Rehoboth Beach to improve cell phone service

Rehoboth Beach officials have teamed up with AT&T to install five cell antennas to improve cellphone signal near the beach.

The agreement is for 10 years with an automatic renewal for four successive five-year terms. City Manager Sharon Lynn said AT&T will pay the city $5,000 for a one-time attorney and engineering review fee and will pay $2,000 in rent per year for each of the five installations, subject to a 5 percent escalator per year.

Lynn said the deal is in response to visitors and residents who have complained about inadequate cell service in the summer, when there are many smartphones, tablets and other devices competing for signal. City spokeswoman Krys Johnson said AT&T requested the antennas and presented a plan for where to place the antennas. She said the city held discussions with other carriers.

The antennas attached to existing poles, with two on the Boardwalk and one on Rehoboth Avenue attached to light poles, one mounted above the stop sign at Wilmington Avenue and First Street, and one in the cupola structure on the roof of the Delaware Avenue restroom.

“We continue to focus on technology innovation and investing in the latest software platforms to provide the best possible customer service experience,” Lynn said. “We are excited to develop new vendor partners to diversify our infrastructure providers.” RON MACARTHUR PHOTO