MIDDLETOWN, R.I., Nov. 4, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Towerstream Corporation (Nasdaq:TWER), a leading 4G and Small Cell Rooftop Tower company, praised the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) recent vote to approve new rules designed to accelerate the deployment of small cell and wireless infrastructure as carriers look to densify their networks with small cell architectures.
"The FCC recognizes that wireless networks need to be densified in order to address the tremendous growth in mobile data consumption," stated Jeffrey Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Densification will require a multitude of solutions including small cells, Wi-Fi, and distributed antenna systems. The FCC's order will accelerate the deployment of these wireless technologies to address the unique challenges associated with delivering wireless services in densely populated urban areas."
"The FCC's action addresses many of the challenges that HetNets Tower Corporation encountered in constructing a small cell based, wireless infrastructure solution in four major urban markets in the country," noted Arthur Giftakis, Vice President of Engineering. "These rules will streamline the review process by state and local municipalities regarding environmental, historic preservation, and other regulatory matters. Clearer rules that favor build-out over red tape will not only accelerate carrier adoption of small cell solutions in dense urban markets, but also provide a strong platform if HetNets expands into other markets in the future."
Specific provisions of the FCC order include:
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Excluding small cell, distributed antenna systems, and certain other discrete wireless facilities from environmental and historic preservation review, particularly for those deployments leveraging building rooftops and utility poles in rights-of-way;
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Defining certain terms of the Spectrum Act and rules for their implementation at the state and local level, including a new "shot clock" which requires that an application be addressed within 60 days or it is deemed granted. This ensures the efficient use of previously-approved structures to support new antennas and technology upgrades; and
- Limiting when additional information can be requested regarding an application and clarifying when the shot clock begins and when it can be tolled.
About HetNets Tower Corporation
HetNets Tower Corporation ("HetNets") was formed in January 2013 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Towerstream Corporation (Nasdaq:TWER), and offers a neutral host, shared wireless infrastructure solution, either independently or as a turnkey service. Its wireless communications infrastructure is available to wireless carriers, cable and Internet companies in major urban markets where the explosion in mobile data is creating significant demand for additional capacity and coverage. HetNets offers a carrier-class Wi-Fi network for Internet access and the offloading of mobile data. Its street level rooftop locations are ideal for the installation of customer owned small cells including DAS, Metro and Pico cells. Other solutions provided by HetNets include backhaul, power, and related small cell requirements. More information is available at http://www.hetnets.com.
About Towerstream Corporation
Towerstream Corporation (Nasdaq:TWER) is a leading 4G and Small Cell Rooftop Tower company. The company owns, operates, and leases Wi-Fi and Small Cell rooftop tower locations to cellular phone operators, tower, Internet and cable companies and hosts a variety of customers on its network. Towerstream was originally founded in 2000 to deliver fixed-wireless high-speed Internet access to businesses and to date offers broadband services in 12 urban markets including New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay area, Miami, Seattle, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Las Vegas-Reno, and the greater Providence area. For more information on Towerstream services, please visit www.towerstream.com and/or follow us @Towerstream.
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Safe Harbor
Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws, including, without limitation, anything relating or referring to future financial results and plans for future business development activities, and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified based on current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, risk related to our ability to deploy and expand small cell rooftop tower locations in the New York City and other key markets. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Consequently, future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.