Richmond County Planning Board members Tuesday night were given proposed changes to the county ordinance on Telecommunications to redefine telecommunication towers.

James Armstrong, county planner, presented a proposal to members to study for making possible adjustments to present to county commissioners for enactment.

Because wireless facilities and wireless support structures are of such substantially different character from other permitted uses, the proposal suggests additional standard for construction.

The purpose was stated as, “Richmond County wishes to accommodate the growing need and demand for wireless communication services.”

Van Billingsley of Electronic Service Company of Hamlet has been engaged in discussions with the board since his application for a permit to extend the height of a tower met a roadblock.

Herb Long of Ellerbe Telephone Company was involved Tuesday night in discussions because of the need for his company to extend Internet services to customers in rural areas through new towers which need to be constructed.

James Dougherty, executive director, Fort Bragg/Pope Air Force Base Regional Land Use Advisory Commission made a power point presentation on the Telecommunications Tower Study for the Fort Bragg Region to illustrate the interest in such towers as they might affect military operations.

Towers in the proposal would be given three classifications:

n Class I: Structures because of height, use or location would represent a low hazard to life and property, mostly for residential and personal use.

n Class II: Structures which could represent a hazard with larger commercial towers such as for wireless communications, television and radio.

n Class III: Communication structures for civil or national defense; emergency, rescue or disaster operations; and military and navigation facilities.