Working in cooperation with the state of Michigan, Iselin, N.J.-based AAT Communications Corp. is implementing a program under which AAT will build, collocate and manage all wireless towers on state-owned land, rights-of-way and structures, creating a “one stop shop” for wireless carriers to gain access to these properties.
New York is the only other state to have a similar program, according to Maureen Myers, project manager for the State of Michigan. All other states require wireless carriers to go through the state Department of Transportation and each of the separate agencies that control the land on which the tower is sited, such as recreational or environmental lands.
The contract between AAT and Michigan’s Department of Management and Budget, the designated entity that will coordinate all the appropriate sub-agencies, “positions the state to respond to growing public and private-sector wireless needs and provides for revenue through the leasing of antenna space on state structures and properties,” according to AAT, which will act as the initial contact and liaison between the carrier and the state.
“This partnership will initially improve voice communications while also expanding the services to the public and generate revenue for the state, and ultimately support improved data and video capabilities,” said Janet E. Phipps, director of the Department of Management and Budget.
“The driving issues for the state were providing a solution and enhancing infrastructure in a manner that was intelligent and addressed all carriers,” said Bill Marraccini, chief executive officer and president of AAT.
“It is clearly to the state’s credit that they made a decision to go with a site manager because we designed it to serve multiple carriers. That will minimize the number of towers required,” Marraccini added.
Other aspects of the contract include controlling the spread of towers across the state by allowing AAT to market the state’s sites and collocate carriers to regional towers, and encouraging the placement of wireless sites outside of residential areas onto state property.
“We want to put dishes on facilities that already exist. That’s the first focus, to collocate on the buildings,” Myers said.
The collocation fees collected will be divided between AAT and the state of Michigan, where the fees will be disseminated again among the different departments controlling each of the tower sites, in proportion to the number of sites under that department’s jurisdiction that have tenants.
In addition to enhancing telecommunications infrastructure and services in the state, the revenues these towers generate also will support economic development, tourism and educational goals in Michigan, said George Boersma, Michigan state chief information officer.
Michigan awarded the five-year contract to AAT after a competitive bidding process. Myers said the company expects it will continue to see revenues from these towers beyond five years, and the state also gave AAT the option for multiple renewals. Details of the contract have been under negotiation for more than a year.
