APA Has Approved 188 Telecomm Permits
by Editorial Staff
If there was any doubt about where the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) stands on cell towers, the following press release, presented here in it's entirety, should clear it up:
On January 29, 2010 the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) hosted a meeting on telecommunication projects which was attended by Senator Betty Little, Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, Franklin County officials, Local Government Review Board Executive Director, Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T representatives. Agency staff were in attendance and provided an overview of the Agency's Towers Policy and the 31 telecommunication projects approved in 2009 resulting in a total of 116 telecommunication structures in the Adirondack Park through a total of 188 permits. The meeting focused on ways to refine the permitting process, reduce cost, extend coverage and promote coordination between the cellular carriers.
During the meeting participants expressed strong support for continued improvement in overall cellular coverage throughout the Adirondack Park to benefit local residents, businesses and tourists. There was discussion about the need for the agency to consider fewer taller towers to promote co-location. Officials emphasized co-location potential is minimized when permitted towers just peek above the tree line. Discussion also focused on considering different conditions where not readily discernible and sometimes visible could build more flexibility into the agency's review process.
There was encouragement for cellular carriers to coordinate planning efforts and submit joint applications. Industry representatives indicated they must abide by FCC regulations which limit the extent they can collaborate when planning their networks. Carriers said they do not submit joint applications or design their overall network based on the possibility of co-location but can design individual towers to accommodate future co-locations. They also stated system development is driven by customer base and while co-location is advantageous it is not currently a major part of their business model or revenue sources.
The carriers did acknowledge they realized significant benefits from information provided by agency staff and local officials in reference to the availability of tall structures located throughout the park. Carrier representatives proposed the agency itself consider slightly taller towers to accommodate co-location.
Tower height was also discussed by local government officials regarding differences in coverage areas for the Verizon Paul Smith's College site. During the initial proposal, Verizon s propagation analysis for a 90 foot tower projected a coverage range of approximately 1.5 to 2 miles and analysis further indicated little change in range for the approved 65 foot tower. However, with the site built and operational, the public is experiencing coverage within approximately a three mile radius of the campus. Verizon officials indicated that a higher customer user volume could occasionally cause a decrease in the coverage area which was noted by local town officials. Agency staff presented a Verizon Wireless coverage map of NYS Route 30 which identified the potential need for three additional towers between Paul Smith s and Duane to ensure coverage along the corridor. It was also noted that topography and specific locations are two important factors in terms of serving population centers and travel corridors.
The meeting included dialogue on possible approval process refinements. Agency staff suggested pre-application meetings earlier in the process to avoid extra costs associated with visual analysis and site engineering details. Staff also suggested carriers utilize the agency's tall structure GIS database to help design networks. In addition, an interesting approach to siting multiple towers on sites where taller towers would not be appropriate was suggested. There was discussion about the potential to amend the co-location General Permit to review the proposal for a new tower on an existing site as a horizontal co-location. This could result in significant time and cost savings.
The discussion addressed how telecommunications services provide a safety network for visitors, residents and businesses. It was acknowledged that additional tower development throughout the park will build services that result in decreased gaps in coverage. Chairman Stiles stated that the agency's administration of the Towers Policy has matured and the agency will consider the various recommendations shared. How do we refine the process to serve the public good? he asked.
APA APPROVED 31 CELLULAR PROJECTS IN 2009
Staff provided an overview detailing the continued improvement in cellular coverage inside the park. In 2009, the APA approved 31 permits/amendments for cellular projects. This included 14 new towers, 14 co-location projects, 1 replacement and 2 replacement/co-location permits. Presently there are 11 cellular tower applications under review. To date the agency has issued 188 telecommunication permits resulting in the construction of 116 structures.
2009 Cellular Permit Activity By Cellular Carrier
8 Verizon Wireless Permits:
5 New Towers
2 Co-locations
1 Replacement
18 T-Mobile Permits:
6 New Towers
11 Co-locations
1 Replacement & Co-location
1 AT&T Permit:
1 Co-location
Additionally, park-wide coverage was reviewed in relation to the following eleven applications that are pending approval:
11 Cellular Applications Pending Approval:
1 in Town of Dresden (behind Hulett's Landing fire station)
1 in Town of Keene (near Neighborhood House)
1 in Town of Fine (NYS Route 3)
1 in Town of Minerva (NYS Route 28 & Morse Memorial Hwy)
1 in Town of Chesterfield (Virginia Drive)
1 in Town of Clifton (NYS Route 3, Cranberry Lake)
1 in Town of Chester (NYS Route 9, Word of Life)
1 in Town of Wilmington (NY Route 86)
1 in Town of Queensbury (West Mountain Road)
1 in Town of Duane (Co. Rt. 26, fire department)
1 in Town of Westport (Boyle Road)
Coverage along travel corridors and communities continues to improve as cellular companies build approved projects.
Staff also noted policy implementation through the permit process has withstood legal challenges which ensures approved projects move forward in a timely fashion for telecommunication carriers. The Agency's Towers Policy, revised in February of 2002, discourages mountaintop towers and promotes the co-location of facilities on existing structures. The policy is intended to protect the Adirondack Park's aesthetic and open space resources by describing how telecommunication tower sites achieve substantial invisibility. The natural scenic character of the Adirondack Park is the foundation of the quality of life and economy of the region, long recognized as a uniquely special and valuable State and National treasure.
The policy also recognizes the importance for telecommunications and other technologies to support the needs of local residents, the visiting public and the Park's economic sector. The policy includes guidance for telecommunication companies to ensure successful implementation of projects.
Guidance includes: avoiding locating facilities on mountaintops and ridge lines; concealing any structure by careful siting, using a topographic or vegetative foreground or backdrop; minimizing structure height and bulk; using color to blend with surroundings; and using existing buildings to locate facilities whenever possible.
The mission of the Adirondack Park Agency is to protect the public and private resources of the Adirondack Park through the exercise of the powers and duties of the Agency as provided by law. With its headquarters located in Ray Brook, the Agency also operates two Visitor Interpretive Centers, in Newcomb and Paul Smiths. For more information, call the APA at (518) 891-4050 or visit www.apa.state.ny.us.
15 Comments:
Good. Now maybe fewer people will die from the inability to call for emergency services.
Lee - can you give us evidence that a single person has died from "the inability to call for emergency services"?
Here at the Almanack we prefer to stick to the facts. Comments that make false claims to back up political positions would be better made elsewhere.
I recall an older gentleman dying after the couple's car went off I-87. Here's some quotes from the AP story:
"A 63-year-old man died of hypothermia and his wife was hospitalized after their car went off an Adirondack highway and they were stranded for about 32 hours, according to police and emergency personnel."
"Barbara Langner tried to summon help but was unable to get cellphone service."
You got one person who was driving in a substantial blizzard on a remote mountain highway without appropriate safety equipment. Blaming the cell service is a little far-fetched.
I would guess many more people have been / or will be killed in the region using cell phones while driving.
You asked for evidence of one single person, so I posted it. 30 hours and no emergency response. Sounds like a few bars may have helped, that's all. Just found the blog, pretty cool by the way.
True enough Anonymous - one person who apparently died of exposure, not "inability to call for emergency service."
I have no idea of the facts of the case, but it sounds to me like being unprepared for driving in a blizzard on a remote highway in freezing temperatures and without a 99-cent emergency blanket is more to blame than not having cell phone service.
What if he was fumbling for his cell phone when he went off the road? I'm not saying he was, we just don't know.
Thanks for reading - if you search around you'll see that I've written pretty extensively on this particular issue and this family's unfortunate ordeal.
search for "Alfred Langner" and "I87"..
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/item_C3glmU3gRJIffsh6bGYR8H;jsessionid=2BFE4C32E5EF9AE8B33709CE25ED4405
http://blog.pressrepublican.com/archive/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41707:one_dead,_one_hurt_after_i-87_wreck:_couple_stranded_in_frigid_cold_after_accident&catid=34:news-articles&Itemid=64
the death was not due to lack of cell coverage (it was an accident), but lack of cell coverage definitely contributed to the misery & death (of one) of the victims..
ps: no affiliation with the other anonymous
C'mon, John Warren,
In your attempt to rush to the defense of the APA you blame the victim and describe Interstate 87 as 'a remote mountain highway'? And suggest we all should carry survival equipment if we are so bold as to brave the on-ramp in 'freezing temperatures'?
The APA has some culpability for that tragedy. They are now back pedaling as damage control for previous errors. They are mis-prioitizing by placing aesthetic preferences over public safety. The problem isn't fixed yet. See the Press Republican article about town of Duane: http://www.pressrepublican.com/0111_environment/local_story_032231227.html
These are public safety officials complaining about APA restrictions.
"There have been four accidents — two critical in the past seven months — that left travelers stranded without rescue for 45 minutes or more, Paddock said.
"This really becomes an issue of public safety. On June 17, Kathy Ojida was driving to work at Sunmount about 4:30 a.m. and went off Long Pond curve behind some bushes."
Ojida broke vertebrae in her back, punctured a lung and ruptured her liver and spleen in the crash, Paddock, a first-responder, explained.
"She laid there for a long time looking at her cell phone — no (cell service) bars."
If driving without an emergency blanket was "more to blame" (your words) what's this lady's blameful omission? Maybe the lady should have had a satelite phone and a back board with her?
EMS providers (or their patients) would benefit greatly from increased cellular coverage which may be used to transmit EKG's to the hospital while en route. This capability can shave a couple of hours off that patient's stay in the emergency room and get them to a special procedures lab immediately upon arrival at the hospital bypassing the ER. Johnsburg (among others) has this capability, but it's use is often limited by lack of viable communications. There are other public safety benefits such as the ability of injured hikers and campers contacting 9-1-1 resulting in faster response times for rescuers and, potentially, less risk to rescuers that results from after dark search and rescue.
Thinking a cell phone will save your life is stupid.
I don't think it's right that some people should suffer greater physical pain or death and that public safety should suffer to save someone else the temporary and immaterial injury of suffering the view of a cell tower. I wonder how the view protectors would choose if they had to make the choice of personnaly suffering a few hours with " a broken vertebrae [..], [a] punctured lung and [a] ruptured liver and spleen" or catching an occaisional view of a cell tower?
I have live is some dense suburban places where cell coverage was spotty. THe Adirondack terrain makes in almost impossible to have complete coverage.
Look at the Verizon coverage map. Does the APA have control over central NY, OH PA WV? Who's the scapegoat that controls everything there?
The fact is the cell carries only put towers up in the Adirondacks are for their customes who live elsewhere. There just isn't a dense enough population to pout up enough towers to cover the rugged adirondacks. Can we blame Verzon for deaths now?
To start this off I would hate to SEE the Adirondacks dotted with towers. They should be as unobtrusive as possible, but the technology definitely has the potential to save lives for tourists, locals, outdoor enthusiasts etc. I can appreciate both sides of the argument as I spend countless hours deep in the wilderness and want the 'daks as natural as possible.
That being said, I also live deep in the woods. I have no coverage unless the clouds are low and I stand on my head near one particular tree...a tower in the right place given the topography would help. The added coverage on route 30 and route 87 also has helped in a few non-emergency situations. Even with increased coverage, it IS necessary to carry an emergency pack in the dead of winter if you are responsible. I've used mine in zero degree weather near St. Regis where coverage was non-existent.
Additional coverage has also aided me (and several others) in the wilderness. I don't have the money to grab a satellite phone, so the cell substitutes. Coverage is currently either aided or hindered by weather conditions...a 5000 cloud ceiling extends my coverage on top of most of the high peaks. While, I currently wouldn't bet my life on a cell phone, it's a nice back up to my PLB/tracker.
No matter the situation, you are responsible for your own life and a cell phone is only a part of the "emergency tool kit", but it’s a technology that is nice to have available.
I believe the press release says that the APA approved31 permits in 2009 and 188 overall? Or am I missing something?
And there are still 11 pending approval throughout the park?
Thanks for pointing that out anonymous - I fixed it. 31 in 2009, 188 overall.
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