A Proposed Requirement for Network Planning

As mentioned in the introductory chapter, Planning Commission members have expressed frustration at being presented with proposals for new towers without any explanation of how the towers relate to the provider's long-range plans for additional towers. Some industry representatives have stated that their planning is driven more by the need to respond to service commitments than by any system of network planning principles, and that it is not possible for them to produce a schematic plan of their proposed network because of

1) uncertainty about where they will locate antennae in the future and

2) concerns about disclosing proprietary information to their competitors.

Staff has reviewed wireless facilities plans from other communities, and a common approach seems to be to produce a policy plan similar to the first seven chapters of this document. If a more specific schematic plan is to be developed, it will have to be produced largely by the telecommunications industry. Staff offers the following concept for consideration:

Each carrier would be required to submit a plan containing the following elements to MPC, and update the plan on an annualized basis. In the event that a carrier does not submit any application during any calendar year, such carrier's plan would be due upon the submission of its next succeeding application. In any event, a carrier shall not be required to submit such information more often than once during a calendar year:

a. Map of service area

b. Description of services provided

c. A narrative or chart explaining where the carrier is in the process of developing their system

d. An explanation of the carrier's general approach to co-location, siting towers, working with neighborhood groups on determining the type of facilities to install

e. A map or maps showing facilities, including towers and any co-located antennas, erected in the previous year

f. A narrative describing the carrier's projected growth in sites with regard to which a Use on Review Application is reasonably expected to be filed within the next succeeding 12 months and identifying the growth plan sector where such sites are anticipated

g. The carrier may submit a plan for a network of specific towers and sites and have this network plan approved as a use on review application, thereby avoiding multiple future use on review applications. (This provision would require a zoning ordinance amendment).

Other network planning requirement alternatives from earlier drafts of this plan are shown in Appendix B.