Welcome to this week’s edition of cell tower industry news, created by Jarad Matula and brought to you by Towercrews.net.
The plague of copper thefts continues for tower companies. This time a thief in the Chattanooga, TN area stole $300 worth of copper from a local tower. To get that measly amount of copper, the person caused over $8000 worth of damage to the tower. According to a representative from AT&T, which owns the tower, the perpetrator parked on the interstate, cut the fence and also severed the ground wiring. It is unknown at this time whether all of the damage was intentional, or just the result of a less than bright criminal. My bets are on the latter.
Telecommunications laws are changing at the state level in Vermont and Colorado, with implications that will likely affect the tower industry. In Colorado, House Bill 1327 allows for carriers to have easier access to public rights of way and utility-trending projects designed for network build-outs. With easier state-approved access for carriers when it comes to network build-outs, municipalities have less legs to stand on when contesting tower placement, and will ultimately result in an increase in towers across the state. The measure has been approved by the House and is under review by the State Senate. This is only one portion of sweeping telco reforms, so click here to read about all the proposed changes for the Centennial State.
Over in Vermont, members of the Senate want to eliminate the Vermont Telecommunications Authority (VTA), founded as recently as 2007, and fold it into another department that would be home to a “Director of Connectivity.” While this measure is mainly focused on creating radical changes for the advancement of broadband speeds, it does mean one less piece of red tape for tower companies to go through when building new towers. On the downside, the VTA actively promotes and encouraged rural property owners to allow towers on their property. So either way this proposed change goes, echoes will be felt throughout the tower industry’s efforts in Vermont.
In DAS news, the Cleveland Indians stadium will be latest major sports arena to install a distributed antenna system throughout the stadium, as well as a Wi-Fi network. Prior to the upgrade, fans complained that their phones were constantly roaming, unable to send and receive calls. Sending texts and posting to and checking social media was also virtually impossible. The new system is brought to fans courtesy of Verizon Wireless. To coincide with the upgrade the team also has their own twitter handle, “@Indians” where fans can interact with the team during games.
Regional/Local Tower News:
- Chocolay, MI township board OKs new cell tower
- Stuttgart, AR Planning Commission to discuss cell tower
- Siting Council hearing on Ledges Road cell tower Thursday
- Residents in Westport, CT fear a new cell tower would be a blight
- La Jolla, CA Community Planners narrowly approve third cell tower for Cliffridge Park
- City council shuts down cell tower case again
- Cell tower approved for Southington, CT town land
- 90-foot cell towers get grudging approval in Cottonwood, AZ
- Public works commissioners in West Covina, CA approve a contested cell tower
- Cell tower could benefit Pioneer district
- Cell tower to get vote next week in Key Largo, FL
- New cell tower coming to Bedford, IN
- Lake Alfred, FL Residents Spoke, Officials Listen: No Cell Tower in Park
- Verizon’s plan for cell tower in North Lebanon, PA stalls
- Health fears at issue for Biddeford, ME cell tower neighbors
- Tahlequah,OK city councilors on Monday opted to hold off on approval of two AT&T 150-foot towers.
- Silver Hill, CT cell tower work begins
