Bruins Geospatial: Location of Additional Cell Phone Towers in Los Angeles

In the 21st century, the cell phone has become an integral part of our daily lives. The economic recession did not slow down the growth of cell phone industry in America as a vast majority of the US population is using a mobile phone. The survey of wireless carriers revealed that over 285 million Americans are mobile subscribers, about 91 percent of the total population. (Foresman). The competition among cell phone companies to provide best cell reception to its consumers has fueled the building of cell phone towers in and around cities. We have seen a massive telecommunications infrastructure spring into existence. Cell phone towers (that provide cellular signals) have grown in number to almost 2 million cell phone masts or antennas in the United States alone, hence it has become important for all the cell phone carrier to find prospective location to build their towers (Lloyd).

The location of cell phone towers is so important that the Federal Communications Commission regulates cell towers, the towers that provide cellular signals so that consumers may use cell phones. The FCC has laws regarding where towers may be built and how they must be maintained. The agency also works in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure that towers do not present safety risks for aircraft, therefore selecting the location for future cell towers has become quite challenging. In addition, cell phone users also give importance to the location of a cell towers because the reception of our cell phone depends of the location these towers. Even if we have the best cell phone on the market, poor carrier coverage can render it useless. Before we sign up for service, it is important to find out whether the cell phone carrier we are considering (Cingular, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.) has good or poor coverage in a given area. As a result people do consider the location of cell phone towers of their current or prospective cell phone carrier while buying or renting properties because they prefer to buy a house or rent an apartment where they can get best cell reception. Every major wireless carrier now offers nationwide coverage, but that doesn't mean all telephone companies are created equal. It all depends on where the cell phone towers are located, and if carrier isn't invested in the particular area of our interest, we are going to find ourselves moaning throughout the course of your two-year service agreement. To provide best call reception to their customers, these companies compete fiercely with other companies when it comes to building a new cell phone towers. Therefore, the location of cell towers is crucial for all the cell phone companies to maintain their share of market.

The location of these towers has become a major issue of debate too, in negative way. Although Federal Food and Drug Administration asserts that these towers does not pose health risk to people living close to cell phone towers location, there are studies which proves otherwise. Prospective homebuyers avoid buying property next to cell towers. Communities are increasingly expressing concerns about aesthetic problems, property values associated with cell towers. Cell phone towers location is also important when it requires rechecking. “York County, Pa., plans to verify the locations of more than 200 cell phone towers to ensure that 911 calls placed from mobile devices are accurately tracked” (Rich).