Officials with Rogers Communications are confident a new 75-metre tower near the corner of Trafalgar Road and Wellington Road 50 will help address several “dead zones” in the area for cell phone and wireless internet users.
Jeff McKay explained to council last week the Erin tower is one of three in the area – Belwood and Mimosa are the other two locations – that Rogers is building to address under-serviced rural homes.
He said the public consultation for the Erin tower, which falls under federal regulations only, ends in mid-January, though there has been no complaints received to date by the company.
Rogers hopes to resolve any and all issues raised by February and plans to begin construction of the tower in the spring.
“Ultimately, we’re responding to user demand,” he said, mentioning the dead zones in the area, which are well known to locals and those who regularly pass through the municipality.
The property at 5082 Trafalgar Road, near the southwest corner of Trafalgar and Wellington Road 50, was chosen because of its height and because it affects relatively few nearby landowners, McKay explained.
He added those living within 3km of the tower will receive “excellent service,” while those living within 6km will get “good service,” and the signal weakens at distances greater than that.
Resident Liz Armstrong asked about possible health concerns, but McKay said there are none with this type of tower. He added Rogers has to comply with guidelines from Health Canada, which means the towers are safe.
Anyone with questions about the process should call the local Industry Canada office at 519-457-4826.
