Municipalities - Master Plan Cell Sites
In recent years, many municipalities have experienced significant growth in wireless telecommunications infrastructure. According the CTIA (The Wireless Association) there are over 15,000 new cell sites built every year. This kind of expansion requires additional elevated wireless antennas and base station ground equipment. In agreement with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines, many municipalities face the difficult challenge of developing a wireless telecommunications ordinance to regulate new antenna-support structure construction.
In conjunction with the ordinance development process, it makes sense for municipalities to develop a Master Plan Cell Sites (the “Master Plan”) to analyze current demand for wireless telecommunications services within the County and to establish guidelines for growth as it impacts the County and its constituents.
The purpose and intent of the Master Plan are similar to the goals and objectives of other long-range plans, such as roadway improvements and the extension of water and sewer lines. The Master Plan Cell Sites combines the land-use planning strategies with the industry-accepted radio frequency (RF) engineering standards to create an illustrative planning tool which complements zoning regulations.
The Master Plan also offers strategies to reduce cell tower infrastructure by improving efforts to morph wireless deployments from various service providers, thereby minimizing tower proliferation by increasing shared sites.
The Master Plan Cell Sites should include the following:
- Inventory of existing antenna-supporting structures
- Includes cell towers and buildings upon which wireless antennas are currently mounted
- Analysis of reasonably anticipated wireless facility growth over the next ten years
- Engineering analysis of potential coverage based on County-regulated height restrictions and other locations and design criteria.
- Recommendations for managing the development of wireless structures for the next ten years.
A cell tower Master Plan can be completed on a reasonable basis, especially if tied to technical reviews of cell tower zoning applications. Guidelines can be established to maximize the revenue from municipal cell tower leases by emphasizing public property for new tower locations.
Please contact us for a no cost, no obligation discussion about your municipality's needs.