School eyed for cell tower

WILLIAMSTOWN, Oct 08, 2009 (The Berkshire Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- AWE | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- As part of an ongoing effort to expand its wireless coverage, AT&T Wireless has spoken with Mount Greylock Regional High School officials about locating a cellular transmission tower in the hills behind the school building.

AT&T first contacted school officials over a year ago, and have recently visited the site three times, said Superintendent of Schools William D. Travis.

"They are trying to improve their signal along Route 43 into New York," Travis said. "And they have been up here at least three times since August to look at the property and examine their space needs."

AT&T New England spokesperson Kate MacKinnon confirmed that the company is considering the hills behind the high school as the location for a cell tower, but said it could take some time before the proposal is ready to go.

"The process is moving along, but it can take up to two years for cell (tower) siting," she said. "But it is definitely in the works."

Travis has heard of no opposition to the proposed cell tower site while the idea has been under consideration.

"In fact, a number of parents have said it would be nice to have a better signal out here," Travis said.

The next step is for AT&T set up a meeting with the School Committee, which the company has not yet done, Travis said.

"We would be open to them making a presentation to the School Committee to look at a possible revenue stream and what they would

have to do in regards to the town," Travis said. "The School Committee does seem open to the idea."

Construction of "personal wireless service facilities and towers" in Williamstown require a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, said Andrew Groff, a planner with the town's department of inspection services. The developer would also need to obtain building and electrical permits before construction can begin.

AT&T is also required to provide very detailed technical information for the town to review, Groff said.

MacKinnon said AT&T is moving ahead with other wireless upgrades in the Berkshires. In February, the Berkshire Eagle reported that AT&T Wireless would upgrade its Berkshire County network from its second generation data transfer capacity -- known as Edge -- to its third generation, or 3G, service by the end of the year. But MacKinnon said those projects will take longer to complete.

Towns targeted for the upgrade include Lanesborough, Hancock, Pittsfield, Lee, West Stockbridge, Becket, Cheshire, Lenox, Richmond, Stockbridge, North Adams, New Ashford, Williamstown, Otis and Adams.

"We still plan to bring 3G out there, I just can't commit to a time frame," she said. "The process is ongoing, and some of them could be done by the end of the year, or it could be next year. We are coming, we just don't know when."

Wireless subscribers to cellular broadband covet the faster 3G network for laptops and smart phones -- like the Blackberry and iPhone. The faster transmission capacity allows those devices to have faster and more stable access to e-mail and the Internet.

The faster transmission capacity also means watching video via the Internet will be smoother, while downloading large, graphic-heavy files will be faster. Along with the faster speeds, 3G also allows better connections inside most buildings.

Upgrading to 3G requires the installation of a new transmission box at each cellular site, MacKinnon said.

To reach Scott Stafford:

sstafford@berkshireeagle.com

(413) 496-6241.

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