Benefits

With an ever-increasing demand for fast and reliable wireless service, infrastructure must be built and upgraded constantly. Cell towers play a crucial role in modern telecommunications infrastructure and are the most reliable way to deliver critical wireless coverage. Cell towers provide many benefits for everyone, including:

Extended Coverage

Cell towers enable wireless communication over a wide coverage area, allowing people to make calls, send text messages, and access the internet using mobile devices. 97% of American adults own a cellphone.

Increased Capacity

When data demand on a network is too high, capacity gets maxed out. Devices stop being able to transmit data, so it seems like there is no coverage at all. Capacity is why mobile network operators need to densify infrastructure in certain areas.

Enhanced Data Speeds

With the deployment of advanced technologies like 4G LTE and 5G, cell towers can deliver faster data speeds, enabling faster browsing, smoother video streaming, smart communities, and other data-intensive applications.

Emergency Communication

General Public: Cell towers play a critical role in emergencies. They allow people to make emergency calls, send alerts, and access information during natural disasters, accidents, or other emergencies. 80% of all 911 calls are made on mobile devices in most areas. 62% of U.S. households are mobile-only.

First Responders: Cell towers assist emergency services by providing location data to dispatchers on live 911 calls and facilitating communication among first responders.

Business and Economic Growth

Reliable wireless communication is essential for businesses and communities, as it supports mobile transactions, remote work, access to online learning, telemedicine, and online collaboration. Communities without easy access to the internet are considered underserved and lack the same opportunities as others. Ultimately, stronger networks make stronger communities.

The Proposed Facility will enhance and expand the First Responder Network Authority (“FirstNet”) in Prince George’s County. FirstNet is a nationwide high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated solely to America’s first responders and emergency personnel. Following the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, the United States Congress established FirstNet to provide reliable public safety networks across the country and dedicated bandwidth for use by first responders. (See AT&T First Net Information Sheets ). The goal was to prevent the pervasive communications failures that occurred during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The federal government entered into an exclusive contract with AT&T to provide FirstNet services, and FirstNet is only available where AT&T has sufficient wireless coverage. On July 11, 2017, the Commonwealth of Virginia became the first state to opt into the FirstNet National Safety Broadband Network. Every U.S. state and territory has since opted in.