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<br />the residential area to the north where people may want to no longer use a land line. As staff <br />mentioned, T-Mobile investigated the possibility ofthe water tower land south of this area. That <br />is approximately one mile south of the location they are proposing. Because of the distance <br />between that site, the height, and with the difficulty of getting around the Waste Management <br />mound, that site would not work out and allow coverage to the north. They also looked at the <br />new County tower location proposed to the east, and that was a little too far from the area they <br />are trying to cover. Mr. Edwards presented a map ofT-Mobile current and proposed coverage. <br /> <br />Commissioner Van Scoy asked if there has been consideration of the fire station site on <br />Armstrong Boulevard. <br /> <br />Mr. Edwards replied that is a T-Mobile site that was approved. It is a replacement site for an <br />existing site that benefits this area to the north, but still does not cover the area of the coverage <br />gap or the hole T-Mobile currently has between Sunfish Lake and Ramsey Boulevards. <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt asked what has been looked at for equipment consolidation on existing sites, <br />and if existing sites have been ruled out as possible solutions. <br /> <br />Mr. Edwards replied that whenever possible, an existing structure is utilized. There is nothing in <br />this general area that would provide coverage other than the Anoka County tower to the east and <br />the water tower to the south, which do not create the coverage they are looking for north of <br />Alpine Park. <br /> <br />Commissioner Trites Rolle asked how far apart the towers are in order to get the coverage T- <br />Mobile wants to achieve. <br /> <br />Mr. Edwards explained that photo streaming, video, and PDA's require a certain amount of <br />bandwidth for each tower, which creates situations where they need more towers or sites in an <br />area. Mr. Edwards stated that with the high number of uses the coverage area actually shrinks <br />down. <br /> <br />Commissioner Cleveland asked what the forecast is for future tower plans. <br /> <br />Mr. Edwards replied it will depend a lot on how the City grows. In the northeast area of the City <br />there is a new water tower in Elk River and a chain of Xcel towers that may be able to be <br />utilized. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brauer commented that essentially this is an evolving market in which T-Mobile <br />is looking to provide higher broadband service. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brauer asked how mahy towers it would likely take to cover Ramsey ten years in <br />the future. <br /> <br />Mr. Edwards replied that depends on the number of residents and the uses cell phones will have <br />at that time. <br /> <br />Planning Commission/ June 7,2007 <br />Page 4 of31 <br />