I'm sure everyone is aware of the ever changing advances in technology in our society. With all the new items on the market, like MP3 players and multi-functional cell phones, many retailers have had difficulty keeping up with the new trends. With each new year these advances in the electronic and computer technology keep most of us on our toes.
One area that has fallen behind the times is the sector that oversees cell tower placement. I am speaking of our local Hernando County ordinance that regulate the placement of cell towers. In 2000, cell companies were flooding our county and the fear of having a glut of towers was very real possibility for our community. The Hernando County Board of Commissioners took the lead in 2000 and developed an ordinance regulating cell towers. The mind-think of 2000 was having high towers, with multiple carriers, to prevent having a cell tower every mile, or so, with strict adherence to radius rings of coverage. This thinking was excellent for 2000 but has quickly become outdated as technology has increased the demand for cell phones.
Today, people are using cell phones in place of land-line units within their homes and businesses which has created a new problem for cell phone companies. The towers need to be lower and closer together for appropriate coverage within the confines of a home or business. Lowering the heights of some of these towers has given rise to the many new towers being erected in densely populated areas of Hernando County over the last year. With these new towers cropping up, so are the concerns of the local neighbors. This lower tower requirement, with the need for closer proximity, was tackled in Phoenix, Arizona by co-locating the cell tower equipment on utility power poles with in the city. Other areas of the country have used innovative approaches by placing the tower equipment on church steeples, water towers, and the signage of local businesses.
At the last month's meeting of Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission, I requested that Ron Pianta, planning director, ask the future direction of the Hernando County Board of Commissioners regarding a review and update of the ordinance relating to cell towers. Hopefully, the 2006 county commission will be as progressive as that of the sitting board of 2000, with this new technology facing Hernando County.
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