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slope, machine tillability and climate. Allowable uses within these areas may include <br /> community and public facilities. The request is also consistent with the Land Use, <br /> Economic, and Public Utilities elements of the General Plan. <br /> The telephone is an essential means of voice communication for the majority of <br /> residents in Hawaii County. However, over the last decade, the County has seen <br /> acceleration in the development of telecommunication technology and a transformation <br /> of the telecommunications industry. In addition to traditional phone communication, the <br /> telecommunications industry now includes technologies such as wireless cellular and <br /> digital mobile phones, and the internet. During the last decade, wireless <br /> telecommunications has experienced a dramatic decrease in cost and a phenomenal <br /> increase in availability. Changes in technology and competition in the industry have <br /> made wireless communication more affordable to the general public. <br /> Advances in telecommunications are not without cost or concerns. One such <br /> concern is the construction and location of telecommunication towers. <br /> Telecommunication towers are the physical structures to which antennas are attached to <br /> facilitate wireless communication. Because of the need for a clear line-of-site, <br /> telecommunication towers are usually located in areas with minimum obstructions <br /> between the tower and its area of service. Line-of-site refers to the imaginary line <br /> between a mobile phone antenna and a telecommunication tower. If there are <br /> impediments between the mobile phone antenna and the telecommunication tower, there <br /> may be signal degradation or signal loss. For example, the loss of line-of-sight occurs <br /> when a person uses a mobile phone while driving through a tunnel. Most often, <br /> communication is lost or unclear. The line-of-sight requirement often necessitates the <br /> conspicuous location of many telecommunication towers. Consequently, the <br /> telecommunications tower is usually much taller than the surrounding structures or <br /> vegetation and may negatively impact the scenic nature of a given area. <br /> A standard in the Public Utilities element of the General Plan states that in the <br /> development and placement of telephone facilities, such as lines, telecommunications and <br /> cellular towers,poles, and substations, the design of the facilities shall consider the <br /> existing environment, and scenic view and vistas shall be considered and preserved <br /> -4- <br />