Cell Towers Hit 'Not In My Back Yard' Syndrome

Ten years ago, the U.S. had 24 million cell phone subscribers, said Joe Farren, a spokesman for CTIA-The Wireless Association, the trade group for the industry. Today, more than 190 million cell phones are in use. To keep up, cell "sites" - towers and antennas mostly - have increased tenfold - from fewer than 18,000 in 1994 to more than 175,000 now. Without additional towers, calls are lost and reception suffers. "Our companies are always running into this conundrum, which is, 'We want cell phone service, but don't put that tower here,'" Farren said. "When you're dealing with communications through the air, you have to have antennas and towers." Cell sites can be a financial boon to those who provide space for them. Cell companies won't discuss rent, but Donohue said companies typically pay $800 to $2,000 per month, depending on location, the size of the tower or antenna, and other factors. That can be a significant amount for a struggling school district or a church with stagnant or declining membership. http://www.mobilepipeline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=169500329