Can You Hear Me Now, Collingswood?

Collingswood Zoning Board met Wednesday evening to discuss a use variance proposed by Cricket Communications, Inc.

The variance seeks to allow Cricket's use of existing equipment atop Building C of the apartment complex, for the placement of three wireless antennas.

The cellular provider is proposing these installations to improve wireless and data coverage throughout town.

At the moment, Building C uses old equipment from a different cellular carrier on its roof, said Michael Bohlinger, engineer on the project.

Current equipment includes three counter-balanced steel frames, each containing three antennas, he said. This type of outfitting is common to the cellular industry, according to Bohlinger.

Bohlinger said this would be a first-time installation for Cricket at the Heights of Collingswood.

Cricket proposes to make use of already-existing frames, but replace nine old antennas with three new ones, which would result in only one antenna per frame.

The explanation of this exchange alleviated board concerns over weight capacity on the roof of the high-rise.

During the meeting, Phong Phang, a radio frequency engineer with Cricket, presented a map displaying the geographical limits of wireless coverage in Collingswood.

A team from Cricket gathered raw data with a propagation tool as a response to customer complaints in town, he said. The map compared coverage in vehicles, versus that received in town buildings.

“Most of Collingswood receives reliable coverage in a car, but not in a building,” Phang said, adding that new antennas will remedy the issue. “We (propose to) upgrade the equipment to provide seamless and improved coverage in the area."

Cricket representatives stated that equipment would occupy 10 percent of the building’s roof area, and all equipment would be compliant with FCC regulations.

“And the equipment won’t interfere with public safety channels, because it operates on a different frequency,” said Phang.

Cricket proposed monthly equipment maintenance operations, performed by a technician. A light would also be installed for the purpose of signaling technicians—in the event of a nighttime coverage loss.

Zoning board members unanimously approved the use variance Wednesday evening.

Steve D. Bosque, site acquisition for Cricket, said under the use variance, Cricket will sign a 30-year lease for the rooftop space on Building C.

The application was signed and authorized by the building's owner, said Bosque.

Collingswood Zoning Board meets next on Wednesday, Oct. 5.