I'll echo what Tom has said. I was successful in working with municipalities when was I was able to show benefit to them. "Your constituents don't just want this they need this". Ask a number of folks who actually want the service to attend the board meeting for support. They heard loud and clear what they needed. I was even able to reduce our fees for the tanks by showing losses for as long as a year until we were able to gain enough customers to pay the lease and some of the equipment costs back . We pay anywhere from $150 per water tank through $350 per tank and are located on 10 tanks across three water districts. Some are easier to work with than others.
Something we have done for one of the water companies is use our systems to transmit control data to and from tanks for them - a big savings for them. We now maintain all their radio communications for them. We adjusted their antennas moved by a hurricane last year, we physically look at their tanks every time we are on site. I don't have one water company I work for that has anyone on staff willing to climb a tank. If a problem appears we notify them and also notify them prior to going on any of their sites - they like that. One thing to remember about water tanks - they are very expensive to build and maintain - as much as 250K to paint. We've had a few board members continue to vote no for lease renewals based on benefit vs risk. They have said that for the few hundred they get from us - it just doesn't justify the risk. The primary purpose is to deliver water. We proposed nothing but hot dipped galvanized parts or stainless steel equipment on the tanks, and are on the hook if we damage the tank. They hate seeing rust run down the side of a tank - very unsightly. We have never been able to do any welding on tanks - but now - new tanks that are built - we work with the engineers to design mounts for us to use prior to construction. Hope this helps. David Hulsebus Portative Technologies www.portative.com Michael Baird wrote: > Tom, > > Thanks this is just the sort of information I was looking for. I was > also looking for maybe some notes or documentation from someone who's > done the presentation dance in front of the municipality. > > Regards > Michael Baird > >> The goal is to learn what the muni's objective is. Their objective is not >> always to enable broadband expansion. >> Sometimes a small town cares more about generating a new source of revenue. >> Your goal is to changed the perspective that they'll want to charge you >> $2000/month to co-locate, to one that they want to give you space for free, >> because of the economic development need to the community to deliver >> broadband. You'll want to be friend influencial people in the community, >> and get them excited about broadband. >> >> You'll want to document competence for the water tower work. Address >> concerns for safety, cosmetic appeal, and potential damage to the water >> tower. You'll want to document insurance. But mostly, you'll want to >> document the need for your services in the community. And you'll want to >> offer a "direct benefit" to the town government as well. (For example, >> inkind trade worth of broadband service to a few key public venues). >> >> You'll also want to research the zoning options for constructing towers, so >> you know what your alternatives are, if the town board is not cooperative. >> >> Make sure you have a long term agreement to co-locate.(For example 5 years >> renewable for up to 20 years.) >> >> Make sure your agreement has first-in non-intererence clauses, specifiying >> the spectrum ranges that you will be using. >> >> Tom DeReggi >> RapidDSL & Wireless, Inc >> IntAirNet- Fixed Wireless Broadband >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Michael Baird" <m...@tc3net.com> >> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> >> Sent: Monday, March 02, 2009 11:49 AM >> Subject: [WISPA] Tower colocation request >> >> >> >> >>> Hi guys, we are looking to deploy a wifi system on a local water tower >>> to service and underserved area. This will be our first experience >>> dealing with a new municipality and we have it slated for a board >>> agenda. I was wondering if there were standard proposals out there to >>> use, or if someone had an example they were willing to share, of what >>> information they provide to the municipality, or what to pay attention >>> to when trying to get space on the tower. >>> >>> Regards >>> Michael Baird >>> >>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> WISPA Wants You! 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