NTAIL plans for Backdoor Technology

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Dobbs, Stephanie

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Jun 3, 2016, 7:24:50 AM6/3/16

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Good morning all-

Illinois has received several permits from a company called NTAIL requesting to install wood single pole cell towers on ROW as a utility.

We have multiple concerns (noted below in clipped email notes) and would like to know if any of your state is receiving similar requests or even specifically from NTAIL?

Did you allow them as a utility?

Did you deny the permit?

Did you allow with specific requirements?

If your state hasn't yet seen these, how would/will you handle them? Do you have specific policies to address this type of technology?

Currently we have received many requests in our district that includes the East St. Louis metro area.

Thank you in advance for any and all input.

Stephanie Dobbs

Roadside Manager

Illinois Department of Transportation

ISA Certified Arborist

Region 3 District 5, Operations

217-251-6036

Stephan...@illinois.gov

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Begin forwarded message:

Attached are parts of two sets of plans I received in the last three days for proposed NTAIL utility sites on State right-of-way. This is the company that is trying to install modified cell towers for "backdoor" data transmission. While I realize these would be a Utility Permit, since the company was sending all of their applications to the wrong agencies in their first attempt, I had asked their local manager, Mark Nabong, to send them to me so that we could make sure they were on right-of-way that was under our jurisdiction, as opposed to sending them to cities for sites along IDOT routes.

They have reduced the height of their poles from 100' down to 75' (with a 4' antenna at the top) but they still show them as proposed right off of the edge of the pavement. There will be many more sites within District 8, based on feedback and submittals received by local cities (who are all opposed to the towers).

Operations concerns are:

1. The wood poles are still very tall at over 70'

2. They are non-breakaway

3. They are shown within the clear zone

4. Cellular Data Transmission is not your "typical" utility facility located within ROW. Do we have a policy requiring these types of facilities to be on private property or at the very least, at the back of ROW?

5. Page 2.0 of their plans states that "they have not evaluated the equipment or the poles indicated for adequate support and that prior to installation a structural evaluation should be performed". Who do they assume is to perform this evaluation? Wouldn't we want something in writing that the poles (size and height) are adequate for the equipment proposed?

NTAIL plans.pdf

ATT00001.htm

Mitch.B...@dot.ohio.gov

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Jun 6, 2016, 8:41:55 AM6/6/16

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Stephanie-

ODOT has not received any requests from NTAIL specifically but have received requests from like companies wanting to do the same thing.

We have been working through the details for allowing that type of small cells. ODOT sends the request to our ODOT consultant, Wireless Edge, and we go from there.

We do establish fees and agreements as this is a for-profit project in ODOT R/W.

Let me know if you want to see a sample of the agreement and fee structure and I can probably track one down.

Thank You.

Mitch Blackford

Ohio Department of Transportation

Highway Management Administrator

District Six

740-833-8069