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AN Personal communications services move closer to Minnesota cities Ann Higgins Two FCC licensed companies that will provide the newest generation of wireless communications services in Minnesota are currently investigating sites in the Twin Cities area for antenna, towers and other signaling devices. The League is working to help cities prepare for what could be a significant number of new towers. Sprint Telecommunications Venture and American Portable Telecommunications are preparing to offer wireless digital personal commu- nications services (PCS) to the Twin Cities market in 1996-97. Both companies anticipate offering PCS in other areas of Minnesota as they expand operations and install addi- tional towers and antenna over the next several years. The impact of PCS technology on the national landscape could be significant. PCS will require the siting of as many as 100,000 new towers within the next several years. By comparison, there are just 15,000 towers now in place for cellular phone service. With this in mind, the League's intergovernmental relations staff and several members of the LMC Telecom- munications Task Force met with representatives from the consulting firms assisting the PCS providers in obtaining information about local zoning, permitting and other regula- tions in metro area. The League is also working to help cities prepare for PCS antenna siting requests. Cities with previous experience in siting micro- wave, cellular and other telecommuni- cations facilities are encouraged to provide copies of procedures, zoning ordinances, lease agreements and other information that could assist local units of government to site similar facilities. Although PCS is similar to current cellular phone service, it must be implemented in a significantly different manner. The versatility of the wireless digital transmissions require signifi- cantly greater antenna density than that used by existing cellular phone services. The deployment and installa- tion of multiple antenna sites will involve nearly all cities (as well as township locations) in the seven - county area. The consulting companies representing Sprint Telecommunica- tions Ventures and American Portable Telecommunications are expected to evaluate and identify potential sites. City officials across the country are working with PCS providers to identify city -owned property for location of such facilities. By using as much public property as possible, the impact on residential areas is reduced. Co -location is also an important consideration in reducing the number of sites needed for PCS operations. Master lease agreements in cities in other parts of the country have also provided revenues and access to those services for city communications and other uses. PCS is expected to enhance and compete with the cellular phone services that are now available throughout the state for local and long- distance phone and paging functions. According to industry publications, PCS will offer wide-ranging, portable and versatile functions including wireless paging, voice, fax, video and data transmission. A key advantage promoted by PCS providers is the availability of a single phone number that subscribers use for all transmis- sions whether they are in the local area or elsewhere throughout the country. PCS providers also claim that the digital technology will provide greater privacy protection as well as more accurate and faster transmission of data and information. r Volunteer firefighter lump sum benefit The maximum volunteer firefighter lump sum pension is now at $4,000 per year of service. The amount was raised in four steps of $250 each over a four year period ending December 31, 1995. Some cities have commented that this amount is still too low and limits their ability to attract firefighters. It has been proposed that this limit be increased in $250 increments over the next three years to a level that compares with the current monthly benefit limit. Please contact Stan Peskar at the League office, (612) 281-1215 or (800) 925-1122, with your comments on the proposal. It January 5, 1996 Page 5