PCIA

1
PCIA The Wireless Infrastructure Association
Vermont Telecommunications Authority January 4,
2008
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The Wireless Infrastructure Association An
Overview

• PCIA the Wireless Infrastructure Association is
  the principal trade association representing the
  wireless telecommunications and broadband
  infrastructure industry.
• PCIA members own and manage more than 115,000
  wireless telecommunications sites and antenna
  facilities that support analog, digital and
  broadband services across the country.
• PCIA supports programs and policies that
  facilitate the rapid build-out of the national
  wireless networks, and enable the industries that
  construct and maintain these networks.
• Members include wireless carriers, tower
  companies, and service companies.
• PCIA sponsors a State Wireless Association
  Program (SWAP) of state and regional wireless
  professionals (including the New England Wireless
  Assoc.)
• The DAS Forum (a PCIA membership section) is the
  only national trade association exclusively
  focused on shaping the future of distributed
  antenna systems (DAS) as a compliment to
  traditional macro sites.

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Wireless service requires wireless infrastructure.

• Wireless carriers locate their antennas and
  equipment on wireless infrastructure.
• Since wireless coverage is provided using
  line-of-sight radio frequency signals, numerous
  sites are needed to provide ubiquitous wireless
  coverage.
• Neighboring wireless facilities allow a signal to
  travel, making the connection truly mobile.
• Examples of wireless infrastructure include
  towers and monopoles, as well as antennas located
  on existing tall structures (or co-located) ,
  such as rooftops, water tanks or existing towers.
• In most cases, wireless signals are most
  effective when emanating from tall structures, so
  that the signal propagates over a large area.
• Wireless usage is increasing significantly. In
  addition, wireless devices include new functions
  such as data, mobile music and video. Usage
  increase and new functionality stress the
  capacity of existing wireless networks,
  furthering the need for wireless infrastructure.

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Wireless Infrastructure A Necessary Community
Service

• Wireless coverage is a critical component of
  public safety.
• First responders rely on mission-critical public
  safety radio networks to protect life and
  property.
• 12.8 of wireless users have no landline phone.
• Almost half of all calls to 911 are made using
  wireless devices.
• Public safety systems typically target 95
  coverage, so these systems need sites to provide
  this coverage.
• Citizens rely on their wireless devices to
  contact 911. Location technologies need reliable
  wireless coverage.
• Dropped calls and inaccurate locational
  information wastes first responder resources and
  risks lives.

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Wireless Infrastructure A Necessary Community
Service

• Robust wireless coverage is a must-have for
  economic development and quality of life.
• Wireless coverage connects people where they
  live, work and play, and is increasingly viewed
  as a necessary community service, as critical as
  electricity or water.
• An information-based economy with high-quality
  jobs depends on reliable access to
  communications.
• Broadband wireless communications access is the
  platform for participation in 21st century
  economy, society and culture. Wireless
  infrastructure provides an important platform for
  the deployment of broadband access that does not
  depend on incumbent carriers build-out plans,
  which often dont cover rural areas that are most
  in need of coverage improvements.
• Likewise, broadband access can help preserve the
  unique local character of Vermont communities by
  encouraging tele-commuting, and by providing a
  link between Vermont-based businesses and the
  world at large.

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Wireless infrastructure technology is
increasingly adaptive.

• Wireless infrastructure has advanced beyond the
  tower and can include the following
• Stealth structures (silos, trees, clock towers)
• Addition of antennas to existing structures
  (known as co-location). Structures to which
  antennas can be attached include rooftops,
  electrical utility lines, water tanks, church
  steeples and existing towers/monopoles.
• Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) a network of
  spatially-separated antenna nodes connected to
  common source (hub-and-spoke system) DAS
  antennas are at or below the clutter level, and
  node installations are compact. DAS is a
  compliment to traditional macro-sites, but
  because of technical and economic constraints, it
  cannot serve to connect all wireless networks.
• The traditional tower/monopole still serves a
  large number of users.

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We applaud the VTAs efforts to encourage
wireless infrastructure.

• Your efforts to support wireless infrastructure
  through the permitting process, and to gain
  better access to utility rights-of-way, will help
  encourage deployment.
• 1) Regulatory Flexibility in Cabot.
• The 2007 approval of a Unicel stealth silo in
  Cabot (Washington County), with a streamlined
  permitting process pursuant to Act 79, is an
  example of how Vermont can capitalize on Act 79
  to expedite wireless deployment. Cabot is the
  first Vermont jurisdiction to use rely on Act 79
  to expedite local permitting.
• PCIAs model zoning ordinance provides an
  even-handed approach to siting.
• PCIAs model state legislation (passed in TN, CA,
  FL, HI and NC) levels the playing field between
  jurisdictions to ensure consistent deployment
  statewide.
• The Cabot Zoning Board relied upon Act 79 as a
  justification for why a variance from local
  setback requirements would be granted.
• Act 79 allows a local zoning official to approve
  a project outside of the typical zoning process
  if it is determined that will either have no
  impact or de minimus impact on the town.
  Daniel Barlow, New Law Brings Broadband to
  Cabot. Times-Argus 13 Aug. 2007.
• http//www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AI
  D2007708130347

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We applaud the VTAs efforts to encourage
wireless infrastructure.

• Your efforts to support wireless infrastructure
  through the permitting process, and to gain
  better access to utility rights-of-way, will help
  encourage deployment.
• 2) A more balanced Act 250 approach to
  low-profile sites, co-locations and multi-site
  deployment plans.
• Currently, Act 250 review places significant
  obstacles to wireless infrastructure deployment
  of low-profile sites and co-location. The fact
  that the Act 250 process opens a structure to de
  novo review, even when height is not increased,
  makes deployment of sites in Act 250
  jurisdictions difficult.
• We encourage the VTAs efforts to reduce Act 250
  burdens to low-profile sites or co-locations.
• Likewise, we strongly support the VTAs efforts
  to create a single, state-level permit process
  at the PSB for coordinated proposals to build
  five or more towers located in more than one Act
  250 district. The Vermont Way Forward The
  Nations First E-State Executive Summary 2007.
  PCIAs members include some of the largest
  infrastructure providers in the world, and would
  be incentivized to build with this effort.

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We applaud the VTAs efforts to encourage
wireless infrastructure.

• Your efforts to support wireless infrastructure
  through the permitting process, and to gain
  better access to utility rights-of-way, will help
  encourage deployment.
• 3) Reform of the pole attachment process before
  the PSB will increase the availability of a
  valuable platform for wireless cellular and
  broadband deployment.
• As mentioned above, co-location on utility
  rights-of-way is an important method for building
  a low-profile but effective wireless facility.
  Likewise, DAS networks are often built on utility
  rights-of-way (e.g., Andover, MA).
• Currently, wireless providers are at a
  significant disadvantage with respect to pole
  access, compared to other attachers like cable.
  Examples include processes, safety requirements,
  pricing and access.
• PCIA and The DAS Forum is pursuing regulatory
  reform addressing the inequities of the pole
  attachment process with the FCC, and with
  state-level utility boards (e.g., CT DPUC).
• We can help with the establishment of a wireless
  pole attachment policy before the Vermont PSB.

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Where do we go from here?

• Please keep us informed, and let us know how we
  can help.
• We believe that our model zoning ordinance and
  wireless legislation are credible and balanced
  ways of regulating wireless infrastructure. We
  would like the opportunity to explore these
  solutions with communities across Vermont, and
  with state legislators.
• We can serve as a conduit to our members, to keep
  them apprised of Vermonts ambitious efforts to
  become the nations first e-state.
• Please call or email me with any thoughts,
  questions or ideas. I look forward to hearing
  from you!!!
• Jackie
• ------------
• Jacqueline McCarthy, Esq.
• Director of Government Affairs
• PCIA -- The Wireless Infrastructure Association
• 500 Montgomery Street, Suite 700
• Alexandria, VA 22314
• [phone] office
• [phone] fax
• [phone] mobile
• Jacqueline.mccarthy_at_pcia.com
• www.pcia.com
• www.thedasforum.org