The number of small cell sites activated has long lagged beyond projections largely because there’s not really a scalable deployment process. Carriers are planning to deploy thousands of small cells, which would, ideally, follow a uniform, one-size-fits-all process. But that’s not the case. Each city has its own process for community engagement, concealment, pole attachment and other variables.
Here we look at two ongoing small cell projects with a focus on how much municipal leaders think each site is worth.
Long Beach, Calif., officials recently gave neutral host provider and infrastructure owner Crown Castle permission to build 21 new light poles that will double as small cell sites. In addition to paying for the poles and the construction, Crown is also responsible for paying the city $1,500 per pole per year, according to The Long Beach Post. That’s $31,500 per year for the life of the equipment related to a network deployment in one part of one town.
The backdrop in California here involves Senate Bill 649, which is meant to make it easier for carriers or their contractors to deploy a small cell in the state. The bill would dictate that a small cell deployment is “subject only to a specified permitting process,” including an encroachment permit or a building permit, and spells out three types of fees: a charge per small cell, an annual attachment rate, or a one-time reimbursement fee.
In a July 5 opinion piece, the LA Times Editorial Board makes clear its distaste for the bill, which it views as a way to take-away control of wireless infrastructure projects from local authorities and residents. “Why shouldn’t cities and counties be able to try to leverage their assets to get a good deal for residents as part of the process, or take the time to get the public’s input on what could be a significant change to their physical and virtual landscapes?”
Across the country in Buffalo, N.Y., same general story, different fee–in this case local leaders wants $2,000 per pole per year with a 3% annual increase, based on reporting in The Buffalo News. That’s too much, according to a letter to the city from David Lamendola, Verizon’s director of state government affairs for New York and Connecticut. “We note that many communities, in order to promote the deployment of wireless networks, do not charge for the use of municipal poles.”
According to the Buffalo News, City Council Legislation Committee President Darius Pridgen said, “I am in no way concerned about $2,000 per pole. There is no sympathetic ear at this desk for $2,000 per pole.” His rationale: “It makes its money off of the people, basically, who are subscribers. The Council is going to consider helping Verizon to make more money.”
The point is, there’s no single fee for a pole attachment. It’s largely up to the Darius Pridgens of the country to decide whether their community embraces connectivity or sets a prohibitive barrier to deployment.
