I have a major cell phone company wanting to build a tower on my farm.

Anybody else been down this road?

Pro's

Con's

They are wanting a 25 year lease.

They need 75' X 75' piece of land for the tower (no guide wires) and 12' x 100' for the access road.

Pays pretty good from what I understand. Makes a pretty big footprint though with the wires.

Make sure you look over the fine print, but it will most likely be a good deal for you.
There are a few hoops to jump through. A third party will do an environmental assesment, there will be an archeological assesement to make sure the site isn't an indian burial ground or something, and the site will be drilled for sub-surface sampling.

From what I have heard, with the amount of money they pay. I would like to have several of them on my farm. Lol

I believe Mark Zagger from Coyote U is involved with those towers. You can contact him, and I'm sure he can give you some solid info. mark@coyoteu.com

Don't get your hopes up. They have a spot all picked out. It may or may not be your place. They will go to all the neighbors and make the same offer. They will do this to get you to accept the idea of a tower in your neighborhood. Then one day it will just be there, on the neighbors place.

make sure if they abandon it a some point, that they are to put site back to the way it was

Had that happen to you?

Yup.

We had one on a farm. Pays well and we didn't have any issues. There first offer isn't usually their best offer.

X2 Has been my experience as well. Once it’s all said and done, it’s not really that big a deal, and it’s a nice little side gig of steady income.

Just remember techs could be there any time after completion. We have an FAA site in the middle of a huge farm. Rode through many a time on a trouble report and drive past guys in their deer stands. We have a 4 hour commitment for FAA and cell sites, whether it’s in the middle of the night or regular working hours. It’s my understanding they pay a pretty good price for that land too.

The only issue I would have is where they want tp install the tower. Do they have to build a road, how far they have to build the road through your land. The placement would be a huge factor for me if I sign on the line. Easements for access can make private land public land and can be a big problem.

As far as having one you would benefit but I also would have council read over the contract and there maybe something that you may want to change. Sometime they will change some of the wording and sometime not.

They put one in a mile away and my service improved greatly, the cabin we rent it WI still has poor service so go figure.

Depends on the size and the terrain in your area.
My uncle has one (Verizon) in his yard in the mountains. I think it's 75' and doesn't take much room of his acre which is on a hill. I am 1 of a few people who knows what they pay him. I think the lease is 10 year at a time.

Before this tower there was no cell signal for anyone in this area.

The way it worked is they had several locations picked out with 1 or 2 ideal locations. They approach the property owners and try to strike a deal. His property was the ideal location and the only person in the small mountain town who agreed. They installed and fenced the area (I think 25'x25') they have access to the tower and to the gate anytime via shared lock. A sign at the gate is posted to enter the land. Verizon helped with improving the road which was already there.

My rez has several towers TV radio and cell. Including towers that 500' +. Same thing they company leasing the land (tv, radio, cell etc...) fences the area and maintains the roads leading to the towers.

One thing you might consider, do you want a blinking light in your area.

Towers 200 foot or higher are required to have lighting, blinking light on top.

A couple of years ago AT&T wanted to put up a tower on the Township property.
The township agreed to the deal with the stipulation that the tower could not be higher than 195 foot.
And now there it sits at 195 foot high with no blinking light on it.

Make absolutely sure that you get paid by every company that rents space on the tower. We build fiber optic cable to these towers, once it's there many others will want on it. I gave my brother in law this advise and it has paid off many times.

^ absolutely true and great advise. Yep make sure that you get compensated for every entity that attaches to that tower. Because you will have to put up with every company that attaches to that tower.

Great advise cablejohn!

Why is it that no one will publicly say what the cell company will pay to lease?

Ive got to tell this to my friend who has a signed contract for one to be built.

Thanks!!!