HomeMy WebLinkAboutRF Report - C Squared Systems RF Report
Proposed Southold 4 Communication Facility
61405 Main Road,Southold, NY
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verizon)/
May 30, 2023
C Squared Systems,LLC
65 Dartmouth Drive
l
Systems Aub 603-644-2800
E-mail: t r (t c%quaredsystems.com
Table of Contents
1.0 Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2
2.0 Mobile Communications System Design.........................................................................................2
2.1 System Considerations.................................................................................................................2
2.2 System Evaluation........................................................................................................................ 2
3.0 Existing Network............................................................................................................................. 3
4.0 Site Need..........................................................................................................................................4
5.0 Resulting Solution............................................................................................................................ 5
6.0 Height Analysis..........................................
List of Tables
Table 1: Site Inventory Information...........................................................................................................3
Table of Figures
FigureA—Site Inventory........................................................................................................................... 4
FigureB—Existing 700 MHz Coverage..................................................................................................... 5
Figure C—Proposed 700 MHz Coverage................................................................................................... 6
Figure D—Height Analysis Plot— 150 feet vs 130 feet and 110 feet........Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure E—Coverage Losses— 150 foot vs 130 foot concealment pole...................................................... 8
Figure F—Coverage Losses— 150 foot vs 130 foot concealment pole as a percentage............................. 8
Figure G—Coverage Losses— 150 foot vs 110 foot concealment pole ..................................................... 9
Figure H—Coverage Losses— 150 foot vs 110 foot concealment pole as a percentage............................ 9
C Squared Systems,LLC 1 May 30,2023
1.0 Executive Summary
New York SMSA Limited Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless ("Verizon Wireless") is a public utility under the laws of the
State of New York and it holds licenses from the Federal Communications Commission("FCC")to serve the public within,
among other areas, Southold,New York. Verizon Wireless' objective is to provide seamless,reliable wireless coverage to its
users in accordance with the Wireless Communication and Public Safety Act of 1999.'
Verizon Wireless, as a co-applicant with Elite Towers, LP("Elite")and the Southold Fire District, is providing the following
information in support of their Special Exception Application to the Town of Southold in order to construct, operate and
maintain the proposed wireless telecommunications facility in Southold,New York. This report addresses Verizon Wireless'
need for the facility at the height proposed and confirms that there are no other feasible existing structures that meet Verizon
Wireless' service objectives for this area. The proposed wireless telecommunications facility, to be located at 61405 Main
Road, Southold, New York, is needed to provide coverage to address the existing coverage gap in the Southold area.
Included in this report is a brief summary of the site objectives, a height analysis and radio frequency (RF) coverage plots
showing the existing coverage gap and the predicted coverage that this site will provide to the Southold area.
2.0 Mobile Communications System Design
2.1 System Considerations
Mobile telephony is a method of communication by radio consisting of mobile units,either mounted in vehicles or hand-held,that
transmits to and receives signals from fixed base stations(cell sites). Base stations(cell sites)communicate with mobile wireless
devices by sending and receiving signals within a small geographic area. The cell site in turn connects the mobile device to the
landline telephone network. The cell sites are designed to cover a small geographic area because mobile telephony devices utilize
low power.In addition,the frequencies licensed by the FCC are significantly weakened by obstructions, such as terrain,foliage
and buildings which can make the coverage irregular and unreliable. Therefore, it is necessary to locate cell sites at suitable
locations and heights in order to provide a seamless and reliable grade of service to the public.
Seamless,reliable coverage provides users with the ability to successfully originate receive and maintain quality calls throughout a
service area. Overlapping coverage is required for users to be able to move throughout the service area and reliably"hand-off'
between cells to maintain uninterrupted calls. As a customer making a call in the vicinity of a cell site moves about and begins to
move further away from the cell site,the coverage from that cell site becomes weaker. Unlike broadcast radio, as the customer
travels,the call is transferred("handed-off')to an adjacent cell site,if and when that cell site's signal level becomes sufficiently
strong. With sufficient overlapping coverage(i.e.,when reliable coverage areas are overlapping),this process is transparent to the
user.
To establish the necessary distribution of cell sites and help ensure that coverage is seamless and reliable, cell sites are
strategically located throughout the licensed coverage area based upon,among other things,network efficiency,topography of the
land,and the location of other cell sites.
When a significant service deficiency exists, the ability for effective communication is diminished and service can seriously
deteriorate in that region. In these conditions, customers experience the inability to make calls, lost calls,partial conversations,
unreliable/slow data connections and/or inaudible conversation.
2.2 System Evaluation
System design and evaluation is performed primarily through propagation analysis. Propagation models are widely recognized
and accepted in the wireless telecommunications industry as accurate and are routinely utilized. Propagation models simulate
how radio waves travel through the environment from one point to another. In order to accurately model the behavior of these
radio waves, features in the environment such as elevation of the terrain (e.g. hilly or flat) and the presence of land use
classifications must be taken into account. Land use classifications include such designations as buildings, water, trees, and
others. Both elevation and land use data are required to accurately model the real-world behavior of a network because these
factors significantly impact radio signal propagation.
1 United States Code Title 47,Section 615, amended February 13,2003.
C Squared Systems,LLC 2 May 30,2023
All propagation modeling performed for the proposed communications facility utilized high-resolution(30 meter)elevation and
land use data. Since signal propagation characteristics differ through open, forested, residential or business areas, land use
classifications are used to account for these differences.
The model used in this evaluation employed a sophisticated diffraction based algorithm based on Fresnel-Kirchoff theory that
takes into account the terrain and land use along the path from the transmitter to the receiver. A model was generated by
collecting empirical data throughout the region and modifying user defined parameters utilized by the algorithm,such that a high
degree of correlation between empirical and predicted results is achieved. When that is complete,the resulting propagation model
software can predict coverage levels from a transmitter facility given the specific equipment configuration (antenna model,
antenna height,power,etc.)of the site in question.
3.0 Existing Network
Table 1 below includes Verizon Wireless' existing and approved sites that are located in the vicinity of the proposed site and
details the network site-specific information used to perform the coverage analysis and generate the coverage analysis plots
provided herein.
Ground Distance to
Antenna Elevation Southold 4
Site Name Street Address City Latitude Longitude Centerline(ft) (ft) (miles)
Shelter Island 36 Menantic Rd Shelter Island 41.0664 -72.3508 160 28 3.0
Peconic Peconic Ave Peconic 41.0413 -72.4585 100.1 16 3.6
Greenport Relo Washington Ave Greenport 41.1093 -72.3677 180 7 3.0
Cutchogue 21855 Country Rd Cutchogue 41.0301 -72.4970 105.6 55.1 5.7
Cutchogue 2 31755 Main Road Cutchogue 41.0197 -72.4800 87 15.78 5.5
Shelter Island 2 61 Cobbetts Lane Shelter Island 41.0890 -72.3280 117'6"/112'6" 54 4.2
Table 1:Site Inventory Information
Additionally, Figure A below shows a map of the existing and approved sites with respect to the location of the proposed
communications facility.
C Squared Systems,LLC 3 May 30,2023
Southold 4 d
61405 Main Road Figure A S e
Southold,NY 11971 1 1
41°04'33.79"N t
72°24'21.83"W
GE:3'AMSL
Centerline 146'1"&141'2"AGL
Subject Site
Existing Site
Planned Site �
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Neighbor Sites Southold 4 Southold,NY 11971
DATE:05I2512023
Figure A-Site Inventory
4.0 Site Need
The below propagation maps, included as Figures B and C, illustrate the existing coverage gap in the Southold area, and how
the proposed communication facility at the subject site will remedy the coverage gap.
There is a serious service deficiency in Verizon Wireless' wireless coverage in the Southold objective. A deficiency in
coverage is evidenced by the inability to adequately and reliably transmit/receive and maintain quality calls, and establish and
maintain data sessions. Due to the location and height of Verizon Wireless' existing facilities, along with the area
topography, much of the areas surrounding the proposed site lack adequate reliable coverage.
Figure B shows the level of existing coverage in the Southold area which is based on the minimum required signal strength for
reliable in-building and in-vehicle service for 700 MHz frequencies, which are -80 dBm and -85 dBm, respectively. Verizon
Wireless' knowledge, expertise and experience in designing and operating networks has led it to establish the appropriate coverage
thresholds that are necessary and sufficient to provide satisfactory reliable wireless service in each of its service areas, including the
Southold area. The white areas represent unreliable service areas. As depicted in this propagation map, there is currently a large
portion of Southold, and the surrounding area where Verizon Wireless does not have reliable service. Figure B also depicts the site
search ring area for the proposed communication facility. The proposed communication facility must be located within the search
ring area in order to address the service deficiency in the Southold objective.
C Squared Systems,LLC 4 May 30,2023
Southold 4
61405 Main Road FlgUre B G
Southold,NY 11971
41°04'33.79"N �I
72°24'21.93"W
GE:3'AMSL
Centerline 146'1"&141'2't AGL
*' Subject Site ,J••16
Fadsting Site
Planned Site
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>_-80 dB.
<-80&>=-85 dBm
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Existing and Proposed 61405 Main Road • � `
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Coverage-700 MHz LTE Southold 4 Southold,NY 11971 rverawtDATE:U5/25/20Y3
Figure B—Existing 700 MHz Coverage
5.0 Resulting Solution
In order to remedy the existing coverage gap,Verizon Wireless is proposing to install a wireless communications facility to be located at
61405 Main Road, Southold,New York,comprising the following:
a. Six(6)panel antennas(the"Antennas")concealed within a proposed 150'-0"concealment pole(to be constructed by
Elite),with Antenna centerline heights of+/- 146'-1"and 141'-2"AGL;
b. An equipment platform upon which equipment cabinets and associated equipment,with canopy above,will be located,
within the proposed compound(to be constructed by Elite);
c. Four(4)GPS units mounted on the proposed equipment canopy;and
d. All other appurtenances,devices,cables,conduits and wires related thereto,as more fully described on the site plans
submitted with the application.
The below propagation map included as Figure C illustrates how this proposed communications facility will remedy the coverage
gap.
C Squared Systems,LLC 5 May 30,2023
Southold 4
61405 Main Road Figure Greenpot.5w--.t tie
sa
Southold,NY 11971
41*04'33.79"N ,
72°24'21.83"W
GE:3'AMSL
Centerline 146'1"&141'211 AGL
subject Site ••
Existing She 1/•
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Coverage-700 MHz LTE Southold 4 Southold,NY 11971 ve r•1z•nv oATE:awsram
Figure C-Proposed 700 MHz Coverage
As can be seen in these plots, the proposed communications facility is ideally located to provide needed coverage to the Southold
area.
At 700 MHz frequencies, the proposed communications facility will provide in-vehicle coverage to 3.01 square miles of area,
1,087 people, 30 businesses and 19.5 miles of roads, including 5.1 miles of main roads. It will also provide in-building
coverage to 1.93 square miles of area and 597 people and 16 businesses.
6.0 Height Analysis
As indicated above, Verizon Wireless has a serious service deficiency in wireless coverage in the Southold area that the
proposed communication facility, which includes a 150'-0" AGL concealment pole, has been designed to address. The
proposed concealment pole is ideally located, and the 150'-0" AGL height of the same is the minimum height necessary to
provide the needed coverage to the Southold area, address the existing topography, clear the surrounding tree canopy, and
allow for additional collocators.
C Squared Systems,LLC 6 May 30,2023
If the 150'-0" AGL concealment pole is reduced by 20'-0", to 130'-0" AGL or further reduced by 40'-0", to 110'-0"ALG,
there would be substantial consequences to the proposed coverage that will be provided to the Southold area. . Specifically,
with respect to Verizon Wireless, we have analyzed the amount of coverage losses that Verizon Wireless would suffer at the
in-building(-80 dBm)and in-vehicle(-85dBm)signal strength levels for the 700 MHz frequencies.
As discussed above, the currently proposed 150'-0" AGL concealment pole will provide, at 700 MHz frequencies: (a) in-
vehicle coverage to 3.01 square miles of area, 1,087 people, 30 businesses and 19.5 miles of roads, including 5.1 miles of
main roads; and(b) in-building coverage to 1.93 square miles of area, 16 businesses and 597 people. However, based upon
our analysis, if the concealment pole was reduced to 130'-0" AGL, Verizon Wireless would provide the following, at 700
MHz frequencies: (a) in-vehicle coverage to 1.96 square miles of area, 687 people, 17 businesses and 12.6 miles of roads,
including 3.2 miles of main roads;and(b)in-building coverage to 1.35 square miles of area, 7 businesses and 365 people. If
the concealment pole was further reduced to 110'-0"AGL Verizon Wireless' coverage losses would be even greater. At that
height, Verizon Wireless would provide the following,at 700 MHz frequencies: (a)in-vehicle coverage to 1.36 square miles
of area, 356 people, 5 businesses and 7.4 miles of roads, including 1.5 miles of main roads; and (b) in-building coverage to
1.01 square miles of area,3 businesses and 256 people.
Figure D below depicts the loss of in-vehicle coverage area as the height of the proposed concealment pole is reduced from
150 feet to 130 feet and to 110 feet.
Southold 4 Qa
61405 Main Road Figure D r� Greenp�4rt Westf r
Southold,NY 11971 Q
41°04'33.79"N ` r r - �! 9
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61405 Main Road •
Height Analysis Southold 4 Southold,NY 11971 verizonNI
DATE:0512520223
Figure d—Height Analysis Plot—150 feet vs 130 feet and 110 feet
Based upon the above data, Figure E below reflects the calculation of the coverage losses from a height reduction from 150
feet to 130 feet to the Southold area in terms of square miles,population,businesses and miles of roadway.
C Squared Systems,LLC 7 May 30,2023
-80 dBm -85 dBm
Loss of Coverage Area -0.58 -1.05 square miles
Loss of Population Coverage -232 -400 pops
Loss of Business Coverage -9 -13 businesses
Loss of Road Coverage Total -6.92 miles
Main -1.87 miles
Second -5.01 miles
Figure E—Coverage Losses—150 foot vs 130 foot concealment pole
Figure F below,reflects the calculation of these losses in terms of percentages.
-80 dBm -85 dBm
Loss of Coverage Area -30% -35% square miles
Loss of Population Coverage -39% -37% pops
Loss of Business Coverage -56% -43% businesses
Loss of Road Coverage Total -36% miles
Main -37% miles
Second -35% miles
Figure F—Coverage Losses—150 foot vs 130 foot concealment pole as a percentage
In summary, based upon the foregoing data and analysis, Verizon Wireless would lose up to approximately 35% of square
miles of coverage and 39%of the population to be covered,as well as 36%of roadway coverage if the proposed concealment
pole were reduced to 130'-0"AGL
C Squared Systems,LLC 8 May 30,2023
Also based upon the above data, Figure G below reflects the calculation of the coverage losses from a height reduction from
150 feet to 110 feet to the Southold area in terms of square miles,population,businesses and miles of roadway.
-80 dBm -85 dBm
Loss of Coverage Area -0.91 -1.65 square miles
Loss of Population Coverage -341 -731 pops
Loss of Business Coverage -13 -25 businesses
Loss of Road Coverage Total -12.1 miles
Main -3.5 miles
Secondary -8.6 miles
Figure G—Coverage Losses—150 foot vs 110 foot concealment pole
Figure H below,reflects the calculation of these losses in terms of percentages.
-80 dBm -85 dBm
Loss of Coverage Area -47% -55% square miles
Loss of Population Coverage -57% -67% pops
Loss of Business Coverage -81% -83% businesses
Loss of Road Coverage Total -62% miles
Main -70% miles
Second -59% miles
Figure H—Coverage Losses—150 foot vs 110 foot concealment pole as a percentage
In summary, based upon the foregoing data and analysis, Verizon Wireless would lose up to approximately 55% of square
miles of coverage and 67%of the population to be covered,as well as 62%of roadway coverage if the proposed concealment
pole were reduced to 110'-0"AGL.
Pursuant to the foregoing analysis, Verizon Wireless would experience significant coverage losses from a reduction of the
concealment pole to 130'-0"AGL, which losses would be even more severe if the concealment pole were reduced to 110'-0
AGL, As such, the proposed communication facility with the 150'-0" ALG concealment pole, is the minimum height
required in order to remedy Verizon Wireless' existing coverage gap and provide needed coverage to the Southold area.
C Squared Systems,LLC 9 May 30,2023
7.0 Summary
There are no other existing feasible structures upon which the proposed communications facility can be sited to provide the
coverage requirements needed for the Southold area. The location and the proposed minimum height of the concealment pole
were chosen to achieve an optimal balance between meeting coverage objectives, clearing the local obstructions, and
minimizing the aesthetic impact to the community.
As depicted in the enclosed plots,the proposed Verizon Wireless communications facility, with Antenna centerline heights of
+/- 146'-1" and 141'-2", is ideally located to provide the much needed coverage for the Southold area, along with effective
connectivity to the rest of Verizon Wireless' existing network. Our analysis confirms that the proposed communications
facility will provide reliable wireless coverage and remedy the existing coverage gap in the Southold area.
As shown in the Height Analysis, reducing the height of the concealment pole to 110 feet AGL or even to 130 feet AGL
would result in significant coverage losses compared to the proposed height of 150 feet AGL. Constructing the tower as a
concealment pole instead of a standard monopole to reduce visual impact of the communications facility already significantly
reduces the flexibility of wireless operators by restricting the size of antennas that can be deployed and the azimuths at which
they can be oriented. Any reduction in the height would further compound the impact of this limitation.
Without this proposed communications facility, at the height proposed, significant gaps in coverage will exist (and remain)
within this area of Southold. Therefore, based upon the foregoing, the proposed communications facility should be favorably
considered by the Town and the application should be granted in all respects.
8.0 Qualifications, Statement of Certification and Resume
I am a Radio Frequency Engineer for C Squared Systems, LLC, which has been retained by Verizon Wireless. I have
extensive experience in the design and testing of Verizon Wireless' communication facilities as part of its federally licensed
network in New York. For example, I have participated in the design and performance of the Verizon Wireless network in
New York,participated in engineering efforts to provide a quality system build-out,evaluated zoning provisions applicable to
wireless communication facilities in various communities, testified before local zoning boards in zoning hearings, prepared
search areas for new installations, participated in drive tests and reviewed drive test results, participated in site visits,
prepared RF designs for proposed installations, reviewed plans and prepared RF packages for zoning hearings, tested and
evaluated new sites,and located and corrected system performance problem areas.
I have been involved in Verizon Wireless' design of the proposed wireless communication facility at the above proposed
communications facility. I have personally visited the area,reviewed coverage data for the proposed installation,and reviewed
RF coverage information for Verizon Wireless' existing sites.
I certify to the best of my knowledge that the statements in this report are true and accurate.
May 30, 2023
Date
Martin J. Lavin
C Squared Systems,LLC
C Squared Systems,LLC 10 May 30,2023
74Systems
uareds martin.lavin@ 4 Y cs stems.com
SUMMARY: Over thirty-five years of experience in the RF and wireless communications industry.
EXPERIENCE:
C Squared Systems,LLC 2008-Present
Senior RF Engineer
• Zoning Hearing Expert Testimony
• Advanced Wireless Services RF System Design
• Wireless Broadband Access Systems Engineering
• Drive Test Services
• Intermodulation Studies
• RF Exposure Studies
U.S.Cellular,Bedford,NH 2002-2008
Senior RF Engineer
• West Virginia/Maryland/Pennsylvania CDMA System Design and Optimization
• CDMA Capacity Planning and New Site Builds
• Subject Matter Expert for E-911,Public Safety Interference Issues, Collocation, and
Technology Transitions
Independent Wireless One(Sprint Network Affiliate),Londonderry,NH 2000-2002
Senior RF Engineer
• CDMA System Buildout in New Hampshire and Vermont
• Organized Field Office
• RF System Design and Site Selection Point of Contact with Site Acquisition and
Construction
• Capacity Planning
• System Performance
C Squared Systems,LLC 11 May 30,2023
Nextel,Reston,VA 1999-2000
Senior Manager—Technology Development
• New Feature Development for the Motorola MEN system
• Corporate RF Engineering Standards
• Evaluation of international and domestic spectrum acquisition opportunities
USI,Chantilly,VA 1999
Program Manager
• Software development projects in Europe and U.S., including budget and schedule
responsibility.
• Direct client contact for requirements gathering and proposal writing.
LCC International,McLean,VA 1991-1998
Manager of Engineering
• Domestic and International Cellular&PCS System Design and Buildout
• Nationwide GSM Network Buildouts of Australia and New Zealand
• FCC PCS Pioneer's Preference
• Strategic Planning for LCC Initial Public Offering
• Responsible for RF Design and Site Selection for Los Angeles MTA
• Wrote network equipment RFP for two PCS MTAs
• Software Product Manager for CellCAD,ANET, and MetroNET
• Managed Drive Test Services, including all Timesheet and Expense Approval
Carl T.Jones Corporation/SAIC,Springfield,VA 1987-1991
EMC/EMI Engineer
• Test and Measurement consulting for FCC compliance
• Broadcast(AM-FM-TV)consulting
EDUCATION: University of New Hampshire—Whittemore School of Business and Economics
Master of Business Administration
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Bachelor of Science,Electrical Engineering
C Squared Systems,LLC 12 May 30,2023