Small Cell 101: Building wireless in the public right of way

Small Cell 101: Building wireless in the public right of wayNatasha Ernst, Attorney, Channel Law Group

What is an outdoor Small Cell?“Small Cell” describes a single DAS

node, micro or pico cell, or remote radio head/unit (RRH/RRU)

Small wireless “base stations”Typically placed in the public right

of wayDAS nodes and RRHs are

connected to fiber going to a “head end” and BTS

Attached to utility poles and streetlights, or placed in new “stealth” poles

Antenna can be placed in the “comm space” or on the “pole top”

Equipment is often placed in a shroud, with an external disconnect switch and meter (if not a flat power rate)

Utility Spaces“Power” or

“electric” space40” of “safety”

space

Antenna & cables in the “communication” or “comm” space

Equipment in the “common” or “unusable” space

• Technologically different, but very similar in form and coverage

Small Cell Varieties

Heavily RegulatedFederal

◦NEPA Checklist◦224 Pole Attachments

State◦Statewide Franchise

(CLEC, wireless carriers)◦Pole Attachments◦NESC/GO-95 in California◦CEQA

Local◦Additional permitting with

state and federal limits

Pole Selection Location: Pole top

v. Comm Space Coverage: Pole top

may be necessary for better coverage

Structure: Utility pole, streetlight, or other

Agreements: Make sure agreements in place or note it will need to be obtained

Pole Selection Utility Poles:

right to attach (≈free!)

Street Lights: last resort ($1000-36,000)

NESC v. GO 95NESC Rule239H:

Communication cables shall be covered with a suitable non-metallic material extending 40-inches above the highest supply conductor.

Pole Owner Standards: Many electric utilities choose 4 feet.

But in California . . . General Order 95 Rule 94.4: 4-feet over secondary, 6-feet over primary.

Construction Make-ready

FCC States: Strict make-ready timelines

Certified states: Vary from strict to non

Jurisdiction Obtain construction &

electrical permits Turn up

Fiber connection PIM & sweeps test

Local Governments: New Poles Slim line lamp

post “alternate” forms

Equipment: Example Antennas Omni Antennas:

Kathrein quasi-omni is the most popular

Panel Antennas: 2’ directional antennas are used for precise targets

Equipment: Example Boxes DAS nodes, Remote Radio Heads, and micro or

pico cells are different, but may all be placed in similar, if not identical, shrouds.

DAS: CommScope ION-M Alcatel Lucent RRH Alcatel Lucent Metro Cell

Please contact with further questions:

NATASHA ERNST Channel Law Group, LLP

Office: 408.502.9900Mobile: 206.419.9800

nernst@channellawgroup.com