Responding to requests for more information from the planning and zoning commission and the community about its proposed wireless tower at 13-Mile, Tidal Network reported at a public meeting it convened Oct. 9 that it will include answers when it applies a second time for a conditional-use permit for the structure.

About eight people turned out for the meeting at the Nolan Center to learn about the tribal nonprofit’s plans and to ask questions.

Nearby residents at the tower site have questioned the location, lighting and other aspects of the proposed facility. The planning and zoning commission on Aug. 14 unanimously rejected the application, citing the need for more information, including the science of any health risks from wireless transmissions.

The tower’s height has been scaled back to 230 feet after the earlier plan for a 250-foot structure was turned down in August. Communications towers are allowed by conditional use in areas zoned rural residential.

Lighting requirements were addressed at the Oct. 9 meeting. Blinking red lights are required for towers taller than 200 feet, according to Tidal Network’s presentation. A plan has been filed with the Federal Aviation Administration.

“It’s truly going to be something you don’t notice all the time,” project engineer Trevor Newton said.

A packet responding to the planning and zoning commission’s questions will be submitted with the new conditional-use application, Newton said, including literature from the World Health Organization, Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Food and Drug Administration on health and safety standards for radio frequency-emitting devices.

The proposed site is the back corner of a wooded, upland lot about a half-mile short of McCormack Creek, back from Zimovia Highway at 13-Mile. The 4.1-acre parcel is privately owned and would be purchased by Tidal Network if the project proceeds.

Nearby residents voiced concerns over visibility, lighting and the extent of improved Wi-Fi service from the tower.

Questions also were raised Oct. 9 about whether other sites were considered for the installation.

Area resident Rick Anderson stated his support for the 13-Mile site, noting that he had walked the property and his review of sight lines indicated minimal visibility of the tower.

“You won’t be able to see the tower unless you’re looking for it,” Anderson said. “And the area the tower is being proposed to go is closer to my property than anyone else here. I’m for it.”

A different view was expressed by Leilani Sanford, who said the issue was not the existence of a tower but its placement.

“I don’t think anyone is disputing the presence of a tower and it expanding the signal,” Sanford said. “But I’m concerned about why the tower needs to be in my backyard.”

Property values were discussed, with data cited by Tidal Network indicating that any decrease would be minor and temporary during construction, followed by a return to prior levels.

“What we have found is that in areas where a tower is constructed, the only variance in property value is a slight decrease of five or six percent during construction,” Tidal Network Director Chris Cropley said. “But when construction is complete, the values go back up to where they were.”

Cropley said some studies show increases in values near towers.

Potential community benefits beyond commercial carriers were presented. The tower was described by Tidal Network’s tower construction manager Jerry Cochran as an asset to assist multiple users, including emergency services and the U.S. Coast Guard.

“This isn’t just about making room for AT&T or Verizon,” Cochran said. “It can expand service to so many people who are on the water and don’t have signal. This tower is more about supporting infrastructure.”

Addressing the question of any health and safety risk from a wireless tower, the Tidal Network team said everyday consumer electronics can produce higher exposures than a distant tower. “You risk being exposed to more radiation when you use a cell phone or AirPods,” Cropley said.

“We’re committed to being the best neighbors we can be. We would never do anything to cause harm to anyone.”

Tidal Network is operated by the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and began service in Wrangell last year as part of its plan to expand across Southeast Alaska. A 2022 federal grant is being used to build towers and install equipment on company-owned and leased sites.

A tower near 3-Mile was installed earlier this summer, and is awaiting equipment before activation.

Tidal Network business plan is to target areas lacking high-speed internet or reliable signals.