Officials of Crown Castle made a pitch to the City Council on Tuesday for permission to set up small cell networks around Chattanooga, including on city and EPB poles.
Ann Brooks said the group met with city officials in December about its plan to deploy infrastructure around the city and improve wireless network services.
Jason Hagy said there is currently an overload on traditional macro installations, such as cell towers, causing dropped calls and other problems in data transmission. He said the surge to 5G and beyond is exacerbating the problem.
He said small cells can be implemented to take some of the load off the larger wireless facilities and improve service, especially in areas such as stadiums and arenas where a large number of people employ cell phones and other devices at the same time.
He said the small cell units can consist of an antenna placed on a pole that is connected to fiber.
Mr. Hagy said the firm would like to utilize public poles as well as erect its own poles.
He said the poles have about a 10-mile range.
Councilwoman Carol Berz asked if the firm wanted to erect cell towers, and officials said that was a possibility - especially in sections away from downtown. But they said the main focus is on smaller poles.
Assistant City Attorney Phil Noblett, who is heading up a city group looking into regulations for small cell providers, said concerns being studied include addition of unsightly towers and equipment boxes as well as noise from the units.
He said small cell towers that have gone up in California are as tall as 120 feet. He said some of the equipment boxes there are as large as refrigerators.
Attorney Noblett said the city is also studying what charges should be assessed to the providers for access to city poles.