[Massplanners] Wireless Communication Master Plan /Cell Coverage Gap Analysis RFP

[Wylie Goodman]

A mid-sized town in Western MA is seeking assistance in drafting an RFP seeking a consulting firm to conduct a cell tower gap analysis, the result being a wireless communication master plan, ideally conducted by a neutral party w/o a vested interest (like a cellphone company would have) in where towers are placed, how many there are, technology used, etc.  The overarching goal of the RFP is to determine where and how best to site cell towers (large or small, setbacks, technology typology/infrastructure etc.) based on gaps in service resulting in calls dropped or no service and to answer such questions as:


     *   Are current issues due to capacity (too many ppl accessing the existing tower at the same time) and/or lack of coverage (no access) due to landscape impediments?
     *   Are there places in town where fewer but larger towers could be sited through zoning or should the town install smaller towers in more places to ensure complete coverage, but at max. setback to stay safely distanced from human activity?
     *   Could the town upgrade or improve upon the technology on the existing tower to make it more effective or does it need to put in new towers in other locations to achieve their end goal?

If someone (or more people) on this listserv have experience with this issue and/or have drafted an RFP around this or a similar topic that they could share, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Rather than email the entire group, feel free to write back directly to wgoodman at berkshireplanning.org<mailto:wgoodman at berkshireplanning.org>.  Thank you!

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