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BUELL CONSULTING, INC. <br />720 Main Street, Suite 200 <br />Saint Paul, MN 55118 <br />(651) 361-8110 <br />www.buellconsulting.com <br />Cover Letter-STC Elk River Temp 3 <br /> <br />PROJECT NARRATIVE <br />VERIZON WIRELESS TEMPORARY WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY <br />(VERIZON REF. “STC ELK RIVER TEMP”) <br /> <br />• Detailed description/scope of project: 1. What is being proposed? Proposed herein is the placement of a temporary wireless telecommunications tower facility (“Facility”) to be operated by Verizon Wireless (“Verizon”) on property owned by the Elk River Economic Development Authority (“EDA”). The purpose of the Facility is to provide continued wireless service in the southern portion of Elk River due to a forthcoming decommissioning of an existing Verizon wireless telecommunications facility on Great River Energy’s (GRE) plant along Highway 10. 2. How is the request consistent with the City of Elk River Comprehensive Plan? This Facility will help ensure reliable wireless connectivity on the Verizon Wireless network in Elk River. Not at all unlike traditional utilities critical for the viability of any community, a reliable wireless data and voice network is an important factor for homebuyers and businesses. In fact, homebuyers place a greater premium on reliable at-home wireless service than they do on home prices, commute times, proximity to a major airport, restaurants and nightlife1. Businesses are also increasingly reliant upon reliable wireless networks, and communities with robust wireless tend to be attractive to new businesses. More businesses and more residents can serve to expand a city’s tax base and attract jobs—two important themes in Elk River’s Comprehensive Plan. 3. Why is it being proposed? Verizon is working with the owner of an existing nearby monopole tower to install equipment as a permanent relocation for the existing GRE site. Due to the real estate and regulatory due diligence processes required for the permanent installation, it may not be feasible to have the permanent installation complete and on air before the GRE site is decommissioned. If the permanent installation is not on air by the time the GRE site is decommissioned, it would result in an “outage” that would cause issues in service reliability and quality on the Verizon network to the detriment of the community. To avoid this potential outage, Verizon is requesting approval of the temporary Facility as depicted in this application. 1 Ryan, Kevin. “New Data Underscores Value Consumers Place on Wireless.” CTIA, 5 Apr. 2017, https://www.ctia.org/news/consumers-value-wireless.