New advancements like 5G and smart city technologies have the potential to boost economic growth and make communities safer, more efficient and better connected. For municipalities, this opportunity requires a balanced approach that considers the needs and wants of multiple constituencies. With 30 years of experience working with nearly 700 cities and utilities, we're ready to partner with you to help you serve your community in a way that benefits everyone.

Infrastructure solutions that position your community for the future.

Our nationwide portfolio of towers, small cells and fiber makes us one of the largest providers of communications infrastructure. With this unique and integrated portfolio, we help communities meet their high-bandwidth needs and prepare for exciting new advancements on the horizon. Since all of our infrastructure can be shared, we’re able to accommodate multiple carriers and serve more people and businesses with less equipment and disruption.

Learn more about our infrastructure. 

Working with you to improve your most important connections.

We know that every community is different. That’s why we work to find and execute solutions that meet your specific needs. Our team of engineers is skilled in finding innovative ways to design infrastructure that preserves the aesthetics and character of your community. The installation requires no public investment; and since many projects require new fiber, it also opens broadband opportunities that may not have been previously available.

Learn more about our commitment to make a positive impact.

Small cells—hiding in plain sight.

Due to their small size and lower profile, small cells are often attached to existing structures like streetlights or utility poles. This helps them blend in with their surroundings and preserve the aesthetics of your community. Want to learn more? Take a tour of small cells deployed in communities.

A structured process for expanding small cells.

We carefully plan and execute every installation to meet the needs of the community it serves, as well as the municipality that oversees it. As we expand small cell networks across the country, we follow a process that ensures your community will be ideally situated for all its current and future wireless needs.

Evaluate needs and identify sites.

three-month assessment phase determines how best to meet your community’s communication needs. 

  • Carriers identify areas of need for residents, business owners and first responders. 

  • We evaluate existing sites that we can use and work with a carrier to identify locations to install new small cells and/or fiber lines that will best support the community.

  • We undertake a thorough assessment of local codes, regulations and expected impact. 

  • Like other public utilities in your community, our CLEC status in most states allows us to use existing assets in the public right of way whenever possible. 

Partner with municipalities and develop a plan.

Next, we collaborate with you to develop a plan to execute based on the assessment results. 

  • We finalize site locations, designs, and supporting fiber routes with your public works and utilities departments.
  • We make sure all state, local, and federal processes and regulations are being followed.
  • We partner closely with you to submit all information, permits, and applications according to municipal guidelines. Responses to permit applications are required within state and federally mandated timeframes.
  • We notify residents and hold public meetings with key stakeholders to educate the community and address any concerns.

Safely and efficiently execute the plan.

In the final two- to three-month stage, a construction manager oversees the safe installation of the small cell network and any necessary fiber. 

  • We apply for any additional permits as needed, including traffic control permits. The local utility may also apply for authorizations during this phase.
  • We notify residents of utility work about to begin in their neighborhood in accordance with local ordinances.
  • When possible, we work with local vendors for installation and materials.
  • We ensure all work follows local, state, and federal codes, including building, public works, electrical codes, and FCC guidelines for radiofrequency emissions.
  • We work with the appropriate officials for construction oversight to issue certificates of completion and occupancy, and to help plan future installations where possible. 

There was a lot of forethought put into it by the town leaders and Crown Castle to build it. By putting fiber to all of the nodes it made it future proof.

Brian S. Broadband Program Manager, State of Colorado

Wireless connectivity is so critically important in today's economy. Similar to roadways or transit systems, wireless infrastructure is what a city needs to be competitive.

Dewitt P. President & CEO, Downtown Austin Alliance

Answers to frequently asked questions.

We are certified and regulated as a CLEC (competitive local exchange carrier) to provide telecommunications service across the country. In each state, we obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the State Public Service/Utility Commission. This is granted once we meet all the requirements to qualify as a regulated utility. A copy can be obtained from your state’s website, or you can find a copy on our regulatory status page.

We are applying for the right to construct, operate, manage and maintain a telecommunications network in the public right of way. This will be necessary in order for the residents, visitors and businesses of your community to have access to the expanded wireless coverage and capacity that they need. The new infrastructure will also support emerging technologies like 5G, the internet of things and smart communities. All applications and construction work will be performed in compliance with your ordinances and permitting requirements. To make this process as smooth and seamless as possible, we will be requesting authorization for the following:

  • The affirmation of our right to enter into the public right of way to construct telecommunication services.
  • The right to utilize any municipally owned streetlights, traffic signal poles and/or municipally owned fiber and conduit for an agreed annual fee for the colocation of our facilities.

Yes. Please use the Resources column on the right side of the page to access additional, downloadable information.

Transmission levels vary based on equipment used. Radio output power can be as low as five to 10 watts per frequency band, or as high as 80 to 120 watts per band. All of our installations and customer equipment are routinely analyzed to ensure RF emissions are well below what FCC regulations permit.

The safety of RF emissions has been studied for more than 60 years and the research is subject to constant review by government health agencies and standard-setting organizations. These organizations have reached the same general conclusion: there are no established health hazards from exposure to RF emissions that are below the FCC limits. We routinely analyze our small cell installations to verify that all RF emissions from deployments are below FCC limits. We encourage you to seek out one of the many reputable and independent scientific studies that have been conducted around RF, including those from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the World Health Organization.

5G, the next generation of cellular networks, builds on 4G. Studies show that cellular signals are safe and, just like 4G, 5G emissions are similar to those from everyday technologies like TV, radio, wi-fi—even your toaster. To learn more about the safety of 5G, click here

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