Cell Site Decommissioning Gotcha - Beware
In recent decommissioning cycles the cellular companies contacted their landlords with a unique proposal: They offer to remove their proprietary equipment, and leave other equipment that will 'make it easier for the property owner to attract a new tenant'. In some instances they even offer small amount of cash to leave this equipment.
With Sprint and T-Mobile now together, it is widely expected that several thousand cell sites will be decommissioned. We anticipate this same 'offer' being made to property owners. If you receive an offer from your cellular tenant, asking for permision to abandon their equipment on your property, there are some important factors to consider. Below are a couple:
- Will allowing equipment to be abandoned on your site assist in attracting new/replacement tenants?
- How is the coverage for all other wireless carriers in your area?
- Is the abandoned equipment something that new wireless tenants will reuse, or will they install their own (i.e. antenna mounts, utilities, cabling; vs. towers, shelters)?
- What would the cost be to remove the abandoned cellular equipment should you need/want to do so?
- Equipment shelters may require the use of a crane to remove, and a flatbed semi-trailer to haul away. Sometimes special tools are required.
- Tower foundations are reinforced concrete bored deep into the ground and can be quite costly to remove. If any development of the property is to occur, this can create a significant expense.
- Most cell site utilities are underground, many are easements granted to utility companies. Will these affect redevelopment/use of the property?
- Does your local jurisdiction require you to remove the equipment if a new tenant is not added within a set amount of time?
- Some local zoning codes require that antennas, mounts, and ancillary equipment be removed shortly after use is terminated. one local code we reviewed required towers to be removed within one year of termination of use.
- What liabilities are you agreeing to?
- Cell towers require periodic inspections and maintenance.
- Antenna mounts on buildings or water tanks require that fasteners be inspected periodically, and do require maintenance.
In our experience, abandoning incidental equipment such as antenna mounts, cabling, antennas, etc. does not assist property owners in attracting new wireless tenants. Towers are a different animal and need to be reviewed carefully for condition, and probability of attracting a new tenant.
If you have questions regarding a cell tower or cell site decommissioning, contact us right away!.