WiFi Netnews and Engadget link to a story in NY Times and the NY Post on plans by New York City to let companies put cellphone antennas and WiFi access points on top of lampposts, traffic signals, and highway signs.
Nextel and T-Mobile plan to lease space for cellphone services. ClearLinx Network Corp., Crown Castle Solutions and Dianet Communications are planning on wireless Internet. The Times says the plan will add about $21.3 million to city coffers, improve spotty cellphone reception - and turn many intersections into wireless Internet “hot spots.” About 18,000 spots will be leased. Each company will be allowed to use a maximum of 3,000 poles citywide for a term of 15 years at $6,000/year.
Portland’s Office of Cable Communications wrote a Wireless Utility Pole Agreement (pdf) some two years ago:
The Right-of-Way Use Fee. The Company shall pay as a Right-of-Way Use Fee $3,000 per year per Structure that has any Attached Facilities. If Attached Facilities occupy a Structure for less than one year, the amount of this Fee for that year shall be prorated at $250 per month. If Company places Attached Facilities in the first half of a month, the Company owes the fee for the full month. If Attached Facilities are affixed in the second half of the month, the fee will not be assessed for the remainder of that month.
New cell towers contruction is becoming increasingly difficult due to neighborhood complaints and political pressures. City-owned rights-of-way, are one answer. Utility poles are often owned by power companies, while streetlamps are often controlled by the transportation departments. Both use city rights-of-way.
Either way, a micro-cell tower (or hot-spot), on utilitiy poles, may provide one solution for telecommunications companies - as long as rates can be negotiated in a satisfactory manner. Portland’s process was open thoughout, and sought public comments.
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