cell pnone towers

[okiemom]

has anyone had a cell phone tower (verizon) put on their property? I would be greatful for any tips.

[TheMartianChick]

I used to work for a non-profit agency that was located in a church. The church signed a contract with Sprint to put in a tower. Since the church was already fairly tall, the company just mounted some boxes and wires onto the back and side of the building, where it wasn't very visible.

I don't know a whole lot about it, but I do know that the checks received from Sprint were never late and they helped a struggling congregation to pay the bills in that drafty building.

[o&itw]

I don't know about how the leases work, but the technicians will need periodic access to the site. It is better if their access road comes in from a different direction and doesn't have to pass by your farm buildings, as they may need to come any time, day or night in any weather.

I used to be one of those technicans.. we were always careful to close gates etc, but I am not sure all are. A non-guyed cell tower (most are now) , short enough not to require lights (you might want to check this, the red lights aren't so bad, but the strobes can be obnoxious) and the small building that goes with it will be a small intrusion upon your acreage, and if it provides a decent lease payment, might be a good deal.

[Harry Chickpea]

o&itw, how do you approach a company to place a tower? The area we are in has horrible coverage, and our property is at the height of land.

[littlebitfarm]

I have one here in my pasture. Not too big of a hassle but they are terrible about closing the gate. Common response is "I didn't see any animals". Well who do you think left that pile of manure by the gate. Sheesh!!

Would not want one sharing a drive with the farm. Would rather it had a fenced entrance than drive through my pasture. No guide wires. No barbed wire on enclosure. Watch what they spray for weed control. Have your attorney read the contract, it was worth the first months rent to have some changes made. Would be great if there was a way of tracking who was the last one in when I find my gate open.

Is worth the hassle for the money!

Kathie

[o&itw]

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

o&itw, how do you approach a company to place a tower? The area we are in has horrible coverage, and our property is at the height of land.

Cell sites are terrifically expensive, and are placed by their respective companies by "economic value" The first systems go in larger cities, then smaller, then to cover the interstates and major higways. Rural areas apart from major highways are the last places to be covered if at all. A given cell tower only coves about a three mile radius in average terrain, so one can see the number of them needed to completely cover the country. Cell frequencies are also "line of site" so a person may live in a valley relatively close to a site and not get coverage, again, especially if it is a rural area. There will probaly never be towers built to cover these situations. Many times, if they can, they prefer to rent space on existing towers as thier coist is much less as the esential services (electricity, buildings, etc) are already provided. These towers may not be in the ideal spot to cover their grid, as they were orriginaly intended for radio service that could stretch
40 or 50 miles.

Your best bet, is to contact the cell service of those companies that provide service near you. Their website might have a "properties" or "antenna sites" tab that you could contact. One never knows, they could be looking for a site in your area.

[Countrystyle]

My bil has a mechanics shop in town. They lease a bit of his space in the back. Separate drive, they put a privacy fence around and last spring a landscape company showed up and put in shrubs etc. Looks nice for what it is and it makes a huge chunk of his payment on the shop.

[okiemom]

Thanks for the replys. Sorry for the typo. A rep was here early this morning to get the info so verizon could make up a bid.

I am wondering where can I find out what the going rate is? They said it would be about $400/mo. I have heard that some had more than twice that. Is there a reason for the wide price difference? I know first bids are normally low ball.

I am thinking an attorney is going to be needed due to the other costs of them being there ie. insurance, property taxes going up, anything else I havn't thought of yet.

Thanks everyone.

[colourfaste]

Originally Posted by okiemom

Thanks for the replys. Sorry for the typo. A rep was here early this morning to get the info so verizon could make up a bid.

I am wondering where can I find out what the going rate is? They said it would be about $400/mo. I have heard that some had more than twice that. Is there a reason for the wide price difference? I know first bids are normally low ball.

I am thinking an attorney is going to be needed due to the other costs of them being there ie. insurance, property taxes going up, anything else I havn't thought of yet.

Thanks everyone.

We had a tower on a piece of my grandparents' land; a 30-yr lease that started at $750 per month (this was in '98) and increased 10% every 5 years. Also, the tower company had to pay the property taxes for the improvements, i.e., the tower, equipment building, etc. Hope this helps.

[TheMartianChick]

In 2001, the church was receiving $700-800 per month. This was in a city, so that may have something to do with it.

[Mel-]

I read an article online in the last year that said the average rent was $1200 a month.

[Woodroe]

What about possible radiation etc. emitting from the tower?