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PlanWireless |
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What is it That We Do, Actually? Kreines & Kreines, Inc. can help local governments, communities, and property owners. In fact, we receive calls and e-mails from all kinds of folks: property owners wanting someone to build a tower on their land, building owners wanting us to draft a lease; we've even received calls from three foreign countries' carriers. These are assignments we are beginning to undertake, and because wireless is changing, we thought we'd give our readers a snapshot of some of our work in the last few months.These are assignments we are beginning to undertake, and because wireless is changing, we thought we'd give our readers a snapshot of some of our work in the last few months. An Enlightened Developer in MemphisWhen you're in the path of growth, and you only develop prime property, you can tire very quickly at the proliferation of tall towers blighting the landscape. Kreines & Kreines, Inc. had the pleasure of working for an "enlightened" (someone who tries to do things right) developer who believes in smart growth. When this gentlemen talks about the adverse impacts of "towers," he invites the tower builders into his office. He does not plan behind anyone's back. Our first assignment was to appear before the Memphis City Council. We hope this will grow into a series of workshops and the ability to prepare a Wireless Master Plan for the "385 Growth Corridor." This would involve three cities, all of which have had tower concerns, but none of which seem to be aware of the alternative futures described on this web site. This could be the first of many public-private partnerships that explore the potential of public policy being used to achieve private objectives. It's still a dream, but we're getting closer to reality. The Mayor Wrote Us a Letter, So We Got to Visit His IT ManagersIt's not very often that Kreines & Kreines, Inc. gets a personal letter from the Mayor of one of the most well-known areas of the U.S. He told Kreines & Kreines, Inc. of his concern over wireless problems and we read the letter "between the lines." This local government, like all local governments, needs to find a source of revenue and, in this case, we're talking seven figures annually. The Mayor sent us to his Information Technology folks, which was a first for Kreines & Kreines, Inc. Ted Kreines, AICP met with some of the brightest minds he's ever encountered working in the same city or county. These staff members talked in MBA terms (e.g., value chain, return-on-investment, opportunity costs, etc.) Ted Kreines gave them encouraging reports. That's where the local governments are going now: regulation is fine, but show us how to make money. "We've Been Approached," said the City Manager. So What Do We Do Now?These are the kinds of calls we love to get: "Some people we know want to use our utility poles to deploy wireless and they have rejected our offer of a franchise. Any suggestions?" Well, sure, we had plenty of ideas and we gave him the first one over the phone: don't use a franchise for wireless, whatever you do. On the basis of that advice, the city flew Ted Kreines, AICP to Florida to conduct a staff seminar. The second thing we'd tell any Florida government: don't charge for the right-of-way, since the State already limits that revenue. So we gave them a better idea. It's hard to say where this job will end up. Kreines & Kreines, Inc. thinks it may be the first major city-sponsored utility pole deployment effort for wireless in the U.S. We'd love to be a part of it, since that's the future. "Dear Kreines & Kreines, Inc.: Two Antennas Fell off the Water Tank During Hurricane Isabel and We Need Your Help"We had been talking to the citizens of this Jersey Shore community for two years. They knew the three carriers with antennas on a water tank near their homes were doing things wrong. They hired an attorney and sued the carriers and their Planning Board. Now a Councilman of the community has asked Kreines & Kreines, Inc. to help "straighten this mess out." So, off to New Jersey for a workshop, which was highly attended. The vicar of the Episcopal Church was there, along with his wife, both of whom live in the rectory next door to the water tank. Seems as if a bolt came down with the two antennas and crashed through the rectory skylight. So now not only the citizens are angry, but maybe God's a little upset too. This is a strange one: the citizens are suing the carriers and the Planning Board. The municipality hired Kreines & Kreines, Inc. to tell them what to do. If we ever saw a town where a plan and an ordinance were needed, this is it. The problem in this community is the same as in yours: "where do we find the funds to hire Kreines & Kreines, Inc.?" Good news: if you follow our advice, you will not only recover all costs, you will develop a source of revenue. |
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