To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Matt Gohl, Special Projects Manager
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
Title
Update: Wireless Communication Facilities
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
In 2018, the Town’s Wireless Code was revised to align with updated State and Federal Regulations. Additionally, processes for handling applications for new wireless communication facilities (WCFs) were streamlined. As the Town grows, so do the demands for cellular coverage in the community. Providers, driven by market demand, are responsible for determining technology, location and timing for installation of new WCFs.
The discussion that follows provides a brief update of the Town’s approach to handling WCFs in the community, plus information regarding existing and proposed wireless communication facilities within Town boundaries. Periodic updates will be provided to Town Council in the future as well.
Discussion
Background
Town Council, in 2018, approved updates to the Town’s Wireless Code. In addition to ensuring compliance with Federal and State regulations, updates to the wireless code provided accommodation for small cell technology in the right-of-way. Along with compliance to the updated Code, wireless providers utilizing Town right-of-way will be required to enter into a Master License Agreement with the Town that has additional standards and requirements for design, operations and fees.
Wireless Communication Facilities (WCFs) include macro and small cell technologies. Macro facilities are larger scale sites, typically stand-alone towers or rooftop locations, which provide larger scale cellular coverage. A small cell facility is defined as a wireless facility in which an antenna would fit into an enclosure that does not exceed three cubic feet in volume. These facilities are most commonly placed on light poles or traffic signals and are used to expand capacity of the overall network. More information about small cell WCFs can be found in Attachment A.
Town Wireless Communication Facilities
When a provider requests installation of a new WCF within Castle Rock, approval can be either administrative or by Council action dependent on the required land use approval process for the specific wireless communication facility. For WCFs located on Town property (outside of right-of-way), the Town will act as a property owner first and land use regulator second. The Town acting as the property owner, rather than the land use regulator, has much more discretion in making a decision to locate wireless communication facilities on a specific Town property. Site locations within Town owned right-of-way go through a permitting process managed by Public Works.
The Town currently has two master license agreements (MLA) in place with Zayo Group, LLC and Verizon. Earlier this year, staff received an MLA application from SQF, LLC who is an infrastructure provider, but does not currently have any carrier partners. The second review of this MLA was complete in September and is currently pending response from the SQF, LLC. MLAs provide a base agreement with providers that stipulate standards for design, operation, applicable fees, and expedite the application process for small cell locations in the right-of-way.
There are currently 11 WCFs within Town boundaries including seven macro and four small cell facilities. There are applications in process for three new macro sites and 15 small cell sites in Castle Rock. At this time, none of the existing or proposed cell sites in Castle Rock utilize 5G technology. One new macro site is under construction at this time on the Briscoe Medical Office Building on the Castle Rock Adventist Hospital campus. Timing is unknown for the installation of the other macro and small cell site applications. Once the Town approves the addition of a new WCF, the actual construction timeline is determined by the provider.
Staff has developed a map that is available at www.CRgov.com/cellsites to show locations of current and proposed WCFs. A sample of this map is shown below.
Conclusion
While the Town has little control over the wireless infrastructure in Castle Rock due to federal laws, staff continues to monitor cell site applications in the community. Staff will continue to ensure that infrastructure is permitted and constructed properly according to Town procedures. Periodic updates will be provided in the future in an effort to keep Town Council apprised of any updates and changes regarding cell site in Castle Rock.
Attachments
ATTACHMENT A: Small Cell Technology FAQ