1. Generally.
 New antenna supporting structures will not be permitted unless the applicant indicates that the proposed antenna(s) cannot be accommodated on an existing building or structure or by construction of a stealth facility.
2. Letters of coordination.
At the pre-application conference, the applicant of a new antenna supporting structure shall provide documentation that the following notice was mailed, via certified mail, return receipt requested, or delivered by courier service to all providers or, where applicable, to owners of existing antenna supporting structures, and that the applicant was unable to secure a lease agreement with a provider to allow the placement of the proposed antenna(s) on an existing structure or building within the geographic search area, as follows:
 

The Administrator shall maintain a list of known wireless service providers and owners, including their contact information. Letters of coordination shall be mailed not less than 10 business days prior to the pre-application conference required by this Section and shall request a response from the recipient within 10 days of receipt.
3. Siting priorities.
In order to justify the construction of an antenna supporting structure, the applicant shall demonstrate that higher-ranking alternatives in the following order do not constitute feasible alternatives: (a) collocated or combined antennas; (b) surface-mounted antennas; (c) roof-mounted antenna supporting facility; and (d) stealth wireless communication facility. Such demonstration shall be made by submission of a statement of position, qualifications, and experience by a licensed radio frequency engineer.
4. Additional evidence.
As appropriate, the following evidence may also be submitted to demonstrate compliance with this Section: (a) that no existing wireless communication facility within the geographic search area meets the applicant’s radio frequency engineering or height requirements; (b) that no building or structure within the geographic search area has sufficient structural strength to support the applicant’s proposed antennas; or (c) that there are other limiting factors that render collocated, surface-mounted, roof-mounted, or stealth facilities unsuitable or unreasonable.

Siting priorities.
In order to justify the construction of an antenna supporting structure, the applicant shall demonstrate that higher-ranking alternatives in the following order do not constitute feasible alternatives: (a) collocated or combined antennas; (b) surface-mounted antennas; (c) roof-mounted antenna supporting facility; and (d) stealth wireless communication facility. Such demonstration shall be made by submission of a statement of position, qualifications, and experience by a licensed radio frequency engineer.

Additional evidence.
As appropriate, the following evidence may also be submitted to demonstrate compliance with this Section: (a) that no existing wireless communication facility within the geographic search area meets the applicant’s radio frequency engineering or height requirements; (b) that no building or structure within the geographic search area has sufficient structural strength to support the applicant’s proposed antennas; or (c) that there are other limiting factors that render collocated, surface-mounted, roof-mounted, or stealth facilities unsuitable or unreasonable.

Visual Impacts Minimized.

1. Generally.
Antennas shall be configured on antenna supporting structures in a manner that is consistent with the character of the surrounding community and that minimizes adverse visual impacts on adjacent properties.
2. Antenna type priorities.
In order to justify the use of an antenna type lower in the hierarchy, the applicant shall adequately demonstrate that higher-ranked alternatives in the following order cannot be used: flush-mounted, panel, whip or dish. Such demonstration shall be made by submission of a statement of position, qualifications, and experience by a licensed radio frequency engineer familiar with said alternatives.

District Impacts Minimized.
In order to justify locating a proposed antenna supporting structure within a zoning district lower in the hierarchy, the applicant shall adequately demonstrate that siting alternatives within higher-ranked districts in the following order are not reasonable or feasible: developments of countywide impact; industrial; commercial; agricultural/ranching; planned districts; residential and rural residential; flood hazard areas, habitat areas and corridors, mountains and hillsides, rivers and streams, wetlands, scenic byways and trails; or airport overlay. Such demonstration shall be made by submission of a statement of position, qualifications, and experience by a licensed radio frequency engineer.

Unpermitted Wireless Transmission Equipment.
Any tower or base station that exists upon the effective date of this Code that was constructed or deployed without proper review by the County, was not required to undergo siting review, or supports transmission equipment that did not receive any State or County regulatory approval shall not be subject to the granting of a collocation application. The restrictions in this Section do not apply to femtocells, satellite dish antennas or personal TV antennas, when each is installed for personal use. It shall also not apply to a stealth facility.

Restricted and sensitive sites.
In addition to any potential sites for constructing antenna supporting structures that are restricted or subject to compliance requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) or related rules of the FCC, no antenna supporting structure shall be constructed on any property, dwelling or structure in the County listed as an archeological, historic, scientific, architectural or cultural property or resource on the “New Mexico Register of Cultural Properties” pursuant to rules of the Cultural Properties Review Committee and Historic Preservation Division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Nor shall an antenna supporting structure be constructed on any land that is the subject of a conservation easement or that has been designated as open space.

Licensure of Installation Contractor.
Any New Mexico business entity contracted to construct a broadcast tower or wireless communication tower under this Section shall be a licensed GF-7 contractor pursuant to state rule 14.6.6 NMAC (“Classifications and Scopes”) as most recently amended, which rule was adopted by the Construction Industries Division of the Regulation and Licensing Department.

See § 10.17: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES for complete, detailed information.