Stealth towers provide service, enhance neighborhoods

Cellular phones seem to be everywhere. So are the communication towers that enable wireless technology -- even if you don't see them.

More often than not, the towers are built into building faãades or disguised as light poles, flag poles or palm trees. These stealth designs also can resemble pine trees, saguaro cactuses and boulders, among other things.

"They're a function of getting zoning approval through local jurisdictions," said Chris Wener, president of Spectrum Surveying and Engineering in Las Vegas, whose company helps wireless carriers find sites, obtain permits and build antennas.

Wener said that because the stealth poles are less obtrusive and blend in with their surroundings, city officials have created ordinances that facilitate the zoning application process.

"It made the permitting process easier. Carriers are now enticed to (use stealth poles) through code," Wener said, noting that wireless companies that want to erect 100-foot-tall steel towers must wade through a more challenging application process and their chances for approval are "slim."

Cities in the Las Vegas Valley are not alone in this approach. Steve Meyer, business development director for the camouflage division at The Larson Co., an Arizona firm which designs and manufactures stealth communication equipment, said many municipalities have similar mandates.

"Some communities don't like the look of traditional towers. They are a bit of an eyesore," he said.

A stealth antenna typically costs two or three times more than a standard pole. Meyer said a standard palm tree, or "monopalm," capable of serving one wireless carrier costs about $30,000, while a tower resembling a pine tree can range between $20,000 and $220,000 depending on the number of carriers it serves.

Despite their higher costs, pine trees can be more cost effective because its multiple tenants share the cost of installing the stealth antenna, he said.

Wener said the increased use of wireless technology has created the demand for stealth facilities. The number of antennas necessary in a specific location is a function of their capacity.

"If you have a site on the highway in the middle of nowhere, such as between (Las Vegas) and the border of California, sites can be spaced 10 miles apart. They are basically providing coverage just to the cars. But, say on Las Vegas Boulevard, where there is a tremendous amount of traffic, there are literally sites within and on top of every casino. There are so many people using cell phones and all their related services like e-mail and sending photos," Wener said.

He estimated that there are about 1,000 wireless sites throughout the valley to serve the six major providers.

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