Better Cellular Reception
It seems likely that East Hampton Town will encourage AT&T, which is seeking permission to construct a pole for its cellular equipment on town land at the recycling center on Springs-Fireplace Road in East Hampton, to build a taller tower there than planned, one that could accommodate antennas and equipment for several other carriers as well, according to a discussion at a town board meeting Tuesday morning.
Both AT&T and Verizon are being evicted from a Cablevision tower close to the recycling center, on which they have been leasing space. Two other companies, Sprint and T-Mobile, have their equipment on a 150-foot pole already on recycling center land.
Under Federal Communications Commission rules, municipalities cannot obstruct communication companies’ erection of needed equipment, but they may, through their zoning codes, set standards and preferences for the locations of poles and equipment. The town’s wireless communications plan pinpoints the recycling center as one of a number of “opportunity sites” where wireless poles are considered acceptable.
With a site-plan application by AT&T for a “temporary” new pole at the recycling center under review by the town planning board, Eric Schantz, a town planner, presented an option to the town board on Tuesday: lease recycling center land to AT&T provided that it build a pole that can accommodate all four carriers, so that their equipment can be consolidated and the existing pole eliminated.
A so-called stealth monopole, which incorporates all of the cellular antennas inside it, rather than on arms protruding from the pole, should be recommended, Mr. Schantz told the board. And, he said, it should be tall enough so that all the companies can mount their equipment at the heights needed to boost cellular service.
The planner recommended approval of a 175-foot pole, though an attorney for AT&T said a minimum height of 199 feet would be needed.
Mr. Schantz said the pole would not be visible from any nearby historic area or state-designated Scenic Area of Statewide Significance. At 175 feet, the stealth pole, he said, would be barely discernable from spots up to a mile away on Town Lane, Three Mile Harbor Road, and surrounding areas.
The recommended plan, he said, would not only eliminate the existing pole — which is more intrusive, visibly, with protruding arms — but would provide for all the carriers on a pole paid for by AT&T. The town would receive rent for use of the recycling center land. The new pole would increase cell coverage for each company’s customers, Mr. Schantz said.
Sprint and T-Mobile still have several years left on their existing lease, and would have to be convinced to move their equipment over to the new pole, the planner said. Having their antennas mounted higher than they are now would be an incentive.
The town board would have to approve a lease to AT&T so that the company could revise its plan and site-plan application.
“I think we’re interested in trying to solve the problem,” Supervisor Larry Cantwell said. “Our preference is the height be as low as it can be to accomplish the objective.”
“If you can’t do it here,” he said of the dump site, “I don’t think you could locate a tower anywhere.”
“You should propose your permanent plan to the planning board,” Mr. Cantwell told the AT&T lawyer. He offered to have preliminary discussions with the company about lease terms.