Subject:
Title
Authorization to advertise Invitations to Bid for wireless co-locations on County-owned properties/towers listed on the Wireless Telecommunications Facilities Master Plan.
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Fiscal Impact:
No impact on the General Fund, this would be a new revenue source.
Dept/Office:
Public Safety Group: Emergency Management
Requested Action:
Recommendation
Requesting Board authorization to:
1. Advertise via Invitations to Bid (ITB); for future wireless facilities development/co-locations on the County-owned properties/towers listed in the Board-approved wireless Telecommunication Facilities Master Plan, as new requests are received during fiscal year 2022.
2. Authorize the County Manager or his designee to execute the licenses and any additional changes, documents, administrative or budget actions, as well as any amendments to the Licenses, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office & Risk Management.
3. Authorize the County Manager to direct the associated revenues to the Emergency Operations Center funding. to support special program/projects, as deemed necessary.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
The County owns three telecommunication towers that are not part of the 800 MHz Public Radio System. As with the 800 MHz Public Radio System, it is that existing infrastructure that garners interest from wireless companies looking to expand their coverage and results in them contacting Emergency Management about licensing opportunities.
In addition to the telecommunication towers, the County owns specific vacant land, identified in the Wireless Telecommunication Facilities Master Plan, that have been approved for the development of wireless telecommunication facilities (pending a feasibility assessment). This “pre-designated” status can also create interest from wireless companies looking to expand their coverage and results in them contacting Emergency Management about leasing the land in order to build (at their expense) a telecommunications tower
The value of each licensed depends on location, density, competition, and market demands.
Emergency Management recommends offering:
1. 20-year agreement
2. Baseline annual fee at no less than $27,000 (may be higher, based on a site by site basis and is it space licensing on an existing tower vs land leasing for them to build a tower)
3. Minimum annual increase of 3% or the CPI-Urban increase for Brevard, whichever is greater.
4. The awarded vendor shall comply with all applicable local, state, and federal licensing requirements and permits.
Both the licensing of space on existing telecommunication towers or leasing of approved vacant land offer the County the opportunity to create additional revenue streams that can be dedicated to the Emergency Operations Center special projects/programs.
As the property owners, the County can choose to not license the space to wireless companies but cannot prevent those companies from finding alterative locations (build their own towers, privately owned buildings, etc.) from which to expand their network coverage.
The Communications Act, prohibits local and state governments from regulating the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent that such facilities comply with the regulations concerning such emissions and those facilities comply with local zoning authorities.
A FAQ on wireless collection has been included in the agenda packet for additional information
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Send Clerk Memorandum to Emergency Management.