CASE STUDY
Case Study: 32 Months of Signal in Amherst, New Hampshire
No FCC Antenna Structure Registration. No FAA obstruction filing. No permit in any federal database. When American Tower signed a 30-year ground lease in Amherst, New Hampshire, the only record of the deal forming was in the meeting minutes of a town of 12,000.
32
months, first signal to award
17
signals detected
15
public meetings
23
months of competitive window
It started with a citizen complaint about cell coverage in July 2023. Every link below goes to the source document on amherstnh.gov.
The competitive window
23 months. From the first vendor engagement (February 2024) to American Tower being named (January 2026). During that window, any infrastructure company reading Amherst's meeting minutes would have known a tower deal was forming. The town was actively seeking a partner. The RFP never existed as a formal document. The opportunity was only visible in meeting minutes.
If you weren't reading Amherst's Board of Selectmen minutes, you would not have known this deal existed until construction started.
The signal chain
JULY 24, 2023 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Citizen George Coddington raises cell phone service in the Village as a safety concern. Cannot text or call. Chairman Lyon acknowledges the town "does not have the ability to install a tower or to get carriers to place service on a tower." Board agrees to investigate.
AUGUST 14, 2023 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Town Administrator contacts T-Mobile district representative, who agrees to review the town's cell towers.
AUGUST 28, 2023 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
T-Mobile reports four towers in town, none with direct line of sight to the Village. Selectman D'Angelo suggests reaching out to third-party companies that build towers and lease space to carriers.
OCTOBER 23, 2023 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Town considering "collaborating with a cell company to improve cell service and get a new communications center antennae mast." Town Administrator will find an independent agent.
THE COMPETITIVE WINDOW OPENS
FEBRUARY 12, 2024 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Chairman Lyon reports discussions with "a company that erects towers while leasing space to cell carriers." Company interested in building at the emergency services complex at no cost to the town. Long-term lease on top 10 feet. Company representative has reviewed three potential spots on the site.
APRIL 15, 2024 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Selectman Stoughton has reviewed a draft cell tower agreement. Board to circulate for comments.
AUGUST 12, 2024 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Cell tower project still in progress. Cost for town to build independently: approximately $1M.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Cell providers still being sought. Building the tower "less expensive than" initially expected.
OCTOBER 28, 2024 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Chief Ciampoli: funding needed for construction drawings and architectural layout. Asks Board if ready to move forward.
NOVEMBER 18, 2024 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Two separate vendors/consultants seeking to attract cell providers. Tower to be on Police property, also hosting Police/Fire communications.
JANUARY 13, 2025 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Design pivot: combining cellular tower with communications tower confirmed "not viable." Standalone communications tower proposed. Two-Way Communications awarded the communications component.
OCTOBER 6, 2025 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Monopole option selected. Existing tower in structural failure since 2001, overloaded 200-300%. Board deciding between town-owned vs. third-party built.
OCTOBER 15, 2025 · PLANNING BOARD
Full discussion of new monopole at rear of Police Department property. Third party installs at no cost. Cell lease revenue opportunity. 175-foot tower. Planning Board and Historic District Commission approval needed.
DECEMBER 22, 2025 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Town working with third-party tower company for monopole on Fire and Police property. Town communications plus carrier co-location. No cost to town plus potential revenue.
JANUARY 12, 2026 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
American Tower Company named for the first time. Warrant article read. Town negotiating no-cost access for its equipment plus revenue sharing.
JANUARY 20, 2026 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Article 41: American Tower Company Ground Lease. 30-year lease including renewals. Monopole up to 180 feet. Tax Map 6, Lot 94. No town funds. Vote: 5-0-0.
THE COMPETITIVE WINDOW CLOSES
MARCH 23, 2026 · BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Article 41 passed at town vote. Board continuing discussions with American Tower on lease agreement and construction timeline.
Want the record on a town you're bidding?
This is one town. We monitor 4,300+, and the same chain, citizen complaint to signed lease, is forming right now in towns you're bidding, leasing, or screening. Name the town and we'll send you what its record says: who's involved, how far along it is, and how long the window has been open.
METHODOLOGY: This signal chain was assembled from public meeting minutes available on amherstnh.gov. Every link above goes to the original source document published by the Town of Amherst. No proprietary data sources were used. The documents have always been public, they were just sitting on a town website, unread. A retrospective chain like this proves the method and the lead time, not a hit rate; the forward call is what a pilot is for.
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