The FCC got a ‘wake-up call’ when the Court of Appeals for the D....

Commissioner Michael Copps said Wednesday in a statement. Wireless industry officials said the ruling’s impact is yet to be seen (CD Feb 20 p2). “For years, I have been disappointed with the FCC’s failure to get serious about its environmental responsibilities,” Copps said. “Now the D.C. Circuit has affirmed something this agency should have acknowledged a long time ago: that the National Environmental Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act require the FCC to take a hard look at the effects of communications towers on migratory birds.” The FCC must live by federal environmental law, Copps said. “This means more than just checking the boxes required by the statutes -- it means taking a thorough look at whether our rules and practices contribute to millions of needless bird deaths,” he said. The American Bird Conservancy, meanwhile, which sued the agency, said the decision will force the FCC to assess towers’ environmental impact. “Given the large number of bird deaths caused by towers, an environmental review is long overdue,” the group said. “This is a huge victory for migratory birds and the millions of Americans who love to see them each year.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that five million to fifty million birds die each year from collisions and other accidents caused by communications towers.