FCC Ponders Solution to Bird-Slaying Communications Towers

What should the government do about migrating birds that fatally collide into wireless communications towers at night? The actual number of deaths is disputed, but it may run into the millions each year. A recent mini-conference on the problem held at the Federal Communications Commission went largely unnoticed by most agency watchers, present company included. Five conservation group leaders attended the event, two from the National Audubon Society, two from Defenders of Wildlife, and one from the American Bird Conservancy.

“The conservation groups’ representatives urged the Commission representatives to implement immediately some interim measures in the near term,” their ex parte summary of the June 19 meeting politely concluded, “while the Commission deliberates on how to address all of the outstanding issues relating to the environmental impacts of communications towers on birds.”

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