Technology installation could improve cell service in Mountain Brook

Cell phone service could improve around Mountain Brook in areas where there are currently gaps.

At its July 13 meeting the council considered amending the city’s Telecommunication Towers ordinance to allow for smaller antennas to be installed around the city .

These small pieces of equipment, called mini-cell sites, would supplement existing cell towers and would be attached to existing structures in the city right of way, such as Alabama Power, AT&T or traffic light poles.

The antennae would be about the size of a carry-on suitcase and only reach about 1,000 to 1,500 feet.

In addition to reaching areas without service, the sites would also help alleviate capacity for service. For instance, when a macro service site is covering Crestline when the Christmas Parade comes through the area, the sites would better be able to accommodate a large volume of service needed.

Mayor Terry Oden said he thinks the aesthetics will be the biggest potential barrier to allowing for the devises to be installed.

City Planner Dana Hazen said she does not see many drawbacks to them.

“I think they tend to blend into the background,” Hazen said.

The city would receive revenue from cell service providers for use of the new technology after it was installed, but the amount has yet to be determined.

Mountain Brook and Birmingham are currently the only cities in Alabama that have been approached about adding the ordinance to adopt the new technology.

The draft of the amendment for the Telecommunication Towers ordinance is still preliminary. A revised version of the amendment should come back before the council sometime in the future with the aim of getting an ordinance in place before a carrier approaches the city about an agreement.