage is not repaired within 15 days, you must contact the FAA again to extend the NOTAM every 15-day period until such repairs are completed.
Immediately report when the lights are repaired and operating normally.
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-A/part-17/subpart-C/section-17.47
