ROCKPORT — One year ago, Verizon Wireless appeared before the Rockport Planning Board with intentions to erect a new 195-foot telecommunications tower atop Ragged Mountain near the existing 200-foot tower to accommodate 4G communications technology. After that initial October 2012 meeting, the plan lapsed, until last week when a full site plan review application was delivered by hand to the Rockport Town Office. The Planning Board will consider it when it meets Wednesday, Oct. 9.

Project proponents are represented by attorneys with the Portland-based Verrill Dana firm, and Project Manager Scott Anderson said Friday, Oct. 4, that his company now has all agreements signed.

“The due diligence is done,” he said. “Now we hope to get approval to make it a reality.”

The proposed tower would be erected on a 15-acre parcel of land owned by Wavesource LLC, in Rockport, at the summit of Ragged Mountain. Charlie Foote III is the president of Wavesource LLC and has hosted telecommunications equipment on the property and existing tower for a variety of public and private entities. In 2006, Rockport approved a Verizon Wireless expansion plan of its existing facility on the land there, which is in the town's zone that accommodates telecommunication towers and equipment.

The existing 200-foot tall tower is loaded with equipment to handle a number of services, including those for emergency response.

Plans call for the proposed 195-foot-tall lattice tower to be constructed near the existing tower, which is secured to the ground with guy wires. Verizon would extend the fenced area and install a new ice bridge (a water-tight cover that covers the cables along the ground) from the new tower to the existing equipment shelter.

After completion of the new tower, Verizon would relocate and upgrade its antennas to the new structure, according to the application. The existing tower cannot handle more equipment on it and plans for the new tower include 12 power antennas on the tower legs. The two towers are to exist side-by-side.

With cell phones and mobile devices, 4G is the name for the fourth generation of communication standards, and represents ultra-broadband Internet access for laptops, smartphones and other equipment. The latter could include high definition mobile television, video conferencing and three-dimension television.

Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint are going at it now in the race to build 4G towers and get their networks in place.

According to an engineering report included in the Verizon Wireless application, the purpose is to: “provide strong and reliable 4G LTE service coverage in areas of Rockport and the surrounding towns, including Route 17. Without this site, Verizon Wireless could not provide acceptable digital service on its network in this area.”

This build-out of Verizon Wireless will provide required coverage to customers, Verizon Wireless said in the application.

“The site was planned with the existing neighboring sites in the vicinity to achieve a balance between meeting coverage objectives and minimizing the impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. Without a site at this location, the service from Verizon Wireless would be very poor.”

Camden is an abutter to the Rockport property and access to the tower is made via the Camden Snow Bowl's ski trails and a 20-foot-wide easement that runs up to the top of the mountain.

According to the application filed Sept. 24, the project will not include any new lighting, will not require construction of new storage or service areas, and is not to result in any “significant alteration of the topography or soils on site.”

It is designed for collocation, and will have the capacity to add three additional sets of antennas.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 706-6657.