The Town of Collierville’s Planning Division reports they are seeing more permit requests for small cell towers around town. What are small cell towers? And why will they likely be coming to your neighborhood? 

Small cell towers are a type of wireless communication facility that improve network connectivity. They are made up of small radio antennas called nodes, which send data through fiber optic cable to a hub site, usually a cell tower. They’re becoming more common due to 5G technology and are usually attached to streetlights, utility poles, or buildings in more developed areas.  

Small cell towers are generally located within public right-of-way along public streets. The pictures below show a regular concrete light pole and a recently installed small cell tower pole on Scarlet Tanager Lane on Scarlet Tanager Lane. The second picture features a new taller pole with a larger base size and with the small cell facility attached. 

  Regular light pole                                        Small cell tower pole

The Tennessee State Legislature passed a law - the “Comprehensive Wireless Broadband Investment, Deployment, and Safety Act of 2018” - which preempted local governments from passing regulations and ordinances prohibiting the installation of 5G technology. The State Law also limits local government’s control over aesthetic considerations and preferred locations and prevents requiring proof that a small cell tower site is needed to fill a coverage gap and proof that a provider complies with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. However, the Town is able to require that applications for small cell towers include proof that Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) has issued an address for the location and has approved the design of any replacement poles, if MLGW owns the existing pole to be affected.  The State Law allows Collierville to limit the design of small cell towers to some extent to make them “blend in” with similar poles in the area but cannot regulate aspects such as pole height. Because Collierville has such limited discretion with Small Cell Towers, permits for them are issued administratively to providers such as AT&T and Verizon without going before any Board or Commission.  

Collierville residents may contact their State Legislator about the 2018 State Law about small cell towers here. To view the Town’s ordinance about small cell regulations, go here. Other questions? Contact the Planning Division at 901-457-2360 or planning@colliervilletn.gov