Cellular smartphone service has required large towers to connect with consumers in the past.  Those towers are not going away, but new technology using smaller, microcell systems may slow the need for more large cell phone towers.

The microcell antennas and support boxes are small enough to place on street light fixtures or utility poles.  Some of the support boxes will be placed on the ground level, at

the base of the pole.    These microcell units can enhance the quality of your cell phone connections and, in some cases, replace the need for some future large antenna construction.

The Fishers City Council has referred a proposed ordinance governing these microcell towers to the Fishers Plan Commission for a recommendation.  The Plan commission has formed a subcommittee to hammer out proposed ordinance language.

The subcommittee has been working with industry representatives to hash out language for the city ordinance.  At the July 8th meeting, the subcommittee discussed at length what technical features would be needed in such an ordinance and the rules for ensuring the antennas and related boxes have no aesthetic issues for the neighborhoods involved.

Subcommittee member Rich Block, also a member of the Fishers City Council and Plan Commission, voiced his desire to ensure Fishers has enhanced connectivity to wireless networks as part of this upgrade.

The Fishers Plan Department staff will draft ordinance language for consideration at the next subcommittee meeting in August.  Once the subcommittee agrees on a proposed ordinance, it will go to the Plan Commission for a public hearing and recommendations, then on to the City Council for final action.