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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190626_Project DescriptionExhibit  B   New  Cingular  Wireless  PCS,  LLC  d/b/a  AT&T  Mobility   AT&T  Site  ID:  NWPTB_06  and  FA# 14852175   In  the  Public  Right-­‐of-­‐Way  near  951  [CS] Newport Center  Drive , Newport  Beach, CA 92660     Project  Narrative       New  Cingular  Wireless  PCS,  LLC  d/b/a  AT&T  Mobility  (“AT&T”)  is  proposing  to  install  new  small  cell  wireless   telecommunications  facility  to  serve  residents  and  businesses  in  this  portion  of  the  community.  Small  cells   are  low-­‐power,  low-­‐profile  wireless  communications  facilities  that  improve  signal  quality  and  capacity  within   AT&T’s  existing  wireless  network.  The  proposed  small  cell  facility  will  help  AT&T  provide  and  improve  critical   wireless  services  in  this  area.       AT&T  estimates  that  since  introduction  of  the  iPhone  in  2007,  mobile  data  usage  has  increased  360,000%  on   its  network.  AT&T  forecasts  its  customers’  growing  demand  for  mobile  data  services  to  continue.  Customer   needs  require  AT&T  to  design  and  maintain  its  network  to  provide  and  improve  wireless  signal  quality  and  to   increase  data  rates  sufficient  to  stream  video.  Areas  that  do  not  meet  this  minimal  standard,  or  where   wireless  service  is  otherwise  compromised,  represent  service  issues  that  must  be  addressed.       Specifically,  this  proposed  small  cell  facility  will  help  improve  AT&T’s  wireless  services  by  offloading  network   traffic  carried  by  existing  macro  facilities  in  the  area.  In  addition,  faster  data  rates  allow  customers  to  get  on   and  off  the  network  quickly,  which  produces  more  efficient  use  of  AT&T’s  limited  spectrum.  By  placing  the   small  cell  facility  in  areas  where  AT&T’s  existing  wireless  telecommunications  facilities  are  constrained  and   where   AT&T   experiences   especially   high   network   traffic,   AT&T   can   address   the   existing   and   forecasted   demand  and  support  5G  speeds  in  the  near  future.       Improving  signal  quality  and  Increasing  data  speed  is  critical  to  providing  the  mobile  experience  customers   demand  and  to  manage  the  unprecedented  increase  in  mobile  data  usage  on  AT&T’s  network.  The  Center  for   Disease   Control   and   Prevention   (CDC)   tracks   the   rates   at   which   American   households   are   shifting   from   landlines  to  wireless  telecommunications.  According  to  the  CDC’s  latest  Wireless  Substitution  Report,  more   than  70  percent  of  Americans  rely  exclusively  or  primarily  on  wireless  communications  in  their  homes.1  In   addition,  the  FCC  estimates  that  70  percent  of  all  911  calls  are  made  from  wireless  devices.2  And  with  AT&T’s   selection  by  FirstNet  as  the  wireless  service  provider  to  build  and  manage  the  nationwide  first  responder   wireless  network,  each  new  or  modified  facility  will  help  strengthen  first  responder  communications.       AT&T  selected  the  proposed  facility  as  the  best  available  means  to  address  its  service  objectives  in  this   portion  of  the  city.  The  overall  site  location  and  design  will  comply  with  applicable  code  provisions,  General   Plan,  and  other  published  siting  guidelines.  The  proposed  small  cell  facility  will  be  located  in  the  public  right-­‐ of-­‐way,  where  AT&T  has  a  right  to  place  its  equipment  pursuant  to  Section  7901  of  the  California  Public   Utilities  Code.  The  project  will  involve  the  placement  of  a  small  antenna  and  associated  small  cell  equipment   on  a  replacement  streetlight.  For  this  small  cell,  AT&T  proposes  to  install  an  omni-­‐directional  antenna  at  the   top   of   a   replacement   streetlight  and   radios  fully   concealed   within  the   base   of   the   mono  pole.  The   concealment  will  be  painted  to  match  the  final  color  of  the  aggregate  concrete  light  pole.  The  facility  will  not   obstruct  pedestrian  or  vehicular  traffic.  It  will  not  adversely  affect  the  surrounding  properties  and  will  have  a   minimal  physical  and  aesthetic  footprint  in  this  area.  In  addition,  the  proposed  facility  fully  complies  with   applicable  design  criteria.  Therefore,  the  City  can  easily  make  the  necessary  findings  for  approval  for  this   small  cell  facility.                                                                                                                                 1  See  Wireless  Substitution:  Early  Release  of  Estimates  From  the  National  Health  Interview  Survey,  January-­‐June  2018,  available   at   http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/wireless201812.pdf    2   See  911  Wireless  Services ,  available  at:   https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/911-­‐wireless -­‐services       PA2019-129 Exhibit  B   The  project  scope  will  consist  of  the  following:     • Removal  and  replacement  of  a  streetlight.   • Installation  of  a  single  omni-­‐directional  antenna.   • Installation  of  four  remote  radio  units  and  raycap  disconnect  switch  within  a  shroud.   • Installation  of  below  grade  power  and  fiber  handholds.     Project  Code  Compliance     The   subject   project   complies   with   the   City   of  Newport   Beach’s  Wireless  Telecommunications  Facilities   Ordinance  in  the  Public  Right-­‐of-­‐Way,  Chapter  21.49  in  the  following  ways:     1. The  proposed  wireless  facility  is  a  small  cell  installation  to  be  installed  on  a  replaced  streetlight  in  the   public  right-­‐of-­‐way  to  match  the  existing  pole.       2. The  project  is  allowed  subject  to  the  city’s  approval  of  a  Minor  Use  Permit.    The  proposed  installation   will  not  interfere  with  the  use  of  the  existing  right-­‐of-­‐way.       3. The  proposed  facility  is  a  low  powered  antenna  designed  to  work  in  conjunction  with  other  small  cell   sites  in  the  area  and  to  off-­‐load  capacity  from  an  existing  macro  facility.    The  installation  will  comply   with   applicable   regulations   of   the   Federal   Communications   Commission   as   demonstrated   in   the   enclosed  FCC  Local  Official  Guide  to  RF  –  Appendix  A.   4. As  stated  in  the  project  narrative  above,  the  purpose  for  the  deployment  of  small  cells  is  to  increase   the  signal  quality  and  capacity  to  the  identified  area  in  this  portion  of  Newport  Beach.  As  such,   implementation  of  the  small  cell  project  will  reduce  a  data  signal  gap  that  currently  existing  at  this   location.     5. The  replacement  streetlight  is  consistent  with  the  size,  shape,  style,  and  design  of  the  existing  pole,   including  the  attached  light  arm.     6. The  replacement  streetlight,  placed  within  the  public  right-­‐of-­‐way,  does  not  exceed  thirty-­‐five  (35)   feet  in  height  above  the  finished  grade.       7. No  above  ground  mounted  equipment  is  proposed,  and  the  support  equipment  is  proposed  to  be   placed  in  underground  handholes.     8. All  transmission  equipment,  including  remote  radio  units  and  the  raycap  disconnect  switch,  are  fully   concealed  within  the  base  of  the  mono  pole.     9. Signage  displayed  on  the  wireless  facility  will  be  in  the  smallest  permissible  size.  There  will  be  no   advertising  signage.     10. The  applicant  will  conform  to  all  City  of  Newport  Beach  requirements.       Conformance  with  FCC  Regulations     The   proposed   low   powered   antenna   installation   attached   to   the   utility   pole   is   considered   categorical   excluded  by  the  FCC  based  on  the  analysis  included  in  the  FCC  Optional  Checklist  for  Determination  of  the   Local  Official’s  Guide  to  RF  (attached).  Installation  that  are  categorically  excluded  are  considered  to  meet  or   exceed  the  FCC  standards  for  RF  Emissions.       Construction,  Maintenance  and  Monitoring     Construction  of  the  proposed  project  will  take  approximately  30-­‐days.  All  construction  will  be  done  in  a   manner  that  minimizes  impact  to  residents  and/or  businesses  in  the  area.  Existing  underground  or  overhead   power  and  fiber  connections  will  be  used  with  minimal  trenching.  Directional  boring  will  be  used  when   deemed  appropriate  for  each  specific  location.     PA2019-129 Exhibit  B   Maintenance  of  the  subject  facility  is  minimal.  The  telecom  operator  will  be  responsible  for  maintenance  of   the  telecom  facility  including,  but  not  limited  to,  any  missing,  discolored  or  damaged  screening,  all  graffiti   removed  promptly,  and  the  facility  kept  clean  and  free  of  litter.  Monitoring  is  typically  done  from  AT&T’s   switching  offices.  If  needed,  a  site  visit  to  change  any  radio  equipment  will  be  coordinated  with  the  city   through  the  appropriate  process.     Site  Preferred  Location  and  Alternative  Analysis     As  noted  above,  the  purpose  for  the  proposed  small  cell  installation  on  a  City  streetlight  pole  is  to  provide  the   needed  coverage  and  signal  densification  as  shown  on  the  coverage  maps.    Per  the  Newport  Beach  Municipal   Code  (NBMC)  section  20.49.050  General  Development  and  Design  Standards,  installations  in  the  public  right-­‐ of-­‐way  (Class  3)  are  the  third  preferred  location  for  telecom  facilities  in  the  City.    Collocation  onto  existing   street  infrastructure  is  the  most  preferred  alternative  design.         AT&T  is  committed  to  providing  wireless  telecommunications  services  and  faster  data  rates  throughout  the   City  of  Newport  Beach  and  is  doing  so  by  installing  the  least  intrusive  technology,  with  the  least  intrusive   design  at  the  least  intrusive  locations  in  the  service  coverage  gap.    Rather  than  construct  traditional  tower   facilities  in  or  near  residential  neighborhoods,  AT&T  is  choosing  to  deploy  very  small  facilities,  called  “small   cells,”  that  can  be  installed  on  utility  infrastructure  in  the  public  right-­‐of-­‐way.     A  small  cell  is  a  low-­‐powered  cell  site,  which,  when  grouped  with  other  small  cells,  can  provide  coverage  in   areas  where  traditional  macro  wireless  facilities  are  discouraged.    Although  the  signal  from  each  small  cell   antenna  covers  a  shorter  range  than  a  conventional  tower  site,  small  cells  can  be  effective  tools  to  help  close   significant  gaps  in  service  coverage  with  a  minimal  environmental  and  aesthetic  footprint.    Node  HBNPB_030   will  help  AT&T  close  a  significant  gap  in  service  coverage  in  this  area  of  the  City  by  the  least  intrusive  means.     The   proposed  Node  is   within   a   residentially   developed   area   and   school.  Although  NBMC   prohibits   the   installation   of   telecom   facilities  in   residential   zoning   districts,  the   use   of   existing   street   infrastructure   is   allowed.    There  are  no  alternative  preferred  locations  under  Class  1  &  2  that  could  be  considered  for  the   proposed  small  cell.   PA2019-129