With cell service in parts of East Hampton, NY, so poor that residents are installing antennas on their cars, town officials are moving ahead with plans to install 200 small cell towers to close coverage gaps, particularly in Springs and Northwest Woods. A local physician called the situation a “public safety issue that must be fixed immediately,” telling the town board that in many parts of those areas, “we can’t call 911,” according to Dan’s Papers.
Roughly 150 of the new poles are planned for Springs and Northwest Woods, with about 129 expected to be operational by year’s end, according to town planning director Tina Vavisil LaGarenne.
Initially, the 42-foot poles will support T-Mobile (NYSE: TMUS) equipment, but other carriers may eventually join, said Councilman Tom Flight. “The carrier pushing the deployment was T-Mobile. So kudos to them.”
The rollout stems from a wireless telecommunication plan adopted last year, which mapped out dead zones and proposed a tiered strategy for future installations. Tier one involves new or replacement poles in public rights-of-way, while tier two targets placements on existing buildings, subject to technical and aesthetic review, Dan’s Papers reported.
Project developer, Crown Castle, (NYSE: CCI) said it will help implement the plan “through a measured and phased approach that is sensitive to the local character.”
Councilman Ian Calder-Piedmonte said he’s a strong supporter of improved service. “One of the most frequent complaints I hear is about poor cell coverage,” he said. “This plan might be a happy medium.”
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