11-13-1990 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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‘V ‘ ■V:^^ iktiLi-lL..: fr Orooo Plaiuiiiitf Commission, 9 February 1990 Page 2 Cellular Grid Svsiem Cellular service provides subscribers with office quality phone service by developing a grid of antennas arranged in a geographically hexagonal pattern. Each hexagon is a "ceU” created by an antenna and serves as the link between the customer and the system while the customer is within that particular cell Each cell can only handle a certain number of calls simultaneously. As the number of customers L.^e^, the grid must be changed to handle the appropriate number of simultaneous This usuimy means that more cells need to be created within the same area resultmg m a new^id pattern of smaller cells. A new antenna must be constructed each time a new ceil is created. As the grid matures and more cells are added, antennas are made shoner because of each cell’s smaller coverage area. .Antennas are also constructed to expand the grid of coverage into new areas. The antenna in Orono is being proposed to e.xpand cellular phone coverage in an 3-mile radius area. The cellular mobile phone svstem operates on a specific set of channels set aside by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The filtering of spurious signals is very' iithdy controUed. CeUular telephones operate within a very strictly controlled set ot allotted frequency between S35 to 897 megahertz. US West New Vector Group is currently operating over 160 cellular antennas around the country with no case ot television or radio imerierence reported. ^e.-^rrh Area Criteria We have been working for several months to lor.iie an antenna site in the Orono area to solve cellular phone ser^'ice coverage needs. ..lanv tactors mio the selection oi a location for an antenna site. These include marke ors. tec nical considerations. ceUuUr grid, zoning and land use compatibility', latw. ..ler willingness to seU or lease. Iftftd forms of the surrounding area, and accessibility t > roads. All of these factors taken together create a narrow site search area for locuion of the antenna. The tfi^hni^* aspects of fitting a new cell site into the grid pattern dictates a small search area for new antenna sites. The search area is further refined by topographical features and a sophisticated computer modeling that takes into account e.xisting antenna sites, predicted coverage of the new ceU and FCC service area requirements. Federal Aviatmn Administration regulations must also be followed in locating and constr iciing antennas luustrai i< The search area in Orono that resulted from this type of analysis, is !e3onnExh0)it B. It is an area 1.2 miles in diameter and generally centered on the Luce Line crossing of Highway 12. Once the search area has been defined by these technical constraints, zoning and land use factors can be addressed. We have been in c lua with the City’s Planning and Zoning Suff from very early in the process to identify the most appropnate location. Our search was narrowed to the area around the Luce Line J^rail. ine cellular telephone system does not have the power of eminent domain and we must deal with willing property owners. In this instance Vineyard of the Lake has agreed to lease a portion of their property for use (sec att^hed letter). ,K..‘ ..I-