(1) Decisions pertaining to applications to site wireless service facilities are not subject to the requirements of RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c), if those facilities meet the following requirements:

(a) The collocation of new equipment, removal of equipment, or replacement of existing equipment on existing or replacement structures does not substantially change the physical dimensions of such structures; or

(b) The siting project involves constructing a wireless service tower less than sixty feet in height that is located in a commercial, industrial, manufacturing, forest, or agricultural zone. This exemption does not apply to projects within a designated critical area.

(2) The exemption authorized under subsection (1) of this section may only be applied to a project consisting of a series of actions when all actions in the series are categorically exempt and the actions together do not have a probable significant adverse environmental impact.

(3) The department of ecology shall adopt rules to create a categorical exemption for wireless service facilities that meet the conditions set forth in subsections (1) and (2) of this section.

(4) By January 1, 2020, all wireless service providers granted an exemption to RCW 43.21C.030(2)(c) must provide the legislature with the number of permits issued pertaining to wireless service facilities, the number of exemptions granted under this section, and the total dollar investment in wireless service facilities between July 1, 2013, and June 30, 2019.

(5) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(a) "Collocation" means the mounting or installation of equipment on an existing tower, building, or structure for the purpose of either transmitting or receiving, or both, radio frequency signals for communications purposes.

(b) "Existing structure" means any existing tower, pole, building, or other structure capable of supporting wireless service facilities.

(c) "Substantially change the physical dimensions" means:

(i) The mounting of equipment on a structure that would increase the height of the structure by more than ten percent, or twenty feet, whichever is greater; or

(ii) The mounting of equipment that would involve adding an appurtenance to the body of the structure that would protrude from the edge of the structure more than twenty feet, or more than the width of the structure at the level of the appurtenance, whichever is greater.

(d) "Wireless service facilities" means facilities for the provision of wireless services.

(e) "Wireless services" means wireless data and telecommunications services, including commercial mobile services, commercial mobile data services, unlicensed wireless services, and common carrier wireless exchange access services, as defined by federal laws and regulations.

Alphabetization—2013 c 317: "The code reviser is directed to put the defined terms in RCW 43.21C.0384(5) into alphabetical order." [ 2013 c 317 s 2.]

Findings—1996 c 323: See note following RCW 43.70.600.