Over a 30-mile stretch of Idaho Highway 21, there’s an area that’s infamous for its lack of cell service. Now, Maverick Towers is looking to remedy the problem, reported the Idaho Statesman. People traveling on this road hit deer, get into accidents or get flat tires, and the lack of cellular coverage can pose a big problem in an emergency. The “dead zone” runs from Warm Springs Boulevard to Idaho City, and depending on the carrier, sometimes service doesn’t return until drivers reach Stanley, an additional 90 miles away, reported the Statesman.
Maverick Towers is planning to construct five towers over the next two years in the stretch of Highway 21, between Discovery Park near Lucky Peak Dam and Robie Creek. The density of towers is higher than average to account for the topography of the area, reported the Statesman.
“It can be difficult to figure out where to best place towers in the rocky terrain,” said Andy Cockell, a Maverick representative.
One, 140-foot tower was approved by the Ada County Planning and Zoning Commission but property owner Jason Stively, whose land is adjacent to the tower location, appealed the decision. Stively said a tower will lower the value of his property.
Despite the opposition, the commissioners voted to deny the appeal and uphold the tower’s approval. According to Cockell, T-Mobile is already planning to locate antennas on the tower and Maverick is talking with other carriers as well. Comments? Email Us.
April 2, 2019
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