BellSouth has adopted Cell Site Installation & Maintenance requirements to help reduce failure frequency and ensure consistency in the provisioning and maintenance at all cell site locations. It is important that all Wireless Service Providers and all Cell Site Operators, as well as their authorized agents, adhere to these requirements to ensure continued, reliable, high-quality transmission for all carriers.

BellSouth personnel will work closely with Wireless Service Providers and/or Cell Site Operators to meet provisioning requirements prior to activating any service at a newly constructed cell site. A cell tower site acceptance checklist has been developed to facilitate the new cell site activation process. This checklist must be completed and agreed upon by both the carrier and BellSouth.

For existing towers, BellSouth recommends:

1. The use of shielded wire, with the shield grounded on both ends, to connect Wireless Service Provider equipment to the BellSouth network interface. Note: alternatives, such as unshielded wire in metallic conduit which is grounded on both ends, or the placement of a stranded #12 AWG coupled bonding conductor, which is grounded on both ends and tie-wrapped to the unshielded wire at 12” intervals are not recommended by BellSouth for new service installations. The use of such alternatives will be at the risk of the cell site service provider.
2. Secondary protectors placed on both ends of the shielded wires.

Carriers are encouraged to inspect existing equipment installations at cell sites to ensure the proper use of shielded wire, and other bonding and grounding, and make corrections as necessary. In the event that an improper installation results in damage to the BellSouth Network, the carrier may be billed for costs incurred by BellSouth to repair its network.

For more information, carriers should contact their BellSouth Wireless Account Team.