Rancho Mirage adopts wireless master plan to expand cellular coverage; council directs implementation

The Rancho Mirage City Council on March 6 received and filed a wireless master plan that maps real-world cellular coverage and directs staff to pursue a multi-pronged implementation strategy to improve service citywide.

Jason Hedegay, Director of Information Services, presented the plan and told the council staff and consultant Southland Technologies conducted field tests, modeled carrier coverage, and identified site-specific interventions. Hedegay said the study documented 23 cell sites in the city (18 operational, three under construction and two decommissioned) and found carriers operating fewer than the 12 sites the report recommends per carrier for adequate coverage in the community. The analysis showed about 45% of the city currently has good coverage; the study projects improving that to roughly 70% if the recommended sites are deployed, acknowledging that topography and low-density residential areas will limit full coverage.

Key recommendations the council directed staff to pursue include streamlining permitting and zoning for wireless infrastructure; conducting a municipal code policy review to reduce barriers; developing and maintaining a list of preapproved sites; designating mobile coverage opportunity zones with permit priorities and fee incentives; establishing master service and lease agreements to speed deployment; researching telecom asset management tools; producing two interactive maps (one for providers showing approved and permitted sites; one for residents to check address-level coverage); encouraging small-cell installations on flagpoles, streetlights or flagpoles where co-location is needed; and considering retention of a wireless service broker to coordinate carriers, property owners and the city.

The plan relied on drive-test data and frequency analysis, Hedegay said, noting differences among carriers and pointing to examples where coverage maps marketed by carriers did not match measured performance. Staff highlighted both macro (700 MHz) towers and higher-frequency small-cell (1,900+ MHz) solutions; small cells provide capacity but require fiber backhaul. Hedegay told the council the city already has conduit and dark fiber on main corridors that can support some deployments.

Brad Anderson, a resident who submitted written comments, raised concerns about time-of-day and seasonal variability in drive-test results and asked that the city be cautious about presenting the data as definitive. Kristen Kramer asked what would motivate carriers to build in low-density areas; Hedegay and council members said incentives such as reduced permitting time, fee reductions, and preapprovals could make the city more attractive to carriers. Council Member Michael O'Keefe moved the staff-directed package of implementation steps; Mayor Pro Tem Allado seconded. The motion passed 5–0.