Rogers Communications is proposing to build a cellular tower at 830 March Road, behind the Sobeys plaza. The proposed tower is a 40 meters monopole. The diameter at the base of the tower will be less than 1.5 meters in width. Initially, Rogers will install 3 cellular 3G and 6 LTE antennas. Space will be available for six future antennas for additional cellular carriers. The tower will be approximately 104 meters from March Road and 160 meters from the current nearest residential property.
I have met with representatives from Rogers and they have informed me that an exhaustive search was carried out to find alternative locations for this tower. At this meeting, I shared the concerns that residents had shared with me to date.
While the City of Ottawa has a role to play in the approval of a tower or antenna installation, the ultimate decision to approve a tower or antenna systems lies with the Federal Government under Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. They have established requirements that wireless carriers must follow when installing or modifying a tower or antenna system. For information on these rules, please consult their web site or contact them by email. You can also contact your Member of Parliament, Karen McCrimmon.
I have concerns with the location of this cellular tower. Recognizing that this type of infrastructure has become critical as more and more devices are connected, I believe it’s important for your voice to be heard. Please share your comments by May 18th to Daryl Rancourt at drancourt@rogers.com or by phone (613) 983-6456. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me at 613-580-2474 or at Jenna.Sudds@Ottawa.ca.
June 12, 2019 update:
In response to what I heard from Kanata North residents, I have sent a letter to MP Karen McCrimmon expressing our community’s concerns.