UPDATE: Ventnor approves license agreement for Verizon Wireless to improve cell phone service

Ventnor City Hall

By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY

VENTNOR After two years of negotiations, the Board of Commissioners Thursday, Oct. 22 approved a license agreement with Verizon Wireless to install equipment that will improve cell phone service, especially during the summer months.

The agreement will allow Verizon to install additional antenna boxes, or nodes, on utility poles in certain locations within the right-of-way.

Boosting the signal will allow Verizon to meet increased demand from customers and eliminate dead zones.

The Small Wireless Communications Facilities License memorializes the terms and conditions for Verizon to install and maintain its equipment, which will improve connectivity for users of hand-held devices.

According to attorney Fred Scerni, the 15-year contract includes three, five-year extensions and allows Verizon Wireless to install the boxes on 14 utility poles. The city has already received $10,000 from Verizon to cover the city's expenses and attorney fees at the rate of $1,000 per location. The city will receive an additional $4,000 for the remaining four poles.

Verizon will also pay a one-time application fee of $2,500 per pole. The city will also receive $1,000 per year for administrative costs.

The contract came from Verizon, there were some problems with it, we revised it and put it into a form that is acceptable to the municipality, Scerni said. My understanding from the administrator is that Verizon is on board with it.

Verizon must sign off on the changes that were made, he said.

A sticking point with the city is Verizon's provision that the contract be open ended allowing them to erect nodes in additional locations.

This agreement is limited to the 14 items&if they wish additional locations, they must come back to the commission, he said.

Commissioner Lance Landgraf, who expressed concern early on about the unsightly equipment, said he personally visited each location to ensure the locations are not near any homes with decks.

I visited these sites and actually moved one of them, he said. We tried to find better locations for them within their parameters.

The equipment boxes, which measure 2 by 3 feet, will be located at the top of the utility pole with an equipment panel about 8 feet off the ground. The signal covers about 1,000 square feet.

State law require municipalities to work with providers to expand service for users. Data usage has grown exponentially and will continue to grow as technology needs increase.

The Planning Board recently denied a variance request for T-Mobile to install a cellular phone antenna at the top of an 84-foot tall beachfront condominium building at 111 S. Buffalo Ave.

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This story has been updated to include pole locations.