Need Expert Assistance

WHY DOES A COMMUNITY NEED EXPERT ASSISTANCE

IN DEALING WITH WIRELESS SERVICE PROVIDERS?

Issues to Consider

How do you know there is truly a need for the tower or other wireless facility in your community? In other words, how do you know (for sure) that there really is a gap, and if there is that it can’t be filled by adjusting an adjacent site? Gaps are not the only reason for a request for a new site. There are other situations that don’t always require a new site.

How does one determine ‘need’? Through the analysis of RF propagation studies. However, only experts know how these should be done, what they need to reflect, how to determine if the information provided is correct and what less visually intrusive alternatives might work? Remember, the Company’s responsibility does include performing the Community’s due diligence and safeguarding the public safety and interest and the nature and character of the Community.

Will the facility be used primarily or substantially to provide service in a neighboring community? You don’t have to bear the burden of the facility in your community if it's primarily to serve your neighbors. For example, if it's a tower, it would not have to be as tall to serve primarily your community, instead of both communities.

What alternatives to a tower exist, and who bears the burden of proof that the alternatives will or won't work in any given situation?

What constitutes 'proof'?

Why do you need a moratorium? You Don't. You can achieve the same effect, while still meeting the needs of all parties, i.e. the industry, the local government and the public.

Why does a community need an application to be reviewed by a qualified engineer?

A few of the issues that require a qualified engineer to analyze

• the affect of ice and wind loads on the support structure created by the facilities attached to it (e.g. a tower or other tall structure or building);
• the adequacy of the design of the structure used to support the number of facilities to be attached to it;
• the adequacy of the proposed foundation for the facility as a factor of the total load the foundation will be required to handle, and if it involves attaching to a tower the type of soils on which the facility is or will be placed.

Other factors needed to be analyzed include:

• the actual need for the facility as proven by multi-phased propagation studies and determining the validity of the studies;
• the applicability of locating multiple service providers at the same height on towers, which directly affects the issue of height and the total number of attachments.;
• the intended service area, i.e. is the proposed location intended primarily to serve your community, or is it also to serve an adjacent community? In other words, is there really a need for the facility at the location requested . . and does it need to be as tall as requested?
• other alternative locations that may be preferred by the community, assuming the actual need can be demonstrated in the first place;
• the need for the requested height, which is normally greater than is actually needed;
• the applicability of 'concealment' or 'camouflage' technology mitigating the visual affects and often making the site unrecognizable as a wireless telecommunication site (no, not fake trees);