The three big carriers – AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile – lost their leases on a controversial 80-foot tower at Rogers High School, which neighbors have tried to remove for years due to aesthetic purposes. Although all equipment should come off the tower by the end of the year, no carriers have removed theirs yet; if removed, the schools stand to lose approximately $90,000 annually because of the expiring leases.
Newport This Week reported the carriers are now suggesting an even taller tower standing at 140-feet – with Verizon occupying the 120-foot mark, T-Mobile at 130-feet, and AT&T at the 140-foot spot – to provide coverage. However, opposition looms regarding the need for tower service and the “unattractive” appearance of an even bigger tower.
According to Ed Pare, an attorney representing AT&T, “Once you provide coverage to subscribers, you can’t just take it away. You can’t have the area go dark.” Pare also noted that a new tower can be constructed in as little as 120 days.
Councilor Kate Leonard commented on the tower’s potential appearance. “I’m looking at this a little differently. I’m looking [at it] as really unattractive. In modern technology there must be some other way to do it,” reported Newport This Week.
Another Councilor asked if the carriers could occupy multiple, lower towers, be placed on utility poles at heights of only 60 or 70 feet high, or inhabit space on existing buildings.
Attorney Joe Hall, representing Verizon, suggested another alternative: “We stay right where we are.” He also proposed design changes to the existing tower to be more aesthetically pleasing.
November 20, 2017
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