§31G-5-2. Definitions.

For the purposes of this article unless the context otherwise requires:

“Ground facilities” means any shed, buildings, server rooms, or other ancillary structure providing essential services to a tower, including, but not limited to, distributing power, providing communications backhaul, or other service necessary to carry out the purposes of the tower.

“Tower” means a structure which hosts an antenna or other equipment used for the purposes of transmitting cellular or wireless signals for communications purposes, including telephonically, or, for computing purposes, including any antenna and all associated equipment; and

“Vertical Real Estate” means any communication or broadcast tower, or any other structure or similar installation mounted on a rooftop or other prominent place, and any other such facilities associated with that structure, upon which is suitable to mount communications equipment thereon, and the associated ground facilities necessary to accommodate that communications purpose, or other real estate suitable for the installation of a telecommunications vertical asset: Provided, That any excess telecommunications facilities owned or controlled by the West Virginia Division of Highways that do not meet this definition of Vertical Real Estate, shall be subject to the provisions of §17-2E-6a of this code: Provided further, That nothing in this definition may serve to prohibit terrestrial, middle-mile or last-mile broadband or high speed internet wiring or facilities installation pursuant to §17-2E-1 et seq. nor may classification as such facilities serve to prevent utility installation including, but not limited to, water, electric and sewer services.