For those who are eagerly awaiting decent cell service in the canyons, there's some reason to be hopeful.

Verizon no longer is looking at the Children's Center as its central switch site because of issues obtaining a sublease there. Verizon now is looking at the Silverado Community Center for its site. They have just done the preliminary review there.

Verizon Wireless has made permit applications with the county for new wireless infrastructure in the canyons. There are applications for 18 cellular antennas to be placed on existing electric poles, with some poles being replaced. A small, central fiber switch site will be leased from the Children's Center/SMRPD at the far north side of that property.

ICL had a public meeting with Verizon Thursday April 21st at the Silverado Community Center. About 20 people attended, including four representing Verizon.

ICL also will be presenting this matter at it's May 3rd public meeting at the Modjeska Fire Station, and soliciting additional membership comments. ICL will be following up with a comments letter that county planning has requested from ICL.

The ICL's Sil-Mod plan committee has been working with the county to help with drafting their new wireless ordinance. Because the Sil-Mod plan was adopted in the late 70s, it never envisioned the type of wireless infrastructure build-out we now are seeing. As carriers multiply and expand, and utilities enter, wireless expansion is increasing almost daily.

So we've been working to get the county's new wireless ordinance to reflect the overall goals of the Sil-Mod plan and prevent unnecessary and unsightly proliferation of new wireless structures that would adversely impact our canyon's viewsheds in the future.

This is not related to wireless coverage. It is just about where and how wireless facilities can be permitted and built. Many canyon residents in fact would welcome expanded wireless coverage in the residential canyon areas as it is currently poor in many areas. Nor is this ordinance concerned with wireless safety. Both of these are FCC matters.

The Orange County Register did a very thorough article on this, which also explains what the state is doing at the behest of industry lobbyists that could undo all the hard work that the county has put into it. That article is available here.