Small cell network proposed for weak coverage areas

"We all know wireless coverage is weak because of all the trees," Powers said. "The most important thing is that a lot of people use their cell phone as their only phone, and being able to call 911 is critical. We want residents to have access to public safety."

Powers said Crown Castle conducted an analysis of areas in The Woodlands to determine which locations had the most dropped calls and complaints from residents. The 11 areas that will be receiving new antennas were the areas found to have the worst coverage.

In The Woodlands, the street lamps would be placed in the public road rights-of-way and require electrical power to be metered.

According to Crown Castle's website, the company is a neutral provider and its small cell network nodes support multiple cell phone carriers. During the planning phase of the network installation, Crown Castle's engineers design a fiber network route and work with municipal planners to design the cell nodes to blend into the surrounding environment.

Powers said this operation was the least intrusive plan to solve the lack of cell service in certain areas in The Woodlands. He said the township would not pay any expenses related to the new streetlamps or cell network.

Letters have already been mailed to 1,200 residents within nearby neighborhoods of the installation project notifying them of the applications.

"This would be just the first phase of cell networks being constructed," Powers said. "I anticipate other areas being worked on in the future if there is a need."