Digital signs may be allowed in San Antonio

By Eva Ruth Moravec Staff Writer San Antonio's Infrastructure and Growth Committee is currently reviewing proposed changes to the city's sign ordinance that would allow for traditional vinyl signs to be transformed into light-emitting diode, or LED, signs.

"We're going to regulate the heck out of them [digital signs]," said Rod Sanchez, director of development services for the city. Here are the details on Sanchez's regulations:

-Digital signs must be at least 2,000 feet apart

-An estimated 648 traditional billboards will be removed over 10 years, 187 digital billboards will be installed

-Digital faces must be one of three sizes: 300 square feet, 600 square feet or 672 square feet

-Messages on digital signs must take one second or less to change, and must change only once every 10 seconds

-The city must be able to utilize the digital sign network to communicate with residents in case of an emergency

Only 10 percent of Clear Channel Outdoor's signs in San Antonio would be digitalized under the proposed ordinance. "It's an economic benefit; of course, we wouldn't be doing it if there wasn't one," said Clear Channel Outdoor's Vice President of Texas Government and Regulatory Affairs Tim Anderson. Here are some facts about Clear Channel Outdoor's signs, according to Anderson and a San Antonio Express-News interview with CEO Mark Mays:

-Clear Channel Outdoor owns 90 percent of the 1,544 billboards in San Antonio

-Digital billboard networks have been launched by Clear Channel Outdoor in Albuquerque, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, El Paso, Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Orlando, Tampa Bay, Wichita, Los Angeles, Los Vegas and Akron, Ohio

-Each 672-square-foot signs has 449,280 LEDs

-It cost Clear Channel Outdoor $3.5 million to set up the Cleveland digital network in 2005

-After installing the Cleveland digital network, Clear Channel Outdoor's revenues from signs in Cleveland rose from $300,000 to $3 million.

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Thu Nov 8

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