Our Article in SC Lawyer Magazine
If you are a cell tower lease attorney or a property owner navigating a wireless infrastructure deal, understanding the full legal and financial landscape is essential. Gunnerson Consulting recently published a featured article in South Carolina Lawyer magazine — the official publication of the South Carolina Bar Association — to help attorneys better serve clients who have been approached about placing a cell tower or rooftop antenna on their property.
About the Article
The article is titled “My Client Was Approached about Placing a Cell Tower (or Rooftop Antenna) on its Property – What Should I Do?” and was written specifically for attorneys representing property owners. Whether your client has received a lease proposal from AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Crown Castle, or another wireless carrier or tower company, this article provides the foundational knowledge every cell tower lease attorney needs to protect their client’s interests.
Why This Article Matters to Attorneys
Most attorneys have little background in the wireless communications industry. Carriers and tower companies, on the other hand, negotiate hundreds of cell tower leases every year and rely on property owners — and their attorneys — being unfamiliar with standard industry terms and practices. This information asymmetry often results in below-market rents, one-sided lease terms, and agreements that significantly limit a property owner’s future options.
Our article was designed to level the playing field by giving attorneys a practical crash course in the wireless industry so they can ask the right questions, identify problematic lease clauses, and ultimately secure better outcomes for their clients. Every cell tower lease attorney who reads this article will be better equipped to evaluate the true value of a wireless site agreement and push back on unfavorable carrier terms.
5 Topics Covered in the Article
The article covers a range of key topics that any cell tower lease attorney should understand before advising a client on a wireless infrastructure deal:
- How cellular networks are structured — Understanding macrocell towers, small cells, and distributed antenna systems (DAS) and how they relate to lease value and negotiating leverage
- Types of wireless infrastructure — Cell towers, rooftop antenna sites, water tank installations, and small cell deployments each come with different lease considerations and risk profiles
- Key lease terms to watch out for — Escalation rates, termination rights, subletting provisions, and co-location clauses that can significantly affect the long-term value of the lease for your client
- The lease buyout market — What property owners should know before signing away future lease payments in exchange for a lump sum, including how to evaluate whether a buyout offer is fair
- Working with a wireless lease consultant — How an experienced cell tower consultant can work alongside an attorney to provide technical and market expertise that strengthens your client’s negotiating position
How Gunnerson Consulting Helps Attorneys
Gunnerson Consulting works exclusively for property owners — never for the carriers or tower companies. With decades of experience in the wireless industry, we have the expertise to help attorneys and their clients understand the true value of a cell tower lease and negotiate terms that protect the property owner’s long-term interests. We regularly partner with cell tower lease attorneys across the country to provide expert consulting support on cell tower and rooftop antenna lease matters.
When a carrier approaches your client, the clock starts ticking. Carriers send standardized lease documents that are heavily slanted in their favor. Having a cell tower lease attorney who understands the industry — and a consultant who can provide market data and technical analysis — gives your client the best possible chance of securing a fair, long-term agreement.
Contact Gunnerson Consulting Today
If you are a cell tower lease attorney with a client who has been approached by a wireless carrier or tower company, we invite you to contact Gunnerson Consulting today for a free initial consultation. We can help you understand the deal on the table, identify red flags in the proposed lease, and develop a strategy to maximize your client’s outcome.