New cell tower under scrutiny

Bow Editor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:40:00 GMT

Verizon Wireless Communications is studying potential visibility issues for a proposed tower on Upper Straw Road in Hopkinton.

During a test on Aug. 25, a balloon was flown at both 78 and 90 feet to see if residents would have any issues with the proposed tower, which would be camouflaged to look like an evergreen tree.

“We haven’t received any feedback (from the town) since we ran the balloon test,” said Ted Hildreth, the local attorney for Verizon Wireless, “but there were a few town members who came to the first meeting with the Planning Board and expressed their concern. One (person) was concerned about having a second tower in the area, and the other was concerned about the access road being built.”

Hildreth said while the balloon was flying, he drove in many areas surrounding the test, and was not able to see the balloon in most of them.

The Verizon group also took images during the test to put together a design of what the tower would look like for a presentation to be given to the Planning Board at a later date.

Hopkinton resident Jerry Tepe had no issues with the test.

“I couldn’t see the balloons during the test,” he said. “If we want to see new technology, we have to live with what comes with that. There are places I don’t want to see them, like in historic or scenic areas, but I am willing to live with the towers.”

If constructed, the tower will help eliminate a gap in wireless coverage near Exit 4 on I-89, where many customers lose service, something Hildreth said can be dangerous.

“That is a very busy road in the state and everyone using it has this experience,” he said. “In some cases it is a matter of life or death, but in many cases it is just a matter of convenience for being able to communicate wirelessly.”

The need for better cellular reception is necessary according to Hildreth, because in a 2005 study done for the state of New Hampshire, more communications were done through wireless than from land lines.

Hildreth made his first presentation to the Planning Board, and now plans to report the results of the balloon test to the members at the next meeting in September.

Hopkinton News : cell phones

New cell tower under scrutiny