Franklin Park consultants propose three new macro sites and about 15 small cells to improve coverage; zoning changes may be needed

Susan, a Cityscape consultant, told the Franklin Park Borough Council on Tuesday that Cityscape and Federal Engineering are completing a wireless master plan covering commercial wireless and public-safety needs.

The plan proposes three new macrocell locations and about 15 small wireless facilities to reduce the borough’s address points with limited or no outdoor coverage from 57% now to about 23% with three macro sites and further to about 15% if the proposed small cells are added, Susan said. She added that one proposed macro site (PM01) is “really kind of in the middle of the borough” and would fill a cluster of coverage gaps.

Why it matters: Poor wireless coverage can affect everyday mobile service and public-safety radio performance in pockets of the borough. The plan is meant to balance coverage gains with minimizing tower height and number of new sites.

Susan said the borough currently has two macrocells (both monopoles) and four single-tenant small wireless facilities. The consultants advised locating new macro sites so they provide the most coverage with the fewest sites at the lowest feasible height; they…