Small Cell facilities are low-powered antennas that provide cellular and data coverage to smaller geographic areas, supplementing the larger cellular network and improving service for wireless customers.
Effective September 1, 2017, the City of Austin has a new application process for small-cell facilities in the public right-of-way. This new process is in accordance with Texas Senate Bill 1004, amending the Local Government Code by adding Chapter 284 – Deployment of Network Nodes in Public Right-of-Way, enacted by the State of Texas on June 9, 2017. Small-cell facilities are typically comprised of network nodes, antennas, associated wireless equipment, and transport facilities. Following this process will facilitate in the installation of small-cell facilities within the public right-of-way on municipally-owned service poles, Austin Energy poles, and also privately owned network node support poles.
The City of Austin has adopted Administrative Rule #R161-17.02, effective November 10, 2017. This rule sets forth processes, terms and conditions for requesting and permitting the use of City public right of way and city-owned traffic signal and utility poles in the City right of way for small cell installations. This rule also sets forth design parameters, limits, and standards that include aesthetic and concealment requirements for network nodes, node support pole, and transport facilities intended to be placed in the City's right of way under Chapter 284. Click here to review the Chapter 284 document.
Network Providers should follow these steps prior to applying for Small Cell permits.
For Traffic Signal Poles | For Utility and Streetlight Poles |
Austin Transportation Department | Austin Energy |
Mail to: | Mail to: |
3701 Lake Austin Blvd | 2500 Montopolis Dr. |
Austin, TX 78703 | Austin, TX 78741 |
Attn: Gilda Powers | Attn: Oliver Higgs |
Please provide a return address with the agreements. One fully executed agreement will be returned to the Network Provider.
Third party hosts, (non-wireless service provider), are not eligible to submit (or obtain) ROW permits unless they provide copies of their agreement with a wireless service provider. The terms and conditions of the agreement may be redacted as necessary.
P.O. Box 1088 | April Oldag |
Austin, TX 78767 | april.sellers@austintexas.gov |
Attn: April Oldag TARA Dept. |
A Certificate of Insurance is required to complete the registration process. The certificate of insurance should be uploaded with the Wireless Questionnaire.
A. Commercial General Liability coverage in the minimum amount of $2,000,000 per occurrence.
B. Worker's Compensation coverage with statutory benefits as set forth in the Texas Worker's Compensation Act and Employer's Liability coverage of not less than $1,000,000 bodily injury per accident, $1,000,000 bodily injury per disease and $1,000,000 per disease per employee;
C. Business Automobile Liability Insurance for all owned, non-owned, and hired vehicles with a minimum combined single limit of $1,000,000.
Austin Transportation Signal Department suggests that applicants consider the following when selecting sites for Small Cell nodes. Click here for images of traffic signal poles that may not be used for node placement.
The following may not be used:
Network Nodes may be installed only on in-line tangent Poles or Service Poles that do not have Supply Equipment installed, provided that with prior AE approval, installation of Network Nodes on a Pole with a single transformer or secondary riser may be allowed. Network Nodes may not be installed on dead-ended, corner, or double-circuit Poles, or on Poles framed for primary junctions.
Please contact Austin Energy for a list of acceptable poles for Small Cell nodes.
Feasibility Review requests should be submitted here using the following guidelines:
Use this feasibility review template to submit the site requests. The requests should be grouped by pole type.
Traffic Signal poles should be on one request, Austin Energy wood poles should be on a separate request, and new self supporting poles should be on another separate request.
A spreadsheet should be submitted with the Feasibility Review, listing all the sites in the presentation, including the following information:
Carrier | Site ID | Intersection or Address | Structure | Side | Lat | Long | Proposed Pole Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carrier X | Small Cell #1 | Guadalupe St. & 3rd St. | Traffic Pole | NW | 30.1234 | -97.1234 | |
Carrier X | Small Cell #2 | Congress Ave. & 16th St. | New | NE | 30.277769 | -97.739089 | Wooden |
Once the request has been submitted, site availability and a power review will be done. Comments will be returned to the contact email provided.
Applicants must submit a request here for the Electronic Service Planning Application to Austin Energy prior to submitting the Small Cell permit application. This process begins the Austin Energy design phase. A quote will be sent to the applicant and once payment has been made, the design will be finalized and returned to the applicant. The applicant should include the design on the site plan.
Applicants must submit a request here to obtain a 9-1-1 address prior to submitting an application for Small Cell permit. For type of address, select Small Cell Antenna. A list of unavailable pole types can be found here.
All permit applications are submitted through the City of Austin’s ABC portal.
The following documents are required with each node, support pole and/or transport facility Small Cell application:
Applicants should contact each of the City Departments below for maps of the infrastructure and requirements. These must be incorporated into the site plans.
Austin Energy | Oliver Higgs |
Watershed Protection | Natalie Ortiz |
Development Services | OB McKown |
Street & Bridge | Daren Duncan |
Street & Bridge | David Boswell |
Austin Traffic Signals | Chris Dixon |
Austin Traffic Signals | Seyed Ghazinezhadian |
Austin Chilled Water Downtown | Tim McGowan |
Austin Chilled Water Mueller Energy Center | Barrett Story |
Austin Chilled Water Domain | Whitney Moyer |
Urban Design | Anne Milne |
Traffic Control | Eva Moore |
Austin Water | Eric Sermeno |
Applicants should submit a request for Utility Coordination through the AULCC process for the site plan to be reviewed by City departments and private utilities to identify potential conflicts. GIS information will be sent to the applicant.
The ROW Management Website can be found at austintexas.gov/rowman.
When the Small Cell permit has been approved, all excavation and temporary use right of way permits will be issued by the Right of Way staff. Working hours, any restrictions and any conflicts with other projects will be listed on the approved permits.
ATTENTION ROWMAN Applicants, if your work will involve a right of way closure, please notify 3-1-1 (or 512-974-2000) three (3) days prior to starting construction.
This must be completed prior to the pre-con meeting.
Pre-Con Meeting must be scheduled prior to starting any construction.
The City of Austin departments that must be included are:
Use this link to schedule a pre-con meeting.
The Small Cell fee schedule can also be found here in the City of Austin Adopted Budget on pages 613 and 696.
Austin Traffic Signal Pole (1 to 5) | $500 for 1st 5 nodes |
Austin Traffic Signal Pole (over 5) | $250 each over 5 |
Austin Energy Utility Pole (1 to 5) | $500 for 1st 5 nodes |
Austin Energy Utility Pole (over 5) | $250 each over 5 |
Other pole (1 to 5) | $500 for 1st 5 nodes |
Other pole (over 5) | $250 each over 5 |
Transport Facility (1 to 5) | $500 for 1st 5 nodes |
Transport Facility (over 5) | $250 each over 5 |
New support pole - ATD | $1000 per pole |
New support pole - AE | $1000 per pole |
New stand alone pole | $1000 per pole |
2018 Pro-rated Annual ROW usage | $20.83 per month |
2018 Annual ROW usage | $250 per node, annually |
Annual ATD pole rental (current year 2018) | $20 per node, annually |
Annual ATD pole rental (next year 2019) | $20 per node, annually |
Annual AE pole rental (current year 2018) | $20 per node, annually |
Annual AE pole rental (next year 2019) | $20 per node, annually |
Monthly Transfer Facility ROW Usage | $28 per month |
This map shows the locations of Small Cell Permit Applications.
This map shows the street parking locations and PayStations with station number. Use this map to assist with traffic control plans.
This interactive map provides details on upcoming mobility projects. Use this tool to plan the site construction schedule.
This map identifies the Right of Way Jurisdiction by address.