Board approves Verizon design for Lamoille summit tower; district begins ERP standards work

The Elko Television District approved engineering design documents presented by Verizon for a new tower at Lamoille Summit and requested clarifying language to show all planned waveguide ladder and conduit work.

Kenny, the district field lead, summarized Verizon’s proposal: underground conduits from the existing shelter to the new tower foundation, an ice bridge to the tower, a new waveguide ladder and relock of microwave and sector equipment onto the new structure. Kenny said the structural analysis for the new tower showed a 62% capacity rating with Verizon’s equipment in place.

Board members requested a small wording change to the engineering documents to explicitly list the additional waveguide ladder so the structural analysis fully reflects the installed elements. The board approved a motion to accept Verizon’s design package with the requested amendment. Ray moved the motion and Kent seconded; the motion carried by voice vote.

ERP discussion and future policy: district staff also raised a separate but related issue — whether to set a standard cap for effective radiated power (ERP) at district sites to protect receivers and maintain a low noise floor. Ken reviewed past practice and said the district historically capped some sites around 250 watts ERP; he told the board he is “leaning towards ... discussions around 500 watts ERP at the sites” as a baseline while allowing special exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

Staff said they will have the infrastructure committee measure existing site noise floors, require new tenants to pay for site-testing when they join, and draft a proposed ERP policy for the board. Verizon’s current sectors at the site were reported as under 200 watts ERP per sector.

Ending: the board approved Verizon’s design subject to the requested clarifying revision and tasked the infrastructure committee to return a recommended ERP standard and measurement procedure within the next one to two months.