General Manager
Sutro Tower, Inc.
1 La Avanzada St.
San Francisco, CA  94131
PH: 415-681-8850

24 Hr. Emergency 415-665-1425
EM:  

Auxiliary Antenna Email List
For inclusion in the auxiliary antenna activation email list
send an email with “Notice List” in the subject line to

Auxiliary Antenna Recorded Notice
For an automated telephone auxiliary antenna notice send your request with your phone number to or call 415-681-8850.

Eleven television stations, four FM radio stations and 20 miscellaneous radio communications users (i.e. CHP, FBI. Postal Inspectors, taxi cabs, school buses, wireless internet, etc.) rely on Sutro Tower antennas to transmit signals over the air to the entire Bay Area.

Q. Why is Sutro Tower Necessary?
Over the air television reception is still used by approximately 15% of the Bay Area population.  This translates to over 1 million people who do not pay to subscribe to cable or satellite television.

Q.  Can Sutro Tower antennas be located elsewhere?
No.  In the recently completed Environmental Impact Report, other locations were studied and found to be inadequate to serve the needs of the entire area population.

Q.  Are Sutro Tower transmissions regulated?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authority over all forms of over the air transmissions.  Stations must adhere to strict regulations regarding power levels, transmission frequencies and public radio frequency radiation exposure.  Failure to comply with these regulations can result in stations losing their license to operate.

Q.  Are Sutro Tower transmissions dangerous?
No.  The radio frequency radiation exposure limits set by the FCC are 50 times lower than any level found by numerous scientific studies to have any negative effect on health.  The radiation from Sutro Tower is 8.4% of the FCC limit at the point of maximum exposure under normal conditions.  Even under unusual conditions when auxiliary antennas located lower on the tower are used, the maximum radiation level is less than 15% of the standard.  Other locations throughout the area have an even lower exposure level.  The levels in areas surrounding the tower are regularly measured by a licensed independent consulting engineer to insure the levels are within these limits.

Q.  Does the City and County of San Francisco have any authority over Sutro Tower?
Yes.  The City and County has authority over structural integrity to insure public safety in the event of earthquakes or severe storms.  When the tower was originally built the City approved a Conditional Use Permit to allow the tower to be built in a residential neighborhood.  The terms and conditions of this permit limit the tower to specific wireless communications uses.  These terms and conditions are enforced by the San Francisco Planning Commission and the Department of Building Inspection  by requiring a building permit for any addition or alteration to the tower facilities.

Q.  Does the public have the ability to review and comment on Sutro Tower plans?
Yes.  Whenever an application for a building permit is filed, the Planning Commission holds a public hearing where anyone can comment in person or in writing.

Q.  Is the tower safe during a major earthquake?
Yes.  Exhaustive structural studies have determined that the tower will withstand an earthquake at least as severe as the 1906 event.  In fact, it will withstand what engineers believe is the maximum energy able to be caused by any event in the San Andreas fault.  The tower has undergone several structural reinforcing projects over the years to maintain its structural integrity as engineers learn more and more about seismic events.