Redding officials are backing an expedited review of alternative suitable antenna placements for public safety communications upgrades.  During the last Board of Selectmen meeting, representatives from Northeast Communications presented a progress report on the project.  There was also discussion on a proposed 10-year lease from American Tower Company for antenna placement on the Old Redding Road tower, which American Tower Company owns. 

A 22 foot antenna on the tower has been proposed, which would give near 100-percent coverage inside a light wood frame residential structure with a portable radio.  There would be very few areas of spotty coverage.  Any alternate locations would have to provide substantially equivalent coverage as the Old Redding Road location. 

The proposed monthly rent would be $1940, and put in the Selectmen’s operating budget for the town. 

Coverage maps without the antenna on the Old Redding Road tower show significant gaps in coverage along the Route 7 corridor.  The Selectmen say that's problematic due to the high frequency of Fire and EMS calls in that area.