Cell service improvements on the horizon with AT&T lease

Wireless cell reception on Longboat Key should continue to improve in the near future, thanks to a new lease with AT&T that will place small antennas on eight smart light poles. 

Longboat Key commissioners approved the start of a lease with the cellular service carrier during the June 30 commission meeting. This project goes hand in hand with the cellular service poles installed by Verizon in January, with the overall goal of improving coverage throughout the island. 

According to Town Manager Howard Tipton, in 2021 the town invited carriers such as AT&T and Verizon to talk about how cell service could be improved on Longboat Key. Resolving this issue was important for several reasons, Tipton said. 

“It’s not just people wanting to talk to their granddaughters or grandsons, but it’s 911 calls,” Tipton said. “We’re seeing dropped calls.” 

Tipton said years ago there were conversations about installing a 150-foot cell tower on the island, but that “didn’t go over well.” The commission in 2013 adopted an ordinance to prohibit these types of towers. 

Verizon was the first carrier to express interest, but elected to install its own poles. The company then had to go through a more involved site-planning process because it was installing its own structures. Gulf of Mexico Drive now has nine of Verizon's poles, which stand 25 or 35 feet tall. 

AT&T was next, but said it wanted to use existing light poles being installed by the town with the underground utility project. This also meant that the firm was exempt from the site-planning process. The AT&T antennas will be shorter than 3 feet tall. Tipton said there will likely be a small box attached to the upper region of the pole, along with a small transformer lower on the pole. One of the eight antennas will be installed on private property.  

“We’re thrilled,” Tipton said. “AT&T is doing exactly what we asked them to do.” 

The annual lease fee for the town will be $225, which won’t require much budgetary thought. 

“It’s not a revenue issue for us,” Tipton said. “As long as they aren’t interfering with the operation of the lights, which they are not, it’s a win-win.”

Other carriers are able to opt-in to a similar lease agreement in the future, according to Tipton, but as of now nothing has been confirmed.