CWTA to work closely with cities for better placement of cell towers

The lobby association that represents Canada's wireless industry says cellphone service providers will start consulting more with municipalities about improving the placement of cellphone towers in cities. The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association announces a new plan to work closely with municipalities to "find solutions to the challenge of building Canada’s digital infrastructure while respecting local land use preferences and community concerns."
Overall, more than 26 million Canadians currently own a mobile phone, and the wireless industry says that average traffic on some wireless networks is increasing at a pace of five to six percent per week.
All that wireless traffic means that mobile infrastructure is getting more and more strained, and the industry says that in order to avoid service outages, more wireless infrastructure is needed, but closer to people now than in the past.
That means that cellphone towers in cities and other populated areas, where they tend to draw complaints ranging from being an eyesore, to creating electronic interference will definetely be on the rise.
There are even some claims that they cause minor health problems. To combat the backlash, the CWTA says it has created the Joint Antenna System Siting Protocol, in which it promises "meaningful pre-consultations" with local landowners and authorities regarding the placement and shape of new cellphone towers.

The plan has the backing of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Under current rules, a cellphone company can put up a tower virtually anywhere it wants without any consulting, as long as the tower is less than 15 metres tall.
"Telecommunications carriers have agreed for the first time to notify municipalities of all antennas being installed before their construction, regardless of height, and to undertake full public consultation for towers under 15 meters — whenever deemed necessary by the municipality," the group said in a release.
"Canadians expect reliable, high-quality wireless service wherever they are," CWTA president Bernard Lord said. "By working together, communities and the industry can guarantee there is enough critical infrastructure in place to keep Canadians connected to the devices and technology they love, and keep our economy strong."