Minutes - Planning Commission - 07/10/2008

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Commissioner Brauer stated the cellular telephone industry is being driven, to a large extent, by movement towards broadband capabilities which require a different type of transmission and . reception. He asked whether the gaps may be there for broadband reception but not for regular reception, and questioned how much is driven by change in technology for broadband. Associate Planner Gladhill stated he does not know but could do additional research on broadband technology. Commissioner Brauer explained that the bandwidth needed to carry pictures is wider than needed for voice transmission. He noted that cellular companies are selling technologies to watch a television feed on your cellular telephone that requires different signal delivery and bandwidth. He asked who and what defines the "gap." The 1996 FCC Act requires Ramsey to provide service for. all residents to access a cellular telephone but wondered whether it requires Ramsey to also provide, in addition, broadband service. He also asked whether getting one bar on their telephone is adequate service. Associate Planner Gladhill stated the additional uses gets down to additional use of bandwidth. He stated he does not have additional information about the difference in bandwidth needed to answer a call and additional bandwidth needed to watch wireless streaming video on a cellular telephone. Commissioner Brauer asked where the data comes from and whether, in the long run, the City has to rely on the service provider to say where they want the towers. He also asked if Ramsey can find a means to get the data independently on tower placements. Associate Planner Gladhill noted that in past tower requests, the applicant provided engineering specs for their service coverage but it may not have indicated how much was needed for the phone, and how much for streaming video. Staff can determine if the request is appropriate for additional bandwidth or adequate coverage. Community Development Director Miller stated staff can determine if additional information is needed beyond the engineering specs provided by the applicant. Chairperson Nixt stated his belief that the City is better off to design overlay districts that are established and based on reasonable review. That puts the City in a favorable position should a wireless provider want a tower in an area not designated as an overlay district or otherwise permitted site and properly shift the burden to the wireless provider to demonstrate the City has not provided it with adequate access required under Federal law. At that point, it is fair to say if the City believes this ordinance identifies overlay districts based on current information to accomplish that objective, to provide reasonable coverage, it seems prudent to move the ordinance forward to the City Council for consideration and adoption. He noted that standards, technology, and needs may change but the Planning Commission has to look at standards for today; the current situation not future situation. Planning Commission / July 10, 2008 Page 14 of 17