What is “community ownership”? Would everyone with a Cornville address own the tower?
Great question. It would be amazing if every address in Cornville pitched in $100 because then they would each be parties in the “community build tower” with the Fire District. Once we have raised the funds, The Fire Chief will enter into a legal agreement with donors just as he would have done with the company who originally pitched the tower at the April 2nd Special Session. Our mutual goal is to erect a tower to size for Cornville, one that offers maximum gap coverage with minimum power/wattage outputs and that protects our most vulnerable wildlife and endangered species.
Does Cornville need 4 or 5 different providers on a tower when Verizon dominates the market here by more than 50%?
No. 4 different providers means 4 different radiation centers, each emitting the maximum FCC-allowable RF levels. This multiplies the ambient radiation unnecessarily. Our tower would have 2 radiation centers maximum, Verizon and AT&T, because AT&T provides the Fire District with FirstNet Safety emergency communications. More than that we do not need.
Property Taxes fund the Fire Department and I don’t see any restrictions on residency?
The Fire District is its own taxing entity, separate from Yavapai County. If you look at your property tax statement, you will see that the Fire District has its own levy. Our Fire District serves all of the Verde Valley. The emergency communications on our tower will be part of emergency communications for our whole Fire District. Why should there be a restriction on who can donate?
Would donors have any say in the implementation and uses of the tower?
Great question. Just as they would have done with the commercial firm that proposed building the tower at the April 2nd Special Session of the Fire District Board, the Fire Chief and District are prepared to enter into a legal agreement with all donors once funds are obtained. Our mutual goal is to erect a tower that offers maximum gap coverage with minimum power/wattage.
Why would the Fire District not work with a 501(c) 3?
We were also surprised by this statement. The Fire Chief, who was directed by his legal counsel to make it, can best explain this decision to you.
Going forward, who will be responsible for repairs, modifications, etc.?
Great question. The Fire District will receive income from the providers who rent space on the tower. These funds cover all usual operating expenses, i.e. insurance, maintenance and repairs. Any future modifications, limits and parameters would be subject to the legal agreement between the Fire District and donors.
What will be the annual costs of maintaining the tower?
Another great question. Why don’t attend our next CCIP organizing meeting and help us refine all this? The question is premature. The build budget may also vary from the estimated $400K. This number is the budget Fire Chief Johnson had when he built his last Fire District owned and operated tower in Phoenix. (He has built two of them.) Please call Fire Chief Johnson for details.
Who is going to own the antennas on the mast and how are we going to enforce RF output limits?
Great question. The antennas will be owned and operated by carriers Verizon and AT&T. Monitoring RF output is one of the goals of the community build tower because Yavapai County wireless communications code Section 605 does not require annual or bi-annual RF monitoring. Many counties and cities now craft button-tight ordinances regulating RF output. It’s because of this vacuum of leadership at County that a community build tower is so important. The Fire District is innovating here.
If the $400K goal is not met in a month, then what then?
Another great question. Look up the VVFD April 2, 2024 SPECIAL SESSION MINUTES CALL FOR FUNDRAISING. The pertinent section is at the end of the minutes. You’ll see that the District asked the community to “start raising money for the tower” with a goal of $400,000 in mind during the “approximate 60 days” that they had chosen to table agenda item. As the Cornville-CCIP, our goal is to rally the community behind this win-win outcome and raise as much if not all of the $400,000. The faster we raise, the faster we get the tower we need and want.
Will this community build tower assure that all Cornville residents finally have access to cell service?
This community build tower will assure that a greater majority of residents of Cornville will have access to cell service, if they are customers of the carriers on the tower and the tower’s radiation beams reach them. Our tower would perform no differently than any commercial build tower proposed for Cornville. Engineered radiation is much like the light emitted by a light bulb under a lampshade. The strongest radiation is in the immediate vicinity. If there are obstacles, i.e. canyons, mountains, or ridges, or reflective surfaces like water or granite rock, the light or signal is blocked or reflected, and weakens. The signal also weakens the farther it travels. Cornville has 14 square miles of rugged topography full of obstacles and reflective surfaces. Repeaters like those Verizon provides for free to customers in our valley can boost and extend the signal. Other things, such as weather, wind, or trouble at the tower can also affect coverage. Lastly, it’s important to note that the commercial carriers themselves throttle access to their signal. Although emergency (911) calls are always prioritized for everyone, that’s not true for regular calls. If the emitter has a capacity of 1000 calls and 1001 calls come in, the commercial carriers gives priority access to premium plans and premium phones. A low end phone won’t be able to place a call until a premium user drops off.