Canadian Network Replies to Tower Sitting Review

Canada's Microcell has filed its comments with Dr. David A. Townsend, Chairman of the National Antenna Tower Policy Review Committee. The Company's submission called for a more consumer- and community-friendly approach to wireless antenna siting in Canada.

Professor Townsend was recently mandated by the Minister of Industry, the Honourable Allan Rock, to conduct a comprehensive review of how efficiently the wireless industry deploys networks and infrastructure across the country. Industry Canada is the national regulator of radiocommunications in Canada and is responsible for authorizing the location of radiocommunication facilities.

"As wireless service providers, we rely on positive and mutually beneficial relations with consumers and communities in order to operate successful businesses," said Carl Dexter, Vice-President of Network Services, Microcell Solutions Inc. "These relations are compromised when antenna siting and exclusive leasing arrangements are used as a competitive tool among wireless providers. The competitive battles should be fought in the marketplace, not in communities. We need a new regime and way of doing business that creates more consumer-friendly conditions, renewed respect for the impact of antenna siting in communities, and more efficient network deployment for all wireless providers," he added.

In its comments, Microcell recommended that Industry Canada be asked to impose conditions on wireless network operators in such a way as to impose a ban on exclusive site leasing arrangements that provide one wireless operator with sole access to rooftops of properties belonging to third parties. Also, to impose a ban on the practice of "site banking", which requires wireless operators to trade access to antenna sites in order to gain access to other sites; and impose an obligation on wireless network operators to offer site co-location, upon demand from another operator, where this is technically feasible and on commercially reasonable terms."

Posted to the site on 27th October 2003