FOGCW challenges community planners and representatives to consider alternatives to the proposed T-Mobile site in Sunnybrae. We believe there are other nearby sites that would closely meet T-mobile’s stated coverage criteria without impacting so many of Arcata’s residences.

Co-location on existing transmission towers is becoming more prevalent as demand for wireless coverage increases. In 2021, PG&E agreed to a $973 million sale of 100-year leases on transmission towers to SBA Communications, allowing them to place wireless antennas on PG&E towers. In addition, SBA can sublicense and market equipment at additional attachment locations on up to 28,000 transmission towers across PG&E’s network.

One example of a possible alternative co-location site is an existing transmission tower that is presented below along with estimated coverage. This site is at least 1000 feet from the nearest structures, compared to the proposed T-Mobile mono-pole tower (BAC90060C) that is closely surrounded by City of Arcata residences in upper Sunnybrae.

The yellow icon is the location of an existing transmission tower on agricultural land between Old Arcata Rd and Highway 101. The estimated coverage area within the yellow polygon is similar to the coverage shown for the proposed BAC90060C location on the image to the right.

This T-Mobile map shows estimated favorable coverage in green for proposed upper Sunnybrae location BAC90060C and other nearby cell towers.