Due Diligence Period Could End Jan. 11 or 12, 2012

Just a reminder that even though recent reports indicate that some school contracts with T-mobile were only signed recently, it is still possible that an earlier version was signed on or soon after the July 11, 2011, school board vote.  That would make this Jan. 11, 2012, the end of the due diligence period. 

At the July vote, Ramona Tyson, who was Interim Superintendent at the time, indicated that the "signature would be affixed to the contracts" immediately following the vote by the board and there would be no other opportunity for communities to speak up with regard to their opposition to the towers, or at least not to the school board.  The discussion then turned to the due diligence period that would last 6 months while T-mobile applied for its permits with the county and the FCC. 

We have seen several indications that many FCC licenses have been applied for much earlier than the recent announced contract signing dates, so it is still possible that the latest date is an attempt at "smoke and mirrors" to put communities at a lower level of alert.  In the meantime, the towers could go up as early as mid-January, so we are urginig every community to get prepared and be ready to "pull the trigger" on whatever options you have been considering if you see any signs of construction.

As we have stated many times, it is much easier to stop a tower from going up than it is to have one taken down.  Stopping a tower can often be as simple as forcing the cell company to prove it has a real "need" for the tower and not just a hope that there will be customers after they build their tower.  That is a legal stipulation by the FCC.  However, once a tower is up and running, they have a much better case for why they need it, as they only have to provide the actual usage data of the tower to show it really is being used.

So, get ready!  We're getting closer to a showdown in several communities.  Let's be prepared to fight and win!  Good luck and happy new year everyone! 

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