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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSTAM_003 - Project Narrative - Exhibit B 3-13-20 Exhibit B New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC d/b/a AT&T Mobility AT&T Site ID: CSTAM_003 and FA#14823072 Project location: City Streetlight No. SCL0796 at the northwestern corner of West Balboa Boulevard and 30th Street, Newport Beach. Project Narrative New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC d/b/a AT&T Mobility (“AT&T”) is proposing to install new small cell wireless telecommunications facility to serve residents and businesses in this portion of the community. Small cells are low-power, low-profile wireless communications facilities that improve signal quality and capacity within AT&T’s existing wireless network. The proposed small cell facility will help AT&T provide and improve critical wireless services in this area. AT&T estimates that since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007, mobile data usage has increased 470,000% on its network. AT&T customers’ growing demand for mobile data services will continue to increase. Customer needs require AT&T to design and maintain its network to provide and improve wireless signal quality and to increase data rates sufficient to stream video. Areas that do not meet this minimal standard, or where wireless service is otherwise compromised, represent service issues that must be addressed. Specifically, this proposed small cell facility will improve AT&T’s wireless services by offloading network traffic carried by existing macro facilities in the area. In addition, faster data rates allow customers to get on and off the network quickly, which produces more efficient use of AT&T’s limited spectrum. By placing the small cell facility in areas where AT&T’s existing wireless telecommunications facilities are constrained and where AT&T experiences especially high network traffic, AT&T can address the existing and forecasted demand and support 5G speeds in the near future. Improving signal quality and Increasing data speed is critical to providing the mobile experience customers demand and to manage the unprecedented increase in mobile data usage on AT&T’s network. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks the rates at which American households are shifting from landlines to wireless telecommunications. According to the CDC’s latest Wireless Substitution Report, more than 70 percent of Americans rely exclusively or primarily on wireless communications in their homes.1 In addition, the FCC estimates that 70 percent of all 911 calls are made from wireless devices.2 And with AT&T’s selection by FirstNet as the wireless service provider to build and manage the nationwide first responder wireless network, each new or modified facility will help strengthen first responder communications. Description of Service and Site Type AT&T selected the proposed facility as the best available means to address its service objectives in this portion of the city. The proposed small cell facility will be located in the public right-of-way, where AT&T has a right to place its equipment pursuant to Section 7901 of the California Public Utilities Code. The proposed node is a Pico cell site and will provide 4G services to the surrounding area. The project will involve the placement of a small antenna and associated small cell equipment enclosed within a replacement streetlight. For this small cell, AT&T proposes to install a 10-inch diameter omni-directional antenna and radios at the 1 See Wireless Substitution: Early Release of Estimates From the National Health Interview Survey, January-June 2018, available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/wireless201812.pdf. 2 See 911 Wireless Services, available at https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/911-wireless-services. Exhibit B Page 2 of 3 top of a replacement streetlight, fully concealed within a 12-inch diameter shroud. The facility will not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic. It will not adversely affect the surrounding properties and will have a minimal physical and aesthetic footprint in this area. In addition, the proposed facility fully complies with applicable design criteria. Therefore, the City can easily make the necessary findings for approval for this small cell facility. The project scope will consist of the following: • Removal and replacement of a streetlight. • Installation of a single omni-directional antenna. • Installation of four remote radio units and raycap disconnect switch within a shroud. • Installation of below grade power and fiber handholds. Conformance with FCC Regulations The proposed low powered antenna installation attached to the utility pole is considered categorical excluded by the FCC based on the analysis included in the FCC Optional Checklist for Determination of the Local Official’s Guide to RF (attached). Installations that are categorically excluded are considered to meet or exceed the FCC standards for RF Emissions. Construction, Maintenance and Monitoring Construction of the proposed project will take approximately 30-days. All construction will be done in a manner that minimizes impact to residents and/or businesses in the area. Existing underground or overhead power and fiber connections will be used with minimal trenching. Directional boring will be used when deemed appropriate for each specific location. Maintenance of the subject facility is minimal. The telecom operator will be responsible for maintenance of the telecom facility including, but not limited to, any missing, discolored or damaged screening, all graffiti will be removed promptly, and the facility kept clean and free of litter. Monitoring is typically done from AT&T’s switching offices. If needed, a site visit to change any radio equipment will be coordinated with the city through the appropriate process. Site Preferred Location and Alternative Analysis The City of Newport Beach Code Section 20.49.040 lists the preferred locations for telecommunication facilities to limit adverse visual effects and the proliferation of new or individual telecom facilities in the City. Class 3 is defined as public right-of-way installations where the facility can be installed on a structure located in the public right-of-way. The proposed AT&T small cell facility falls under this category and is the third on the list of preferred locations. The proposed installation is consistent with the approved city designs under the master agreement between AT&T and the City. Due to the slim design, camouflaged antenna, use of existing city structures within the right-of-way, AT&T believes that the changes to the existing streetlights are non-material or aesthetic changes that would not impact the surrounding development of this area. The other preferred locations as listed by code relate to the use of existing non-residential buildings or other structures, which are stealth and fully screened and not visible to the general public. These types of locations or structures are not feasible designs for small cells located within the public right-of-way. AT&T is committed to providing wireless telecommunications services and faster data rates throughout the City of Newport Beach and is doing so by installing the least intrusive technology, with the least intrusive design at the least intrusive locations. Rather than construct traditional tower facilities in or near residential Exhibit B Page 3 of 3 neighborhoods, AT&T is choosing to deploy very small facilities, called “small cells,” that can be installed on utility infrastructure in the public right-of-way. A small cell is a low-powered cell site, which, when grouped with other small cells, can provide coverage in areas where traditional macro wireless facilities are not feasible. Although the signal from each small cell antenna covers a shorter range than a conventional tower site, small cells can be effective tools to help close significant gaps in service coverage or offload capacity with a minimal visual impact. Node CSTAM_003 will help AT&T close a significant gap in this area of the City by the least intrusive means, see attached coverage maps. AT&T evaluated several other locations for this project in the immediate vicinity of the proposed node. Attached is the alternative site analysis with detailed description of each alternative location evaluated. Statement of Code Compliance The overall site location and design complies with applicable code provisions, the General Plan, and other published siting guidelines. For further analysis regarding the applicable code, please see the attached Statement of Code Compliance.