The idea of using church steeples isn't new. There are many towns where zoning laws are very strict and the only places to put antennas are on tops of power transmission lines, rooftops, or steeples. Denver is a great example of a rather large town with tough zoning in action. Although there are a few towers that you run into, for the most part, rooftops are the only alternative. And even then, carriers must stealth the installation. You have to look very closely to see any semblance of an antenna installation.
I don't see anything wrong in leasing out your property to cell carriers. It helps them provide better coverage and it also puts easy cash back into your wallet. If someone offered to pay your mortgage and then some just by putting up a tower on the back of your property, why not do it? It's a win-win situation.
But I agree on the WT's likely perspective. They're trying to paint the churches that do this as money grubbing whores that are in cahoots with the cellular carriers. I'm surprised that the WTS doesn't take a clue from this as a way to make money themselves. In many KH locations, they have prime pieces of real estate in rural settings. Ideal for tower placement.
The dollar sum that was mentioned in the article seems inflated. I would like to see where this quote came from and who said it. Here is how it normally breaks down -- A tower company such as American Tower, SBA, or whoever, approaches a land owner. If zoning allows it and the land owner agrees to it, the tower is built. The land owner pays nothing out of their pocket. The tower company incurs all expenses for building the tower. A brand new site from ground preparation to the actual tower usually runs around $100k-200k. Typically, the tower company already has cell carriers lined up. The tower company leases space on the tower either by carrier mount or per antenna. This scenario is also similar to a church steeple. The tower company would have to structurally strengthen the steeple for its intended use. This can cost a hell of a lot of money as well - amost as much as a brand new tower. In the case of New England with tough zoning restrictions, a tower company can demand a higher premium on antenna placements. They would probably charge in the neighborhood of $1000 per antenna. Figure, on average, 6 antennas per carrier with three carriers and that brings you to ~$216k per year. The church only gets a small percentage of that income. Remember, the tower company did all of the work and paid for everything. They also are the ones responsible for all of the maintenance and upkeep of that installation. The church might see around 10-20%, or ~$20k-40k. That isn't too shabby considering the general public probably cannot see anything on the steeple and that nothing from it makes any noise that would interrupt church services.
Yeah, the WTS is just jealous.
