Musing on Municipal Wireless Facility Decisions: Consultant Recommends Political Approach
Wireless firms should take a sophisticated political approach to municipal site applications, recommends John Koos, former urban planner and principal of a site development consulting firm, in a recent article that mentions Glendale’s wireless moratorium: Second-gen political strategies need updating for 4G realities.
Koos observes that the industry hasn’t been up to the task of countering grassroots objections to cell sites:
During 2009, Glendale, Calif., imposed a moratorium on cell sites … Santa Fe, N.M., is considering a moratorium as I write this article; Eureka Springs, Ark., passed a six-month moratorium in April 2010. Need more evidence? Watch a teaser to “Full Signal” – a movie released in late 2009 that is winning film critic awards around the globe (www.fullsignalmovie.com).
He concludes by calling for proactive work in the community, active political support of technology-friendly local candidates (!), mock city council meetings and “messaging training programs”, and hiring trained professionals who understand government processes and attitudes.
[...] of the recommendations a site development consultant made to wireless companies in a June article (featured yesterday on Sunroom Desk). His overt call for national and multinational companies to invest in local political races should [...]