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                                   Before the

                       Federal Communications Commission

                             Washington, D.C. 20554


                                            )                                
     In the Matter of                                                        
                                            )                                
     Super Towers, Inc.                         File No.: EB-11-TP-0142      
                                            )                                
     Owner of Antenna Structure Number          NAL/Acct. No.: 201232700006  
     1027587                                )                                
                                                FRN: 0019442458              
     Bonita Springs, Florida                )                                
                                                                             
                                            )                                


             NOTICE OF APPARENT LIABILITY FOR FORFEITURE AND ORDER

   Adopted: July 18, 2012 Released: July 18, 2012

   By the District Director, Tampa Office, South Central Region, Enforcement
   Bureau:

   I. INTRODUCTION

    1. In this Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order (NAL),
       we find that Super Towers, Inc. (Super Towers), owner of antenna
       structure number 1027587 (the Antenna Structure), in Bonita Springs,
       Florida, apparently willfully and repeatedly violated Section 303(q)
       of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Act), and Sections
       17.47(a), 17.48(a), and 17.51(a)  of the Commission's rules (Rules) by
       failing to (1) exhibit red obstruction lighting from sunset to
       sunrise, (2) notify the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of a
       known lighting outage, and (3) monitor the antenna structure lighting
       on a daily basis. We conclude that Super Towers is apparently liable
       for a forfeiture in the amount of ten  thousand dollars ($10,000). In
       addition, we direct Super Towers to submit, no later than thirty (30)
       calendar days from the date of this NAL, a statement signed under
       penalty of perjury stating that it complies with the Commission's
       antenna structure lighting, notification, and monitoring requirements.

   II. BACKGROUND

    2. Antenna structure number 1027587 is 223.7 meters in overall height
       above ground and is required to be painted and lighted. On December 8,
       and again on December 15, 2011, in response to a complaint, an agent
       from the Enforcement Bureau's Tampa Office (Tampa Office) inspected
       the Antenna Structure after sunset and observed that the top red
       obstruction light was not lighted. On December 8, 2011, the agent
       contacted the FAA and determined that Super Towers had not notified
       the FAA of the light outage.

    3. On December 16, 2011, an agent from the Tampa Office telephoned Super
       Towers and spoke with its contract engineer/on scene representative.
       The contract engineer stated that Super Towers learned of the light
       outage on the Antenna Structure on December 15, 2011 from a tenant on
       the structure. Super Towers also stated that (1) the structure did not
       have an alarm system to monitor the lights, (2) it relied on an
       "unreliable local" to observe the lights on a daily basis, and (3) it
       had not contacted the FAA concerning the light outage.

   III. DISCUSSION

    4. Section 503(b) of the Act provides that any person who willfully or
       repeatedly fails to comply substantially with the terms and conditions
       of any license, or willfully or repeatedly fails to comply with any of
       the provisions of the Act or of any rule, regulation, or order issued
       by the Commission thereunder, shall be liable for a forfeiture
       penalty. Section 312(f)(1) of the Act defines "willful" as the
       "conscious and deliberate commission or omission of [any] act,
       irrespective of any intent to violate" the law.  The legislative
       history to Section 312(f)(1) of the Act clarifies that this definition
       of willful applies to both Sections 312 and 503(b) of the Act, and the
       Commission has so interpreted the term in the Section 503(b) context. 
       The Commission may also assess a forfeiture for violations that are
       merely repeated, and not willful.  The term "repeated" means the
       commission or omission of such act more than once or for more than one
       day.

   A. Failure to Monitor and Exhibit Required Obstruction Lighting on the
   Antenna Structure and Notify the FAA of the Lighting Outage

    5. Section 303(q) of the Act states that antenna structure owners shall
       maintain the painting and lighting of antenna structures as prescribed
       by the Commission. Section 17.51(a) of the Rules states that "[a]ll
       red obstruction lighting shall be exhibited from sunset until sunrise
       unless otherwise specified." Section 17.47(a) of the Rules states that
       owners of antenna structures "(1) shall make an observation of the
       antenna structure's lights at least once each 24 hours either visually
       . . . to insure that all such lights are functioning properly as
       required; or alternatively (2) shall provide and properly maintain an
       automatic alarm system designed to detect any failure of such lights
       and to provide indication of such failure to the owner." Section
       17.48(a) of the Rules states that owners of antenna structures "shall
       report immediately by telephone or telegraph to the nearest Flight
       Service Station or office of the Federal Aviation Administration any
       observed or otherwise known extinguishment or improper functioning of
       any top steady burning light or any flashing obstruction light,
       regardless of its position on the antenna structure, not corrected
       within 30 minutes . . . ."

    6. On December 8, and again on December 15, 2011, an agent from the Tampa
       Office observed that the required top red obstruction light on the
       Antenna Structure was extinguished after sunset. During a telephone
       conversation with an agent on December 16, 2011, Super Towers admitted
       that (1) it had learned of the light outage on the previous day, (2)
       it was not observing the structure's lights once every 24 hours and
       had no automatic alarm system, and (3) it had not previously notified
       the FAA of the outage. Based on the evidence before us, we find that
       Super Towers  apparently willfully and repeatedly violated Section
       303(q) of the Act and Sections 17.47(a), 17.48(a) and 17.51(a) of the
       Rules by failing to (1) exhibit all required red obstruction lighting
       from sunset to sunrise on the Antenna Structure, (2) report the light
       outage to the FAA, and (3) monitor the Antenna Structure's lights as
       required.

    B. Proposed Forfeiture Amount and Reporting Requirement

    7. Pursuant to the Commission's Forfeiture Policy Statement and Section
       1.80 of the Rules, the base forfeiture amount for failing to comply
       with prescribed lighting and marking is $10,000. In assessing the
       monetary forfeiture amount, we must also take into account the
       statutory factors set forth in Section 503(b)(2)(E) of the Act, which
       include the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the
       violations, and with respect to the violator, the degree of
       culpability, any history of prior offenses, ability to pay, and other
       such matters as justice may require. Applying the Forfeiture Policy
       Statement, Section 1.80 of the Rules, and the statutory factors to the
       instant case, we conclude that Super Towers is apparently liable for a
       total forfeiture in the amount of $10,000.

    8. We direct Super Towers to submit a written statement, pursuant to
       Section 1.16 of the Rules, signed under penalty of perjury by an
       officer or director of Super Towers, stating that the lights on the
       Antenna Structure have been restored, including the date of
       restoration, or setting forth the timeframe for when the lights on the
       Antenna Structure will be repaired or replaced. Super Towers shall
       also certify that it will notify the FAA to ensure a NOTAM remains in
       place until the antenna structure lights are restored. In addition,
       Super Towers shall state that it now complies, or describe the steps
       it will take to comply, with the Section 17.47 monitoring
       requirements. This statement must be provided to the Tampa Office at
       the address listed in paragraph 11 within thirty (30) calendar days of
       the release date of this NAL.

   IV. ORDERING CLAUSES

    9. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 503(b) of the
       Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Sections 0.111, 0.204,
       0.311, 0.314 and 1.80 of the Commission's rules, Super Towers, Inc. is
       hereby NOTIFIED of this APPARENT LIABILITY FOR A FORFEITURE in the
       amount of ten  thousand dollars ($10,000) for violations of Section
       303(q) of the Act and Sections 17.47(a), 17.48(a), and 17.51(a) of the
       Commission's rules.

   10. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 1.80 of the
       Commission's rules, within thirty (30) calendar days of the release
       date of this Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order,
       Super Towers, Inc., SHALL PAY the full amount of the proposed
       forfeiture or SHALL FILE a written statement seeking reduction or
       cancellation of the proposed forfeiture.

   11. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Super Towers, Inc. SHALL SUBMIT a statement
       as described in paragraph 8 to the Tampa Office within thirty (30)
       calendar days of the release date of this Notice of Apparent Liability
       for Forfeiture and Order. The statement must be mailed to Federal
       Communications Commission, Enforcement Bureau, South Central Region,
       Tampa Office, 4010 West Boy Scout Blvd. Suite 425, Tampa, Florida,
       33607. Super Towers, Inc. shall also e-mail the written statement to
       SCR-Response@fcc.gov.

   12. Payment of the forfeiture must be made by check or similar instrument,
       wire transfer, or credit card, and must include the NAL/Account number
       and FRN referenced above. Super Towers, Inc. shall also send
       electronic notification on the date said payment is made to
       SCR-Response@fcc.gov. Regardless of the form of payment, a completed
       FCC Form 159 (Remittance Advice) must be submitted. When completing
       the FCC Form 159, enter the Account Number in block number 23A (call
       sign/other ID) and enter the letters "FORF" in block number 24A
       (payment type code).   Below are additional instructions you should
       follow based on the form of payment you select:

     * Payment by check or money order must be made payable to the order of
       the Federal Communications Commission.  Such payments (along with the
       completed Form 159) must be mailed to Federal Communications
       Commission, P.O. Box 979088, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000, or sent
       via overnight mail to U.S. Bank - Government Lockbox #979088,
       SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63101. 

     * Payment by wire transfer must be made to ABA Number 021030004,
       receiving bank TREAS/NYC, and Account Number 27000001.  To complete
       the wire transfer and ensure appropriate crediting of the wired funds,
       a completed Form 159 must be faxed to U.S. Bank at (314) 418-4232 on
       the same business day the wire transfer is initiated. 

     * Payment by credit card must be made by providing the required credit
       card information on FCC Form 159 and signing and dating the Form 159
       to authorize the credit card payment. The completed Form 159 must then
       be mailed to Federal Communications Commission, P.O. Box 979088, St.
       Louis, MO 63197-9000, or sent via overnight mail to U.S. Bank -
       Government Lockbox #979088, SL-MO-C2-GL, 1005 Convention Plaza, St.
       Louis, MO 63101. 

   13. Any request for full payment under an installment plan should be sent
       to:  Chief Financial Officer-Financial Operations, Federal
       Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 1-A625,
       Washington, D.C.  20554.  If you have questions regarding payment
       procedures, please contact the Financial Operations Group Help Desk by
       phone, 1-877-480-3201, or by e-mail, ARINQUIRIES@fcc.gov.

   14. The written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the
       proposed forfeiture, if any, must include a detailed factual statement
       supported by appropriate documentation and affidavits pursuant to
       Sections 1.80(f)(3) and 1.16 of the Rules. Mail the written statement
       to Federal Communications Commission, Enforcement Bureau, South
       Central Region, Tampa Office, 4010 West Boy Scout Blvd. Suite 425,
       Tampa, Florida, 33607 and include the NAL/Acct. No. referenced in the
       caption. Super Towers, Inc. also shall email the written response to
       SCR-Response@fcc.gov.

   15. The Commission will not consider reducing or canceling a forfeiture in
       response to a claim of inability to pay unless the petitioner submits:
       (1) federal tax returns for the most recent three-year period; (2)
       financial statements prepared according to generally accepted
       accounting practices (GAAP); or (3) some other reliable and objective
       documentation that accurately reflects the petitioner's current
       financial status. Any claim of inability to pay must specifically
       identify the basis for the claim by reference to the financial
       documentation submitted.

   16. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Notice of Apparent Liability
       for Forfeiture and Order shall be sent by both Certified Mail, Return
       Receipt Requested, and First Class Mail to Super Towers, Inc. at 17
       Crooked LN, Manchester, MA 01944.

   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

   Ralph Barlow

   District Director

   Tampa Office

   South Central Region

   Enforcement Bureau

   47 U.S.C. S: 303(q); 47 C.F.R. S:S: 17.47(a), 17.48(a), 17.51(a).

   See 47 C.F.R. S: 17.21(a) (requiring antenna structures more than 60.96
   meters in height above the ground to be painted and lighted). See also
   Antenna Structure Registration database for antenna structure number
   1027587.

   Local sunset time was 5:34 p.m. EST.

   An agent from the Tampa Office notified the FAA of the lighting outage and
   the FAA issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for the Antenna Structure on
   December 8, 2011.

   47 U.S.C. S: 503(b).

   47 U.S.C. S: 312(f)(1).

   H.R. Rep. No. 97-765, 97th Cong. 2d Sess. 51 (1982) ("This provision
   [inserted in Section 312] defines the terms `willful' and `repeated' for
   purposes of section 312, and for any other relevant section of the act
   (e.g., Section 503) . . . . As defined[,] . . . `willful' means that the
   licensee knew that he was doing the act in question, regardless of whether
   there was an intent to violate the law. `Repeated' means more than once,
   or where the act is continuous, for more than one day. Whether an act is
   considered to be `continuous' would depend upon the circumstances in each
   case. The definitions are intended primarily to clarify the language in
   Sections 312 and 503, and are consistent with the Commission's application
   of those terms . . . .").

   See, e.g., Application for Review of Southern California Broadcasting Co.,
   Memorandum Opinion and Order, 6 FCC Rcd 4387, 4388 (1991), recons. denied,
   7 FCC Rcd 3454 (1992).

   See, e.g., Callais Cablevision, Inc., Notice of Apparent Liability for
   Monetary Forfeiture, 16 FCC Rcd 1359, 1362, para. 10 (2001) (Callais
   Cablevision, Inc.) (proposing a forfeiture for, inter alia, a cable
   television operator's repeated signal leakage).

   Section 312(f)(2) of the Act, 47 U.S.C. S: 312(f)(2), which also applies
   to violations for which forfeitures are assessed under Section 503(b) of
   the Act, provides that "[t]he term `repeated', when used with reference to
   the commission or omission of any act, means the commission or omission of
   such act more than once or, if such commission or omission is continuous,
   for more than one day." See Callais Cablevision, Inc., 16 FCC Rcd  at
   1362.

   47 U.S.C. S: 303(q).

   47 C.F.R. S: 17.51(a).

   47 C.F.R. S: 17.47(a).

   47 C.F.R. S: 17.48(a).

   The Commission's Forfeiture Policy Statement and Amendment of Section 1.80
   of the Rules to Incorporate the Forfeiture Guidelines, Report and Order,
   12 FCC Rcd 17087 (1997) (Forfeiture Policy Statement), recons. denied, 15
   FCC Rcd 303 (1999); 47 C.F.R. S: 1.80.

   47 U.S.C. S: 503(b)(2)(E).

   47 C.F.R. S: 1.16.

   47 U.S.C. S:S: 303(q), 503(b); 47 C.F.R. S:S: 0.111, 0.204, 0.311, 0.314,
   1.80, 17.47(a), 17.48(a), 17.51(a).

   An FCC Form 159 and detailed instructions for completing the form may be
   obtained at http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form159/159.pdf.

   See 47 C.F.R. S: 1.1914.

   47 C.F.R. S:S: 1.16, 1.80(f)(3).

   (...continued from previous page)

                                                              (continued....)

   Federal Communications Commission DA 12-1150

   Federal Communications Commission DA 12-1150