TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN VANCOUVER · by Industry Canada and must comply with Health Canada’s Safety Code 6. •Vancouver Coastal Health Chief Medical Health Officer

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ENGINEERING SERVICES AND PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN VANCOUVER

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COUNCIL MOTIONS BACKGROUND & REGULATORY CONTEXT MEETING COMMUNITY INTERESTS AND INDUSTRY NEEDS BUILDINGS CITY STREET LIGHT POLES

COUNCIL MOTION 1

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FEBRUARY 15TH, 2011 Neighbourhood Impacts from Installation of Wireless Antenna Systems in Vancouver THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT City Council direct the City Manager to ensure citizen and industry concerns are identified and integrated into a coherent approach to this issue; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT staff continue to work with telecommunications companies, federal agencies, and Vancouver Coastal Health in a collaborative process to develop clear protocols and guidelines for the installation of all antennae in the city that balance citizen, industry and city needs in addressing current challenges in regards to permitting, public process and urban design issues.

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JUNE 12TH, 2012 Transforming Technology in Street Infrastructure THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT staff be requested to:

(a) Report back on the work underway between the City and the telecommunications industry to address challenges that have been raised by the community related to increasing cell infrastructure in Vancouver;

(b) Review and update policies for the installation of this infrastructure in Vancouver;

(c) Assess the viability of the ‘V-pole’ and any other proposed technologies that address the growing demand for cellular and EV infrastructure; and

(d) Seek out pilot projects with the telecommunications, lighting and EV industries to test and implement innovative technologies using city infrastructure like streetlight poles.

COUNCIL MOTION 2

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BACKGROUND

• Global demand for wireless data services is growing rapidly

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Source: Cisco VNI Mobile, 2012

-

2,000,000

4,000,000

6,000,000

8,000,000

10,000,000

12,000,000

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Mon

thly

Mob

ile D

ata

Traf

fic

TB

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN DEMAND

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New devices such as tablets use a great deal of data:

• 1 smart phone uses over 24 times more data than a normal phone

• Laptops use almost 515

times more data

• Tablets use over 122

times more data

DATA DEMANDS ARE RISING

BACKGROUND

Source: Cisco VNI Mobile, 2011

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• Rising demand for wireless services is creating the need for additional antennae:

• Major wireless providers need infill sites spread across the city, many in or adjacent to residential areas

• Smaller providers need fewer sites in more centralized locations to create citywide coverage.

• The result, especially with competition, is a growing demand for antennae in the city.

INCREASED DATA = INCREASED ANTENNAE

BACKGROUND

REGULATORY CONTEXT

The City of Vancouver is the approving authority for development and building permits that regulate building life safety and urban design issues related to neighbourhood context. The Federal Government, through Industry Canada, is responsible for regulating radio communication in Canada.

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HEALTH & SAFETY

• All telecommunication companies are licensed by Industry Canada and must comply with Health Canada’s Safety Code 6.

• Vancouver Coastal Health Chief Medical Health Officer concludes, as has Health Canada, that in light of the current scientific understanding of the risks of RF exposures to the public, the installation of base stations and cellular antennae do not pose any adverse health risk and that Safety Code 6 provides an appropriate level of protection.

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• Carriers will indemnify the City against, among other things, actions due to health concerns. The City will have the right to remove previously installed wireless equipment if future adjustments in safe exposure limits, as determined by Health Canada, are exceeded.

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INDUSTRY STRUGGLING TO KEEP-UP WITH DEMAND

• The telecom industry is struggling to keep pace with consumer demand.

• Some antennae have been installed without City permits, creating concern within Vancouver neighborhoods over unapproved installations.

• The McGill and Nanaimo monopole was

installed without City approval, and result of Council’s motion and the resulting collaboration with industry to find better ways, it has been removed and replaced with rooftop installation consistent with City’s design options that addressed community concern.

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CITY AND INDUSTRY WORKING GROUP

• With Council support, the City and industry established a working group to address industry and community concerns.

• Industry requested clarity about City criteria for approving antenna installations and the need for a timely approval process.

• The City was interested in well designed installations and supporting economic development.

IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE IN VANCOUVER

• Over the past year staff have worked with industry on two antenna permitting streams.

1. Buildings: – Developed a design matrix to guide approval process for installations

on buildings – Reduced permit processing time with an “over the counter” permit

process

2. Street Light Poles: – Established design criteria for installations – Issued an RFEOI for pilot projects – Conducting pilot projects with several carriers – Developed an antenna protocol for attachments to street light poles

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CELLULAR ANTENNAE AND URBAN INTEGRATION: PILOT PROJECT DESIGN GUIDELINES IN THE CITY OF VANCOUVER

• Industry retained Dialog to prepare design options for installations on buildings

• The design options addressed clustering, screening and location of antennae, in relation to building size and scale

• The design options provide design standardization that improves certainty and clarity of process

• City and industry continue to improve both design options and materials to improve project viability

PROBLEM INSTALLATIONS

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4B – PARTIAL SCREENED ROOF EDGE INSTALLATIONS

• This design option for screened roof top installations avoids face mounted installations

• Screening can cost more but maximizes signal coverage with more antenna

• Screening most appropriate for midrise or lower density buildings where visibility is an urban design concern

MILLER BLOCK (763 KINGSWAY)

Buildings with heritage value present unique challenges for antenna installations. Screening at the rear of buildings protects other important building elements.

THE DESIGN MATRIX

• The design matrix is a range of design options for cellular antenna installations that has been piloted over the past year for permit applications on buildings

• On average, 80% of installations (40 permits) in the past year are in compliance with the design matrix

• Design matrix provides certainty of process and shortened processing times to 1 week after sign off.

• Industry has indicated there are some additional costs associated with screened roof top installations

• Staff seek Council’s endorsement of the design matrix as method for processing permits

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STREET LIGHT-ANTENNA POLE INSTALLATIONS

• Traditionally, because of the lack of tall buildings in residential areas, service providers have found it difficult to find suitable antenna sites.

• Even in downtown, existing installations on top of buildings will not meet the demands for service expected in the next few years.

• To address both issues, street light poles have been identified as a viable option. They can serve as both the primary service points for provision of wireless service to customers, as well as complimenting antennae on existing buildings.

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• A showpiece of complex urban utilities

that integrates Wi-Fi, cellular, LED street lighting, EV charging, parking kiosk, and neighbourhood bulletin boards.

• The forward-thinking concept is still some years away from realization because of technology, but it demonstrates potential benefits and synergies that could be realised now, by using street light poles.

• Staff developed a strategy to assess the viability of using street light poles for antenna installations.

THE “V-POLE” CONCEPT

THE DOUGLAS COUPLAND “V-POLE” CONCEPT

PRACTICE REVIEW

Review of Antennae Protocols • Many cities current allow or are

considering attachments to street infrastructure

• Approval processes vary and there is no commonly adopted process or procedure

• Most protocols specify siting criteria, including sensitive areas where such installations are discouraged

• Recognize that health related concerns are within the purview of Health Canada

City of Surrey City of Calgary

PILOT PROJECTS

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TELUS (MICROCELL) Low impact installation of

microcells on Granville St. for 4G cellular service infill

ROGERS (MINICELL) Integrated street light pole and

4G antenna system near Fraserview Golf Course

SHAW (Wi-Fi) Proposed installation of Wi-Fi access points along Granville

St., attached to City poles

PILOT PROJECTS

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EMILY CARR - ROGERS - CITY - NATURAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH COUNCIL • In early 2012 the City, Rogers, Emily Carr and NSERC agreed to a joint collaboration. • The Goal: To utilize a high standard of design, to develop a prototype that integrated a wireless antenna and

associated costly power supply with a public benefit that requires power, that meets the objectives of both the City and Rogers.

Power Outlet

EV Charging Station

PILOT PROJECTS

PARKS – TELUS • Installation of an integrated electric vehicle charging

station and cellular pole in parking lots at three park locations along Beach Ave.

• Community benefits include:

New EV charging stations to meet demand

Improved 4G LTE cellular network

New revenues (3 installations, leased at $35K

per year for 20 years)

Beach & Bute

Beach & Broughton

• Established to support a well-balanced approach to integrating antennae into the public realm • Efforts should be made to minimise the size of antennae systems • Design and siting should be cognizant of view corridors • Antennae systems should be sympathetic to their environment and be designed in a manner that

compliments the surrounding architecture and built form • Opportunities for innovation in design, where public amenities can be integrated as part of

antennae system, is encouraged

• Effective network implementations to better serve residents and businesses • Synergies with City initiatives such as ‘Greenest City 2020’ • Generate new revenue and/or services • Streamlined approval process that saves both time and cost

PROTOCOL HIGHLIGHTS

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OPPORTUNITIES

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

PLAN REVIEW CHARGE • A one-time payment of $1,200 per pole

ANNUAL POLE USE CHARGES • $3,000 per pole, for each new pole installation where the total height of the new pole-antenna

combination is less than or equal to 12.0m; • $4,000 per pole, for each new pole installation where the total height of the new pole-antenna

combination is greater than 12.0m but less than or equal to 13.0m; • $5,000 per pole, for each new pole installation where the total height of the new pole-antenna

combination is greater than 13.0m but less than or equal to 14.0m; • $6,000 per pole, for each new pole installation where the total height of the new pole-antenna

combination is greater than 14.0m but less than or equal to 14.4m; and • $7,000 per pole, for each new pole installation where the total height of the new pole-antenna

combination is greater than 14.4 but less than or equal to 14.9m.

PROTOCOL HIGHLIGHTS

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PRICING SCHEDULE FOR MINICELL INSTALLATIONS

PLAN REVIEW CHARGE • A one-time payment of $150 per pole per device

ANNUAL POLE USE CHARGE • Microcell and Wi-Fi are emerging technologies and very few Canadian municipalities have established

installations. It is anticipated that pricing for Microcell or Wi-Fi antennae will range from $250 to $500 per pole per device.

PROTOCOL HIGHLIGHTS

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PRICING SCHEDULE FOR MICROCELL AND Wi-Fi INSTALLATIONS

• For installations that integrate City-approved amenities into their designs, such as power outlets and EV charging

stations, the annual pole use payments would be reduced, to offset the costs of such amenities

• As an incentive for pole-antenna combinations that incorporate innovative designs or engineering and which provide power outlets, the City will reduce the rental price for the annual payment for pole use by 10 percent for a consecutive period of 10 years.

• For minicell antennae, the annual payment for pole use will be reduced by $500 for those installations that do not require an above-ground kiosk. This incentive minimizes public realm clutter from additional street infrastructure, as well as addressing residential/BIA complaints of unsightly graffiti found on above-ground kiosks.

CONSIDERATIONS

NEXT STEPS

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• Request Council approval: – For an antenna protocol that sets forth guidelines and decision-

criteria to be applied by the City for antenna attachments to street light poles;

– Negotiate, with carriers, a standard license agreement for such antenna installations;

– Continue to pursue new opportunities with carriers wishing to install antennae on street light poles; and

– Report back to Council in two years regarding the results of the pilots, advancements in wireless technology including Microcell and Wi-Fi, and any recommendations for updating the Protocol.

THE END

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Documents

TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE IN VANCOUVER · by Industry Canada and must comply with Health Canada’s Safety Code 6. •Vancouver Coastal Health Chief Medical Health Officer