Business & Tech
AT&T Wireless Gets Approval for Long-Awaited Improvements to Cellular Coverage
Notoriously terrible (or often non-existent) iPhone coverage in town may soon be a thing of the past.
The Sierra Madre City Council on Tuesday, April 12, approved a Conditional Use Permit application from AT&T Wireless that will allow the cellular provider to modify an existing T-Mobile “monopine” tower in an effort to improve coverage in Sierra Madre.
The new technology, which will be located in the city maintenance yard behind Sierra Vista Park, will, according to AT&T, greatly improve service in much of the city.
Despite the improvements on the east side of town, AT&T estimates indicate that there will still be significant coverage gaps in the city, something Richard Roche, AT&T’s director of external affairs attributed to a number of factors.
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“One thing that can decrease the range of a signal is a lot of lush, full trees,” Roche said in an interview following AT&T’s presentation at the City Council meeting. “That’s something this town has a lot of!”
Since Sierra Madre’s lush greenery isn’t likely going anywhere, many residents will still be in the areas still shaded yellow on the attached maps. Indeed, while the green area is expected to grow significantly around the new antennas, some residents on the western side of town won’t receive the full benefits.
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But Roche assured Patch that his company is on the case with regards to that matter as well. Last month, AT&T submitted plans for another collocated tower, this one at Sierra Madre’s United Methodist Church. That tower, combined with other projects currently being developed in Arcadia and Pasadena should eventually close the coverage gap that’s plagued Sierra Madre for years.
Over the next few months, AT&T will install 12 panel antennas, a microwave dish, two DC surge protectors and two GPS antennas onto the tower as well as install eight equipment cabinets at the base of the tower.
As for why it’s taken so long for Sierra Madre to get attention from AT&T Wireless, Roche answered quite honestly.
“I really don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know if there was some sort of miscommunication between the city and the company or what. I just know that we’re building all the time and as fast as we can.”