Four-G cell coverage will be coming to the area, possibly by this summer, according to Town of Webb Supervisor Ted Riehle and Councilman Mike Ross, who discussed the topic at Tuesday’s Town of Webb Board meeting.
Ross described recent discussions with AT&T, National Grid, the APA, and General Dynamics, a subsidiary of AT&T, to modify the existing cell tower located atop McCauley Mountain.
“I got a hold of AT&T and they want to upgrade the system,” Councilman Ross said. “It is going to be a lot better—and yes, it will be 4G, from what they told me.”
The statement was given in response to an inquiry by Lori Zellweger, an Old Forge resident and interested cell user.
However, there are still some things that need to be done first.According to Supervisor Riehle the town ultimately has control of the tower, but the Adirondack Park Agency has jurisdiction over what happens on it, while the actual owner of the tower is National Grid.
So, before any changes can be made, permits must be acquired from the APA and National Grid must conduct a series of tests.
One test, a structural test, has already been conducted and passed.
Another study still needs to be done to make sure the modifications don’t interfere with National Grid’s communications systems.
“They [AT&T] would like everything to go through so they can do it in June,” Councilman Ross said. “That being said…they [still] have to go through the permit process.”
However, according to Ross, the APA has indicated that the upgrade will not be an issue, and National Grid is on board barring a test failure.
“Ultimately we have control of the tower and the APA has jurisdiction on what goes on on that tower and they needed our permission to make the needed modifications,” Supervisor Riehle said.
“I would feel comfortable with the board entertaining a resolution to allow the modifications, I don’t see a problem with that. I’d hate to see this get hung up if they are trying to get this established before the busy summer season.”
A motion was made and a resolution to allow AT&T to make modifications to the cell tower was passed by the board, on the condition that all required permitting has been taken care of.
