Site ID: "NJ07459A formerly NJ06234I" - Independent Radio Frequency Report Regarding a Proposed Wireless Communications Facility T-Mobile ...
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Independent Radio Frequency Report
Regarding a Proposed
Wireless Communications Facility
For
T-Mobile Northeast, LLC
Site ID:
“NJ07459A formerly NJ06234I”
Route 202/206
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Somerset County
By
PierCon Solutions, LLC
F e b r ua r y 4 , 2 0 2 1
63 BEAVER BROOK RD., SUITE 201, LINCOLN PARK, NJ 07035 PHONE 973-628-9330 * FAX 973-628-9321
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE.................................................................................................................................... 3
2 GENERAL OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................... 3
3 DESIGN OBJECTIVES..................................................................................................................................... 3
4 RADIO FREQUENCY ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES PERFORMED...................................................... 4
5 COVERAGE PROPAGATION ANALYSIS ................................................................................................... 5
6 RADIO FREQUENCY ENGINEERING RESPONSES TO THE ORDINANCE ....................................... 7
7 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................................. 10
8 APPENDIX - EXHIBITS ................................................................................................................................. 12
2
1 PU RP OS E A ND S CO P E
PierCon Solutions LLC, an engineering firm specializing in wireless communications, performed an independent analysis
regarding the radiofrequency engineering aspects of the proposal by T-Mobile Northeast, LLC to construct and operate
a wireless telecommunications facility consisting of 6 antennas (2 per sector) at the Roseland- Lambertville Right of way
on a new constructed PSE&G transmission tower located Route 202 and Mountain View Avenue, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.
The old PSE&G transmission tower which supported T-Mobile’s wireless facility NJ06234I was ordered to be removed
to allow PSE&G to replace the row of transmission towers. T-Mobile was approved to temporarily locate their wireless
facility known as “NJCLT58D” to the GPU Chambrook substation property .75-mile feet away.
The purpose of this proposed site (NJ07456A) for T-Mobile is to replace an existing site (NJ06234I) by returning to the
PSE&G transmission tower in the right of way. The new PSE&G tower is approximately 65ft west of the original located
PSE&G tower. Once the new transmission tower is complete, T-Mobile plans to return to the PSE&G tower as the temp
site NJCLT58 is to be removed and decommissioned. In an attempt to avoid a significant gap in service after the
temporary site is decommissioned, T-Mobile will need to return to the new PSE&G tower in order to replace the coverage
lost and maintain service in this area of Bridgewater.
In preparation for conducting this analysis, PierCon Solutions obtained applicable engineering data from T-Mobile and
considered relevant portions of the Bridgewater Township ordinance for a wireless telecommunications facility.
The following report results from a thorough independent study and analysis (from a radiofrequency engineering
perspective) of the applicant’s proposal in consideration of the Bridgewater Township’s stated zoning goals and
restrictions. It includes responses to specific sections of the Zoning Regulations of the Bridgewater Township. Exhibits
referenced in this report can be found in the Appendix.
2 G EN ERA L OV ERVI E W
In the T-Mobile network, T-Mobile holds 1900 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 700 MHz ,600MHz, 2500 MHz. Each frequency
band has different performance characteristics for both coverage and capacity. From a coverage perspective, the lower
frequency bands (600/700 MHz) cover a greater distance and are less attenuated by trees and terrain, while the higher
frequency bands (1900/2100/2500 MHz) cover a lesser distance and are more attenuated by trees and terrain. From a
coverage perspective if the lower frequency band demonstrates a gap in coverage then all higher frequency bands (1900
MHz, 2100 MHz, 2500 MHz) will demonstrate greater gaps in coverage.
3 DE SIG N O B JE CT I VE S
T-Mobile have established service and performance goals to provide reliable wireless services across all of its FCC licensed
frequency bands and technologies. T-Mobile’s service and performance goals include providing adequate coverage and
capacity for voice and data services, preparing to provide future services, and otherwise improving service capabilities.
3The service goals established by the wireless carriers are designed to provide all customers with a positive wireless voice
and data experience. Simply put, a positive wireless experience includes the customer connecting to the network on the
first try, staying connected throughout the session, and the customer ending the session when ready. For positive
experiences with data connections (e.g., internet browsing) the speed is as fast as the technology allows. Unreliable
service, meaning service levels that do not meet T-Mobile’s performance goals, causes a negative experience: customers
cannot place calls when they want to; when they are connected, voice call quality does not meet customer expectations;
or, the call simply drops off (disconnects) without notice. A negative data experience is not instantaneous, is much slower
than consumers expect and demand, or the connection is never established.
Unreliable service that fails to meet the wireless carrier’s service and performance goals, which include voice and/or data
services, can occur if there is: (i) a lack of reliable signal, including poor signal quality; and/or (ii) a lack of system capacity,
or in terms of LTE, insufficient throughput, for any of T-Mobile services and across all of their licensed frequency bands.
Providing quality in-building voice and data services, with sufficient system capacity and high-speed data rates, is critical
to their customers and is essential to their ability to compete effectively with its functionally equivalent competitors in a
fair and balanced legal and regulatory environment.
In order to adequately provide reliable wireless service to Bridgewater Township, and surrounding area, the design
threshold for reliable service must be defined. The reliable coverage boundary of an LTE site uses a value of Reference
Signal Received Power (RSRP). This value is derived from industry standard definitions of LTE receiver sensitivity and
data throughput, along with statistically quantifiable variations in the physical surroundings. This threshold takes into
account additional losses associated with the location of the user; such as on-street, in-vehicle or in-building. The
propagation coverage analyses for Bridgewater Township, presented herein, are for services based upon a suburban in-
building standard with a corresponding RSRP of -97dBm for T-Mobile which is the standard and objective. Although the
in-vehicle signal strength of -114dBm is also shown through propagation, it is not a reliable or adequate signal strength
for in building coverage for residential homes. The suburban in-building standard encompasses most wood framed
structures such as single-family homes. Stronger signal levels may be required in other locations and environments where
higher density buildings and/or population densities are located.
4 RA DI O F REQ U EN CY ENG I NE ER ING A C TI VI TI ES P ER FOR ME D
In the course of the analysis described in this report, PierCon engineers performed the following tasks:
• Reviewed the Wireless Telecommunications Ordinance of Bridgewater Township
• Reviewed USGS Topographical Maps of Bridgewater Township and surrounding areas.
• Performed an engineering site analysis; reviewing terrain and tree line.
• Reviewed the location and design of adjacent wireless communications facilities
• Reviewed Radio Frequency coverage maps, scan data and the RF design and objective within and
surrounding the Bridgewater Township.
45 COVER A G E P ROPA G A TIO N A NA LY SI S
T-Mobile’s current 4th generation technology deployed is LTE and is the relevant standard in which to design to.
PierCon Solutions evaluated T-Mobile’s high band (2100MHz) frequency, their largest bandwidth, which offers the
most capacity and the low band frequency (700MHz) frequency bands through propagation analysis providing a view of
a high band and low band case scenario. The other frequency such as the 1900MHz will have similar coverage footprint
to the 2100 MHz since it close in frequency range just as the 600 MHz is close to the 700MHz. The 2500MHz will be
smaller in coverage than the 2100MHz since it is 400 MHz higher in frequency. These additional coverage plots can be
provided upon request.
Documentary evidence regarding the need for the proposed telecommunications facility at the proposed location was
obtained by PierCon Solutions from a coverage planning tool called Asset. The propagation data provided was used to
produce propagation coverage maps indicating the locations where reliable service is being provided or will be by T-
Mobile’ wireless communications facilities. Propagation was compared to actual scan drive test data (a receiver equipment
that collects the signal strength levels from T-Mobile’s LTE existing network) in order to validate the propagation.
Please find attached, in the appendix, exhibits for T-Mobile’s Existing Coverage and Proposed.
5.1 T-Mobile Coverage and Objectives
After the removal of existing site NJ06234I, the remaining network of sites for T-Mobile will have a gap in coverage for
the FCC licensed frequency band of 2100 MHz for T-Mobile. T-Mobile has been unable to upgrade the existing PSEG
site for the other frequency bands due to the transmission tower’s need of maintenance.
The new proposed site NJ07459A will have the added benefit of T-Mobile’s low band frequency on the new PSE&G
transmission tower which will provide coverage to areas that the 2100 MHz is unable to reach due to the characteristic
of a higher frequency.
To define the gaps in coverage PierCon analyzed the propagation of the 2100MHz. For a graphical view of this coverage
analysis, please refer to the following exhibits in the Appendix:
• Exhibit A – Coverage From Existing Sites @ 2100 MHz
• Exhibit B - Coverage From Existing Sites (without NJ06234I) @ 2100MHz
• Exhibit C - Coverage From Existing Sites and Proposed (NJ07459A) without NJ06234I @ 2100 MHz
• Exhibit D – Coverage From Existing Sites @ 700 MHz
• Exhibit E - Coverage From Existing Sites and Proposed (NJ07459A) without NJ06234I @ 700MHz
In these exhibits, blue dots represent the existing site locations and the pink dot represents the proposed site location.
The brown dot refers to temp sites before this zoning board needed due to the impact of PSE&G upgrading their
transmission towers in the Right of Way. The green shaded area represents locations where the T-Mobile network
achieves enough RSRP signal strength to provide in-building coverage into residential homes. The yellow shaded area
represents locations where the T-Mobile network achieves in-vehicle coverage only and not sufficient strength to provide
adequate inbuilding services to residential homes.
5In Exhibit B, inbuilding coverage to the Bridgewater Township area lost due to the decommissioning of NJ06234I
includes the following:
• To the North: Old Farm Rd, Cedarbrook Rd, Corporate Dr. (office buildings such as the Federal Credit union
and Pharmaceutical)
• To the West: Saint Georges Rd, Dow Rd, Madison Ave, Wingate Dr, Garfield Ave, Country Club Road
• To the East: Hillside Intermediate School, residential homes near Route 206 along Brown Rd, Murfield Ln,
Blue Stone Ln, Carnoustie Dr, Stella Dr and Arthur Road
• To the South: Harding Rd, Victor St, Hasting Ct, West Foothill Rd, St. Georges Rd, Lyme Rock Rd.
Figure 1 – Google Map Image of the area at risk of losing reliable service
Exhibit C shows the 2100 MHz coverage from the proposed site (NJ07459A) on the new transmission tower. This site
fills in all of the coverage from the existing NJ06234 site and provides additional coverage to the north helping fill in an
existing gap and to the west.
The new PSE&G tower is 130ft, the T-Mobile antennas are placed above with an antenna centerline of 136’6”. This is as
low as T-Mobile can go on the transmission tower due to safety and the transmission tower arm.
The proposed coverage meets the objective and fills the gap resulting from the removal of existing site NJ06234I
completely. The proposed coverage, due to the increase height of the PSE&G tower and antenna location, provides
approximately 700ft additional coverage around the cell edge. In addition, it covers further north of Old Farms Road
where the temporary site is located and west of Old Country Road:
6• To the North: Corporate Drive, New Jersey Center of Excellence., north of Old Farm Road, which includes
several office buildings such as Dermik Laboratories Inc.
• To the West: Juniper Ln, President’s Dr., Roosevelt St. which include Eisenhower Elementary and Intermediate
School, Ardsley Ln, Bell Ln and Chambers Ct.
• To the East: Hillside Intermediate School, residential homes near Route 206 along Brown Rd, Murfield Ln,
Blue Stone Ln, Carnoustie Dr, Stella Dr and Arthur Road
• To the South: Harding Rd, Victor St, Hasting Ct, West Foothill Rd, St. Georges Rd, Lyme Rock Rd.
For 700 MHz, as previously mentioned T-Mobile has been unable to upgrade the existing PSEG site for the other
frequency bands due to the transmission tower’s need of maintenance.
Exhibit D, shows the current gaps in coverage surrounding the proposed site from Old Farm Road to Arthur Road south
of the proposed. In addition, the residential area to the west and near Country Club Road includes the following:
• Candlewick Ln
• Short Hills Road
• Deer Run Drive
• Barrington Dr.
• Farmer Road
Exhibit E, represents the coverage from the proposed at 700 MHz the area to the west is completely filled in as well as
the surrounding area near the proposed.
6 RA DI O F REQ U EN CY ENG I NE ER ING RE S P ON SE S TO T HE OR DI NA N CE
PierCon’s responses to the radio-frequency engineering aspects in conformance to Section 126:341.5 of the
Bridgewater Township Wireless Communication Facilities Ordinance are addressed in the paragraphs to follow.
Exhibits prepared by PierCon and referenced in this section are included in the Appendix.
126:341.5 (b)1 Wireless communication facilities as a permitted use: New wireless communications
facilities and the co-location of such facilities shall be a permitted use on any property owned by the Township
of Bridgewater.
The overall objective is for T-Mobile to return to the PSE&G transmission tower in the Right of Way after PSE&G
completes their work. T-Mobile was approved on the existing tower and is proposing to locate on the new tower 65ft
away from the old tower location. This location and PSE&G tower height meets the exist coverage objective to
replace the existing coverage footprint as well as allowing T-Mobile to upgrade the wireless facility. This upgrade
7allows T-Mobile to provide a larger coverage footprint with the low band 700MHz frequency that will fill in other
existing coverage gaps in Bridgewater Township. It will also allow for future capacity to the residents and businesses
of Bridgewater. The Search Ring provided was used to search for any tall structures of sufficient height or property
owned by the Township. The search ring is based on an area within close proximity to the existing site in order to
provide similar coverage to what is currently existing in the T-Mobile network today. A change in geographic location
of greater distance can change the coverage footprint and create gaps or degrade in service that did not previously
exist causing existing customers to have a negative experience.
T-Mobile was not able to find anything within the Search Area.
126:341.5 (e)1 Wireless communication facilities as a conditional use. Wireless communication facilities
shall be allowed as a conditional use subject to the following: The wireless communications facilities are
situated within any of the following primarily nonresidential zones: C-1, C-1A, C-2, C-2(BRC), C-3, C-3A, C-3B,
C-4, C-5, C-6, GC, GCE, GCM, HEC, HIC, LC, M-1, M-1A, M-1B, M-1C, M-2, M-3, MPD, P, P-2, PRCPD and
SED.
The proposed site is in the R-40 Zone. Please reference Figure 2 below showing alternate candidate pursued while
searching for a temporary location versus the proposed site location on the new PSE&G transmission tower. From
8a Radio Frequency perspective considering the terrain, the proposed site location must be near the existing to provide
similar coverage footprint. The further away with similar height proposed and equal terrain the coverage footprint
moves further away as well. The approved temporary site NJCLT58 is approximately .75 miles to the north and will
be decommissioned within 2 years’ time. This temporary site only met part of the coverage objective. Returning to
the original location, although 65ft further west (which is minimal therefore has no impact on the coverage), is the
best location to meet the objectives.
Figure 2 – Google Earth with Candidate locations, Existing Site location, Proposed Site location and Approved
Temporary Site Location
• 19 Arthur Road Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Swim Club had landlord interest but it was too far south to provide
coverage to this area and rejected by RF engineers.
9• 1041 US Hwy 202/206 Bridgewater, NJ 08807 – Office complex: New Jersey Center of Excellence- LL
rejected, due to pending sale of property.
• 773 Dow Road Bridgewater, NJ 08807 – Green Knoll Fire Co. - RF rejected due to location is too far south.
• 875 Route 202/206 Bridgewater, NJ 08807 – Green Knoll Senior Care - RF rejected due to location is too
far south.
• Somerset Substation 1 Heather Hill Way Bridgewater, NJ – LL rejected, no space available.
• 1 Balaji Temple Dr, Bridgewater NJ—There was LL interest and RF approval but could not reach leasing
terms.
126:341.5 (e)2 Wireless communication facilities as a conditional use. Wireless communication facilities shall
be allowed as a conditional use subject to the following: The wireless communications support structure is at
least 1,000 feet from a zoning district that is primarily residential. Zones considered primarily residential shall
include, but not be limited to, the following: AAR, R-10, R-10A, R-10B, R-10.C, R-10.1, R-20, R-20.1, R-40, R-
40A, R-40B, R-40C, R-40 PURD, R-40 MDU, R-40 MDU-1, R-50, R-MDU-5, R-MDU-6, R-MDU-8, R-MDU-
10.5, SC/HD and SC/MD.
Please refer to the previous response (Section 126:341.5 (e)1). T-Mobile will not be able to avoid the R-40
zone in an attempt to best meet their coverage objectives to replace existing coverage provided by NJ06234I
7 CO N CL U S IO N
PierCon Solutions’ analysis of T-Mobile’s existing network indicates that a significant gap in wireless service exists due to
the loss of existing site NJ06234I and future removal of temporary site NJCLT58 within the Bridgewater Township. The
application by T-Mobile proposes to construct a new wireless telecommunications facility at Route 202 and Mountain
View Avenue on the PSE&G new transmission tower in Bridgewater, NJ 08807. The proposed installation will replace
coverage lost due to the decommissioning of the existing site and temporary site. The proposed wireless facility will
improve reliable service as well as reduce other gaps within the Bridgewater Township.to and around Route 202/206 for
nearby businesses and residents.
PierCon performed a thorough review of the wireless code and has addressed each section to which a response from a
radiofrequency engineering perspective was applicable.
After performing the independent radiofrequency analysis, PierCon Solutions concludes that this facility is essential to T-
Mobile’s network design for Bridgewater Township.
10Report Prepared by:
Frances Boschulte
RF Manager
02/04/2021
PierCon Solutions, LLC
118 APPENDIX - EXHIBITS
• Exhibit A – Coverage From Existing Sites @ 2100 MHz
• Exhibit B - Coverage From Existing Sites (without NJ06234I) @ 2100MHz
• Exhibit C - Coverage From Existing Sites and Proposed (NJ07459A) without NJ06234I @ 2100 MHz
• Exhibit D – Coverage From Existing Sites @ 700 MHz
• Exhibit E - Coverage From Existing Sites and Proposed (NJ07459A) without NJ06234I @ 700MHz
12T-Mobile - COVERAGE FROM EXISTING SITES
Existing 2100 MHz LTE Coverage
Exhibit A
0 1
miles
Exisitng On Air Site InBuilding Suburban Coverage
Proposed Site InVehicle Coverage
Future Approved Temp Site
13
Prepared by PierCon Solutions LLCT-Mobile - COVERAGE FROM EXISTING SITES without NJ06234I
Existing 2100 MHz LTE Coverage
Exhibit B
0 1
miles
Exisitng On Air Site InBuilding Suburban Coverage
Proposed Site InVehicle Coverage
Future Approved Temp Site
14
Prepared by PierCon Solutions LLCT-Mobile - COVERAGE FROM EXISTING SITES AND PROPOSED (NJ07459A) without NJ06234I
Existing 2100 MHz LTE Coverage
Exhibit C
0 1
miles
Exisitng On Air Site InBuilding Suburban Coverage
Proposed Site InVehicle Coverage
Future Approved Temp Site
15
Prepared by PierCon Solutions LLCT-Mobile - COVERAGE FROM EXISTING SITES
Existing 700 MHz LTE Coverage
Exhibit D
0 1
miles
Exisitng On Air Site InBuilding Suburban Coverage
Proposed Site InVehicle Coverage
Future Approved Temp Site
16
Prepared by PierCon Solutions LLCT-Mobile - COVERAGE FROM EXISTING SITES and Proposed (NJ07459A) without NJ06234I
Exhibit E Existing 700 MHz LTE Coverage
0 1
miles
Exisitng On Air Site InBuilding Suburban Coverage
Proposed Site InVehicle Coverage
Future Approved Temp Site
17
Prepared by PierCon Solutions LLCEXHIBIT DESCRIPTIONS Submission Date: February 5, 2021 APPLICANTS: T-Mobile Northeast, LLC and New York SMSA Limited Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless HEARING DATE: February 16, 2021 EXHIBIT NAME DESCRIPTION T-Mobile NE Exhibit1 Site Plan Sheet #1 T-Mobile NE Exhibit2 Site Plan Sheet #2 T-Mobile NE Exhibit3 Site Plan Sheet#3 T-Mobile NE Exhibit4 Site Plan Sheet #4 T-Mobile NE Exhibit5 Site Plan Sheet #5 T-Mobile NE Exhibit6 Site Plan Sheet #6 T-Mobile NE Exhibit7 Site Plan Sheet #7 T-Mobile NE Exhibit8 Site Plan Sheet #8 T-Mobile NE Exhibit9 Site Plan Sheet #9 T-Mobile NE Exhibit10 Site Plan Sheet #10 T-Mobile NE Exhibit11 Site Plan Sheet#11 T-Mobile NE Exhibit12 Structural Analysis dated January 5, 2021 T-Mobile NE Exhibit13 Verizon Wireless Authorization T-Mobile NE Exhibit14 T-Mobile Authorization T-Mobile NE Exhibit 15 T-Mobile RF Report dated February 4, 2021
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