Environmental Issues • Health and Safety • Antennas

Magnolia Road Internet Cooperative is very concerned about environmental issues involved in wireless technologies. As stated on the Health & Safety page, the low power used should pose no hazard to wildlife or plants. Current plans do not involve cutting of trees.

Since all of the people involved in planning this co-op are also residents of the area, we are very sensitive to the visual impact that antennas can have and will place them to minimize such impacts.

We are doing careful studies so that the smallest number of antennas will be used to serve the area. These repeaters will be remotely managed to minimize erosion due to maintenance visits. No liquid discharges will take place. Lightning arresters will be used to reduce the risk of lightning-triggered tree fires.

Antennas will be raised to the minimum height necessary to assure reliable service. Repeater stations will have 2 or 3 small satellite-dish sized antennas mounted on a 5-ft to 9-ft mast attached to the host structure. In all cases, the metal mast will be painted a neutral color or matched to the house trim (choice of homeowner). The total height of the mast including the house it is attached will be under 35 feet.

Efforts will be made to contact all neighbors within visual contact of these repeater masts. We anticipate 3 repeater stations will serve 90% of our target Magnolia subscriber base.

Should a repeater station ever be needed away from a structure, antennas will be hidden among trees instead of prominently placed on top of rock formations. These repeaters will be powered by photovoltaic panels, sited to minimize visibility.