FAA vs FCC Towers – Statistics & Insights
A nationwide breakdown of FAA-registered towers cross-referenced against the FCC ASR database.
Top 10 States by Mismatch Rate
All States
| State | Total Towers | Not in FCC | In FCC | % Missing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 46,809 | 35,670 | 11,139 | 76.2% |
| Texas | 44,890 | 20,926 | 23,964 | 46.6% |
| Florida | 26,379 | 15,066 | 11,313 | 57.1% |
| Illinois | 17,237 | 9,566 | 7,671 | 55.5% |
| Ohio | 16,894 | 7,739 | 9,155 | 45.8% |
| Georgia | 16,451 | 6,882 | 9,569 | 41.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 13,649 | 7,309 | 6,340 | 53.5% |
| North Carolina | 12,831 | 4,939 | 7,892 | 38.5% |
| New York | 12,609 | 8,468 | 4,141 | 67.2% |
| Michigan | 11,848 | 5,557 | 6,291 | 46.9% |
| Missouri | 11,314 | 4,811 | 6,503 | 42.5% |
| Alabama | 10,861 | 3,685 | 7,176 | 33.9% |
| Louisiana | 10,170 | 4,432 | 5,738 | 43.6% |
| Indiana | 10,050 | 4,163 | 5,887 | 41.4% |
| Virginia | 9,643 | 4,935 | 4,708 | 51.2% |
| Tennessee | 9,405 | 3,249 | 6,156 | 34.5% |
| Wisconsin | 9,395 | 3,992 | 5,403 | 42.5% |
| Oklahoma | 9,162 | 2,908 | 6,254 | 31.7% |
| Washington | 8,367 | 4,136 | 4,231 | 49.4% |
| South Carolina | 8,333 | 3,171 | 5,162 | 38.1% |
| Arizona | 7,929 | 5,173 | 2,756 | 65.2% |
| Oregon | 7,270 | 4,690 | 2,580 | 64.5% |
| Kansas | 7,182 | 3,518 | 3,664 | 49% |
| Mississippi | 6,801 | 1,573 | 5,228 | 23.1% |
| New Jersey | 6,759 | 4,766 | 1,993 | 70.5% |
| Kentucky | 6,568 | 2,609 | 3,959 | 39.7% |
| Iowa | 6,373 | 1,926 | 4,447 | 30.2% |
| Minnesota | 6,251 | 2,356 | 3,895 | 37.7% |
| Maryland | 6,047 | 3,488 | 2,559 | 57.7% |
| Massachusetts | 5,827 | 4,241 | 1,586 | 72.8% |
| Arkansas | 5,741 | 1,510 | 4,231 | 26.3% |
| Nevada | 4,391 | 2,706 | 1,685 | 61.6% |
| Alaska | 4,382 | 2,453 | 1,929 | 56% |
| Colorado | 4,382 | 2,313 | 2,069 | 52.8% |
| Nebraska | 3,915 | 1,291 | 2,624 | 33% |
| New Mexico | 3,662 | 1,742 | 1,920 | 47.6% |
| PR | 3,295 | 1,921 | 1,374 | 58.3% |
| West Virginia | 3,148 | 884 | 2,264 | 28.1% |
| Connecticut | 2,778 | 2,048 | 730 | 73.7% |
| Idaho | 2,649 | 1,183 | 1,466 | 44.7% |
| Rhode Island | 2,610 | 2,286 | 324 | 87.6% |
| Utah | 2,586 | 1,329 | 1,257 | 51.4% |
| North Dakota | 2,340 | 761 | 1,579 | 32.5% |
| Maine | 2,306 | 1,073 | 1,233 | 46.5% |
| Montana | 2,258 | 877 | 1,381 | 38.8% |
| South Dakota | 2,007 | 666 | 1,341 | 33.2% |
| New Hampshire | 1,802 | 1,164 | 638 | 64.6% |
| Wyoming | 1,388 | 554 | 834 | 39.9% |
| Hawaii | 1,325 | 888 | 437 | 67% |
| Delaware | 938 | 540 | 398 | 57.6% |
| Vermont | 571 | 370 | 201 | 64.8% |
| DC | 510 | 435 | 75 | 85.3% |
| VI | 161 | 81 | 80 | 50.3% |
| GU | 79 | 45 | 34 | 57% |
| MP | 37 | 34 | 3 | 91.9% |
| AS | 16 | 8 | 8 | 50% |
| MH | 9 | 9 | 0 | 100% |
| PW | 6 | 6 | 0 | 100% |
| UM | 3 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% |
| FM | 2 | 2 | 0 | 100% |
Geographic Density: FAA Towers Not in FCC
Hover a state to see counts. Click a state to explore its FAA towers. Color intensity represents the number of towers not found in FCC records.
FAQ
What does it mean if a tower is in FAA but not FCC?
It means the structure was evaluated by the FAA for airspace safety (e.g., it exceeds 200 feet or is near an airport) but does not have a corresponding registration in the FCC Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) database. This often occurs with non-communications structures, broadcast towers under blanket exemptions, or towers built before mandatory FCC registration.
Why do some FAA towers not appear in FCC records?
The FAA and FCC maintain separate databases with different purposes. The FAA tracks structures that could affect air navigation, while the FCC registers antenna installations for communications. A tower may require FAA review due to its height or location but not need FCC registration if it is not used for communications, is exempt, or predates current FCC requirements.
How often is FAA data updated?
The FAA publishes new aeronautical studies continuously through its Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA) system. Our database is refreshed periodically to incorporate new filings, amended determinations, and status changes. Some lag between the official FAA publication and our update is expected.
How accurate are the coordinates?
Coordinates come directly from FAA filings and represent the location submitted during the aeronautical study. Accuracy depends on the filing method and era—modern filings typically use GPS and are accurate to within a few meters, while older records may have lower precision. We display coordinates as filed without modification.
What is the difference between FAA tower data and FCC tower records?
FAA tower data comes from the Obstruction Evaluation system and focuses on airspace safety—any structure that could be a hazard to air navigation. FCC tower records come from the Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) database and focus on communications infrastructure. Together, they provide the most complete picture of tower infrastructure in the United States.
Data Sources & Methodology
Data Sources
The tower data presented on these pages is compiled from two federal databases: the FAA Obstruction Evaluation / Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA) system and the FCC Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) database. The FAA dataset includes every structure that has undergone an aeronautical study, while the FCC dataset covers structures registered for antenna installations.
Cross-Referencing Methodology
We match FAA records to FCC registrations using a combination of ASR numbers (when present in the FAA filing), geographic proximity, and structure-height correlation. A tower is marked as “not in FCC” only when no plausible FCC counterpart is found within a tight matching threshold. Because the two databases use different coordinate systems, update frequencies, and naming conventions, a small number of false negatives is expected.
Accuracy & Limitations
Both the FAA and FCC databases are updated on their own schedules. The FAA publishes new aeronautical studies continuously, while FCC ASR bulk data is refreshed periodically. As a result, recently filed or recently dismantled structures may show temporary discrepancies. Tower counts on city-level pages depend on the city name recorded in the FAA filing, which may differ from postal or census boundaries. Aggregate statistics should be treated as close approximations rather than exact inventories.
How to Use This Data
These pages are designed for telecommunications professionals, researchers, and local planners who need a consolidated view of tower infrastructure. The “not in FCC” metric highlights structures that may warrant further investigation—either because they are exempt from FCC registration, predate the current registration regime, or were filed under identifiers that differ from the FAA record.