Cell Phone Companies Reach Tower Compromise with Metro Council

Cell phone carriers have come to a mutual agreement with the Metro Council regarding tighter restrictions on their towers.

The Wireless Infrastructure Association signed off on the proposed changes in a letter dated Tuesday. The restrictions aim to reduce the overall number of towers in Davidson County by forcing carriers to share space with at least two other companies. The bill also allows tornado sirens and emergency communications equipment to use the towers.

Sponsoring Councilman Sam Coleman says his goal was to make the permitting process for cell towers more public.

“I would have loved a process when it would have worked as if it was a zoning matter, where it had to go through three readings of the council. But until state laws change, that’s not going to be possible.”

Under Coleman’s revised bill, cell phone carriers will be required to notify neighbors within a thousand feet of a new tower and meet with them and the local councilman.

The Metro Council will take a final vote on tower regulations Thursday night.

The Wirless Infrastructure Association estimates Davidson County has 150 cell phone towers. The FCC keeps counts 196, though that also includes broadcast and emergency towers.