Fairhope, Alabama
FOR DEAD ZONES NEAR BAY
To improve cell phone (and wifi) reception in low lying areas along the bay (including the pier), the Planning Commission approved the plan of Southern Light Corp. to install 16 mini cell phone towers along street right of ways extending roughly from Fly Creek south to Mullet Point: five within city limits and the rest outside. Over 7,000 feet of fiber optic cable will also be installed. (The picture at right is one already installed at the Grand Hotel)
The towers will be regular wooden telephone poles with additional equipment at their base and an antenna at the top. All equipment will be painted brown on the pole and green at ground level. (Existing utility poles could be used; but the company spokesman though that may prove not possible for technical reasons.) Verizon will be the cell service provider.
Several commissioners expressed concerns over how they will look -- and what adjacent property owners may think; but it was decided there was no practical way to ask for their input.
A representative for the company said the effort began when a company executive noticed the poor cell phone service at the Grand Hotel area.
Elsewhere, they have been disguised as plants, but it was decided not to do that here; Commissioner Clark said those just look to him like "telephone poles with artificial limbs."
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| Grand Hotel |
To improve cell phone (and wifi) reception in low lying areas along the bay (including the pier), the Planning Commission approved the plan of Southern Light Corp. to install 16 mini cell phone towers along street right of ways extending roughly from Fly Creek south to Mullet Point: five within city limits and the rest outside. Over 7,000 feet of fiber optic cable will also be installed. (The picture at right is one already installed at the Grand Hotel)
The towers will be regular wooden telephone poles with additional equipment at their base and an antenna at the top. All equipment will be painted brown on the pole and green at ground level. (Existing utility poles could be used; but the company spokesman though that may prove not possible for technical reasons.) Verizon will be the cell service provider.
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| example |
A representative for the company said the effort began when a company executive noticed the poor cell phone service at the Grand Hotel area.
Elsewhere, they have been disguised as plants, but it was decided not to do that here; Commissioner Clark said those just look to him like "telephone poles with artificial limbs."
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