AT&T is pushing to re-negotiate a lease agreement with Voorheesville, NY. According to Mayor Robert Conway, he was contacted by an AT&T contractor that’s “pretty aggressive” with their request, threatening to move its equipment if the mayor doesn’t agree to their terms. According to The Altamont Enterprise, the village currently receives $1,750 per month from AT&T. The carrier proposed a $650 cut, which would decrease the village’s revenue to $1,100 per month.
The Enterprise reported that a “final and best offer of $1,580 per month was subsequently sent to the mayor” — a $170 per month decrease in rent. According to the village lawyer’s calculations, the reduction would amount to $10,200 in lost revenue over 60 months.
A recent letter published by Ken Schmidt at Steel in the Air from “lease consolidator” Black Dot to another municipality, on behalf of AT&T, alludes to the carrier terminating 630 leases in 2019. The letter read:
“While AT&T prefers to remain at your locations without your participation, they may look at alternative options should the site on your property not provide AT&T the flexibility their service customers require. AT&T wants to work with you and will continue to abide by the terms of your original Lease Agreement, including exercising its termination rights where they exist. It is essential we understand your intentions within the next 90 days to determine what direction will be taken.”
AT&T spokesman Jim Kimberly told The Enterprise via email: “We are constantly evaluating our current tower leases for both efficiency and service as part of a long-term strategy we began implementing in 2017. As we find ways to reduce costs, we try to negotiate with owners but may determine that relocating to a newer nearby tower makes the most economic sense. We try to keep costs down while ensuring our customers get the service they expect from us.”
Conway isn’t ready to comply just yet. Of the proposal, Conway noted that the village is “mulling it over.”
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