Cell Tower
October 2016 Update: As early as seven years ago, the Tahoe Donner Board of Directors began receiving similar requests and comments, as land-lines were becoming less favored and dependency for mobile services increased. Five years ago, the Board voted to sign a land-lease and use-contract with American Tower Company (ATC), allowing ATC to pursue interested mobile service providers and pursue Town of Truckee Planning Commission approval in early 2013, where they then completed construction of a mono-pine tower near the Downhill Ski Area in 2015.
ATC continues to work diligently with all interested service providers, with T- Mobile now currently in contract and distributing mobile signal. Other service providers have reviewed ATC’s mono-pine in Tahoe Donner, but currently report that they require a greater number of customers in the greater Tahoe Donner area to justify an additional tower lease and expense. With that, Tahoe Donner homeowners are encouraged to contact their service providers and request increased mobile service levels and dependability in their neighborhoods. In the meantime, if you are interested in improved service from your home, there are boosters/repeaters available from your service provider, and they reportedly work well. If you require improved service levels outside your home, and around your neighborhood, you may find T-Mobile is the most dependable mobile service provider at this time.
February 2016 Update: Tahoe Donner has been working to help improve cell coverage throughout the association, with the board of directors agreeing to lease land to American Tower Company, who chose to finance and build the mono pine tower in 2015, and are now working with interested service providers to hang necessary equipment. Aside from T-Mobile, competing service providers such as ATT, Verizon, and Sprint are still considering their options to improve cell signal in North Truckee. At this time, homeowners may find it beneficial to contact their service providers and request that their service be improved.
September 2015 Update: The new mono-pine cell tower is now installed at the top of Eagle Rock Chairlift, with T-Mobile signed on as anchor tenant. Throughout recent years, American Tower Corporation has successfully obtained conditions of approval from Tahoe Donner Association and the Town of Truckee Planning Commission, allowing installation of all underground utilities starting this last June. With these successes and continued infrastructure installation, we anticipate tower operations will begin in early 2016.
July Update: Construction progress continues with strong momentum, where the General Contractor still aims for completion during the Fall of 2015. With T-Mobile as the anchor tenant, cell phone users may find direct reception improvements where software compatibility and appropriate roaming plans are in place. Check with your current service provider for more information.
June Update: The Tahoe Donner Board of Directors approved American Tower Company (ATC) to procure development and agency approvals for necessary utility improvements for a mono-pine cell tower, to be located near the top of Eagle Rock Chairlift, and to establish satisfactory lease agreements with interested industry service providers, including interested companies such as T-Mobile. Throughout this last year, ATC successfully obtained conditions of approval from the Town of Truckee Planning Commission, along with necessary Building Permits, allowing installation of all underground utilities this last June. With the actual tower and remaining infrastructure to be placed in early August, we anticipate tower operations will begin during this Fall of 2015.
Background
Tahoe Donner Association continues to work with American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT) to build a new cell tower near the top of the Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area Eagle Rock lift to better provide cell coverage for the entire community.
The Tahoe Donner Board of Directors has approved American Tower Company (ATC) to procure development and agency approvals for necessary utility improvements for a mono-pine cell tower, and to establish satisfactory lease agreements with interested industry service providers, which can often be challenging in sparsely populated locations, but with ATC’s persistence and recent successes, there continues to be momentum. Simultaneously, ATC has successfully obtained conditions of approval from the Town of Truckee Planning Commission, and the Building Department is now working to issue a grading permit for anticipated construction in summer of 2015.
In the meantime, many homeowners have found that their service providers provide signal repeaters for residential use, which have shown to boost signal levels to satisfactory levels.