AT&T To Float Test Balloon For Proposed New Canaan Cell Tower

NEW CANAAN, Conn. -- Officials from AT&T will float a test balloon on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon in order to assess the visibility of a cellphone tower proposed for the New Canaan Transfer Station.

A test balloon will demonstrate the visibility of a cell tower in New Canaan on Saturday.
Photo Credit: *File*

by Eric Gendron

11/15/2013 5:00 a.m.

Two 4-foot diameter colored balloons will be raised at approximate heights of 120 feet and 150 feet above ground level to identify the approximate location and height of the proposed tower.

AT&T’s consultants will be in the field to take photographs and document the results for inclusion in a report to be provided to New Canaan officials.

A previously published report showed that the cell signal would improve in many parts of town, but the infamous "dead zones" in the northern part of town still would have a weak signal due to the geography of the land.

According to the report, parts of the tower would be visible in most southern parts of New Canaan and even into Darien and Norwalk.

Town officials are pushing for construction of the tower, which could generate $100,000 in revenue from other carriers piggybacking off the signal. Officials also said the lack of cell signal is a liability during emergencies, such as Hurricane Sandy.

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