Can you hear me now? Bradenton Beach may soon get the call.
Kevin Barile, of Florida Tower Partners told commissioners that Verizon equipment would soon be installed on the city’s cell tower.
Speaking at the Jan. 22 commission meeting, Barile updated the panel on the status of two contracted carriers for the tower, located adjacent to the public works department.
Commissioners cast a vote Jan. 8, which effectively prevented FTP from selling the cell tower to another company, expressing disappointment with delays in getting AT&T and Verizon installed and activated.
Barile did not mention the vote. He said his company was requested Jan. 12 to issue a “notice to proceed” to UCI Construction Services of Tampa, the contractor that will install Verizon’s equipment on the tower. UCI partnered with FTP to build the tower, he said.
The UCI-Verizon building permit was expected to be approved by Jan. 23, Barile said. Preliminary installation work was slated to start the week of Jan. 26.
“The critical path from here to getting Verizon on there is getting the” 55,000-pound shelter fabricated and all of the radios installed inside that shelter, and then it’s delivered, Barile said.
Antennas and lines also will be installed within the tower. Barile said UCI expects Verizon to be transmitting from the tower two weeks after the shelter arrives.
However, Barile had no update for commissioners regarding AT&T’s installation. The company is having a “big, statewide meeting” Feb. 9, Barile said. He pledged to give commissioners an update on AT&T’s progress soon after.
Landscaping was to commence during the week of Jan. 26, because sea grape trees are difficult to find this time of year. Barile said he spoke with city officials about the location
Anna Maria cell tower update
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy reported that Florida Tower Partners, the company building the cell tower at Anna Maria City Hall, plans to start construction Feb. 1.
“They had moved the start date back to April 1, but we got enough permits through that they said they would start Feb. 1. April 1 was just not good enough. We need the tower up and operating.”
Once the cell tower is finished, mobile cell phone carriers Verizon and AT&T are expected to add equipment to the tower.
Anna Maria is due a payment of $350,000 from FTP on activation of service and future lease payments from cell service providers. for cabbage palms.
“That was one lingering issue,” he said. “That’s been resolved.”