Slide1 : The U.S. Tower & Siting Infrastructure Industry Enabling Wireless Communication Throughout the Nation
Industry Definition : Industry Definition
Wireless infrastructure sites generally fall into two categories :
Communications Towers - designed for an array of wireless application installations - cell phone antennas, microwave systems, paging systems, law enforcement radio equipment, etc…
Existing Structures - most notably commercial building rooftops, that are professionally managed to handle wireless communication tenants and their physical applications.
Industry Definition : Industry Definition
Wireless infrastructure towers and sites offer the basic platform that many services, both commercial and governmental, operate and broadcast from. They are critical to wireless systems of any scale. Broadcast alternatives are limited, and include satellite operations, which to date have not proven to offer the same level of penetrating coverage, capacity, and other key operational characteristics.
Industry Definition : Industry Definition
Wireless infrastructure towers and sites are critical to the nation’s communications systems and security, and are classified as ‘critical infrastructure’ by the Department of Homeland Security.
Role of the Siting Industry in Wireless : Role of the Siting Industry in Wireless Tower and siting companies create many cost, scale and time saving benefits for their clients, such as:
Saving wireless carriers time and money in providing wireless services by streamlining the site management and build out process for them.
Role of the Siting Industry in Wireless :
Tower and siting companies create many cost, scale and time saving benefits for their clients, such as:
Saving wireless carriers and other wireless clients time by providing an existing, telecom ready facility, with consistent and refined processing procedures, allowing them to deploy faster
Saving wireless carriers and other wireless clients CAPEX by providing an existing, telecom ready facility, allowing them to potentially deploy additional sites as necessary
Eliminating the need in most cases for long, drawn out zoning processes since attachments to existing structures are typically viewed as favorable in most communities
Role of the Siting Industry in Wireless
Role of the Siting Industry in Wireless : Role of the Siting Industry in Wireless Facilitates availability of the physical platform required to allow widespread coverage and transmission of carrier signals as needed
Wireless infrastructure physical platforms are available to all types of potential tenants, including national carriers, regional carriers, local WISPs, national, state and local governmental agencies for security and informational services.
Provides the foundation for carriers to meet FCC mandated coverage requirements with the density of available sites being so great in all areas – rural, urban and suburban.
Eliminates the need for the wireless carriers and clients to manage the underlying landlord and maintenance issues associated with being in the infrastructure management business
Role of the Siting Industry in Wireless : Role of the Siting Industry in Wireless
Providing installation services to new wireless carriers and clients for all types of applications
Wireless carriers use their installations on these sites to provide necessary communications in times of emergency.
Wireless carriers and infrastructure site owners cooperating with governments to implement new technologies benefiting the public (i.e. E911, early warning detection systems).
Infrastructure facilities offer wireless carriers a platform to expand and enhance coverage so that consumer and emergency calls are transmitted clearly and uninterrupted.
Wireless Infrastructure Business Model : Wireless Infrastructure Business Model Tower companies make capital investments to build or buy towers, then lease out space to various clients needing antenna space to support wireless systems for voice, data and other applications. Some wireless carriers also own their own towers and facilities. Typically ground space is leased by the tower company, but also purchased in some cases.
Rooftop management companies sign exclusive contracts with building owners to represent the building owner in negotiations and implementation of rooftop installations. A percentage of the monthly rent is then given to the rooftop management company as a fee for the services performed.
Wireless Infrastructure Business Model : Wireless Infrastructure Business Model
High volume tenants typically negotiate “Master Lease” agreements with tower companies for multiple sites, in order to simplify and speed up the process of future leases with the larger infrastructure providers.
Typical lease terms are 5 -10 year initial terms with automatic rollover every term for a total of 25 – 30 years.
Elements of a Wireless Site : Elements of a Wireless Site
Tower Properties
Heights range from 20’ to 2000’
Majority are 80’ to 300’ to suit Broadband PCS and cellular tenants
Towers designed for easy installation and access of wireless equipment
Locations conducive to transmission and reception in higher traffic areas
Rooftop properties
Heights range from 20’ to 1000’
Majority are 40’ to 150’ to suit Broadband PCS and cellular tenants
Rooftop management firms work with tenants and building owner to secure best location for equipment
Installations are designed on a custom basis to match needs of carrier and building owner
Elements of a Wireless Site : Elements of a Wireless Site Equipment space
For tower sites, ground space typically suitable for most tenant applications, packaged into one single price with appropriate tower space lease simultaneously
For rooftop sites, equipment space for electronics and antennas is custom suited for each application
Common tenant installations require 200-400 square feet of space, and most tower compounds have room for multiple tenants or can be expanded as such
Lease terms specify amount and type of equipment to be installed on the tower, with larger installations increasing the rents
Elements of a Wireless Site : Elements of a Wireless Site Access
Tower tenants typically have 24 x 7 vehicle access to sites
Rooftop tenants typically have 24 X 7 access as well, with varying physical conditions based on the structure. Some restrictions may exist.
Elements of a Wireless Site : Elements of a Wireless Site
Telco
High capacity telco service typically available at each site.
Typical wireless carrier has one to three T-1s in service.
Many tenants use wireless backhaul to relay their voice and data transmissions.
Elements of a Wireless Site : Elements of a Wireless Site Power
Existing electrical power service typically available at each site.
Tenants typically meter their own power from a main panel.
Back-up power is tenant’s responsibility in most cases.
Typical power requirements and availability are 100 or 200 AMP service
Elements of a Wireless Site : Elements of a Wireless Site
Security
Tower sites typically have 8 foot fences with barb wire to securely house transmission equipment
In some cases tower sites offer space inside small telecom buildings available at foot of the tower
Rooftop sites offer varying security, typically with locked door to rooftop plus additional secured access to equipment room or leased equipment areas
Tenant Implementation Process : Tenant Implementation Process
Wireless infrastructure properties are typically marketed via websites and through direct contact methods, and listed for leasing by carriers/site acquisition firms looking to provide a certain location with wireless services.
A lease is negotiated and executed based on a tenant’s geographic and site preferences– it includes monthly rental rate, escalation terms, legal conditions, equipment/space/frequency specifics, etc.
Tenant Implementation Process : Tenant Implementation Process
A Build to Suit tower site may also be custom built for a tenant.
These locations are based on anchor tenant preferences and agreed to if multiple tenants express interest.
Typically the anchor tenant gets a preferred rate for creating the base opportunity.
Additional tenants are treated as co-locators on an existing structure, similar to other existing tower applications.
Tenant Implementation Process : Tenant Implementation Process
Local zoning approval is executed, and building permit approval is procured by tenant’s agent.
Detailed legal compliance in areas of: FAA, FCC, OSHA, NEPA, NHPA are obtained by tenant’s agent, with assistance as required from tower or rooftop manager.
Tenant Implementation Process : Tenant Implementation Process Tenant equipment is installed at the site (i.e. base station, antennas).
Tenant begins paying monthly rent to the siting company at time of permitting, installation complete or other pre-set date as negotiated.
What They’re Saying About Us… : What They’re Saying About Us… “The benefits of co-locating wireless telecom facilities on existing towers is something we always push for in this area. Any co-locations that are requested and go before the Board of Zoning Appeals are granted if they are consistent with our efforts to co-locate where possible and to blend the appearance of antennas into facades and existing infrastructure."
Rebecca Brownell, City Planner for the City of Albany, NY
Towers in the United States : Towers in the United States The top 10 tower and site owners and operators in America include:
Crown Castle International
American Tower Corp.
SpectraSite Communications Corp.
Sprint Sites USA
SBA Communications Corp.
Pinnacle Towers Inc.
AAT Communications Corp.
Trintel Communications
Lattice Communications L.L.C.
Titan Towers L.P.
Source: RCR Magazine, January 2003.
Wireless Infrastructure Clients : Wireless Infrastructure Clients Wireless infrastructure companies serve a diverse set of community needs, government interests and business tenants, with turnkey services. Clients include:
Broadband Wireless Carriers – i.e. Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint PCS, Cingular, AT&T Wireless, Nextel, Alltel, US Cellular and their affiliates
Government Groups – including FBI, Coast Guard, US Customs
Public Safety Users – Local police
Private Land Mobile Radio Users & Radio Systems
Paging Carriers
Wireless Data Providers – i.e. wireless ISPs
Tower & Site Industry Services : Tower & Site Industry Services
Tower & Siting Companies Add Value : Tower & Siting Companies Add Value Many Wireless Infrastructure companies offer turnkey deployment services which make it easier for their tenants to focus on their core business and save time and expense in developing and operating their own wireless facilities.
Tower & Siting Companies Add Value : Tower & Siting Companies Add Value These services include:
Site acquisition – all due diligence – leasing, FAA, FCC, title survey, environmental, SHPO, NEPA, zoning, permitting, etc.
Construction – tower sites, antenna deployments, base stations, grounding, electrical.
Tower & Siting Companies Add Value : Tower & Siting Companies Add Value These services include:
Equipment – installation of communication/radio equipment at base of tower or at equipment area on rooftop
Maintenance – Tower company maintains common areas and tower itself. Rooftop owners maintain common areas themselves.
NOCC – Most large tower companies operate their own 7x24 Network Operations center to monitor lights, generators, door alarms, etc.
PCIA: The Wireless Infrastructure Association : PCIA: The Wireless Infrastructure Association PCIA is the only industry trade association for the wireless Infrastructure Industry, representing the business and regulatory interests of tower and siting companies in the United States.
PCIA navigates the issues that affect the infrastructure industry companies themselves, as well as those that affect their customers — wireless carriers — and ultimately, the end user.
PCIA: The Wireless Infrastructure Association : PCIA: The Wireless Infrastructure Association By working with governmental agencies such as the FCC, FAA, EPA, ACHP as well as many other regulatory entities at local, state and federal levels, PCIA ensures that the tower industry has a voice in Washington on infrastructure siting issues.
PCIA Media Partners : PCIA Media Partners
PCIA Association Partners : PCIA Association Partners