What We Do
* The Commission is created for the purpose of monitoring the activities and operations of public and private utilities servicing the residents and businesses of New Canaan to ensure that the needs of residences and businesses located in New Canaan are adequately met and that New Canaan's consumers' interests are represented before any applicable commission or agency having jurisdiction over the utility in question.
* Without limiting the generality of the foregoing purpose, the Commission shall have the right to receive complaints regarding utility service in New Canaan and to require and receive information and reports from town officials on a timely basis.
* The Commission is formed for the purpose of receiving and evaluating complaints and presenting its position and concerns to appropriate local and state agencies.
* The Commission may take a position on all issues involving a utility, including but not limited to quality, adequacy of supply and rate, which are raised before regional and town boards and commissions, and make that position known to the state's boards and agencies.
Utilities Commission Volunteer Members
Robert Clay
Derek Bennett
Wade Eyerly
Meetings
Agendas, Minutes & Meeting Schedules
Commission Projects and Programs
1. Cellular Service
a. Improving Cellular Coverage in New Canaan
b. FAQ's
c. New Canaan Wireless Policy - 3/3/2014
d. Centerline Solutions Cellular Coverage Analysis of New Canaan - 12/1/14
e. Summary of Key Points of Cell Coverage analysis - 12/1/14
f. RFP - Design, Construction and Operation of Wireless Communications Infrastructure - 3-21-2016
g. April 5 Questions & Answers to RFP
h. Current Cell Coverage Plot
i. West School and Irwin Park sites added
j. New Canaan Public Survey on Cell Service
k.Verizon Announces Plans to Add Fiber Optic Links in Town
2. Cell Sites
a. Irwin Park
i. Draft Site Plans - Irwin Park
ii. Coverage Plot for Irwin Park Concealed Site
iii.Visual Analysis for Irwin Park Concealed Site
b. Nature Center
i. Legal Opinion of NC Deed
c. West School
i. Draft Site Plans - West Elementary School
ii. Coverage Plot for West School Concealed Site
iii. Visual Analysis for West School Concealed Site
iv. Existing Cell Tower Locations Near CT Schools April 1, 2017
d. Waveny Park
i. August 18, 2016 Commission letter to Aquarion Water Company
ii. Town Attorney Letter to Aquarion, September 5th, 2017
iii. Aquarion response to Town Attorney’s Letter September 13, 2017
iv. First Selectman’s Letter to PURA re: Aquarion
v. Cityscape analysis of alternative replacement sites A, B and C
vi. Draft Site Plan for replacement site Option A
vii. Draft Site Plan for replacement site Option B
e. Comparing the cost of Fiber vs Fiber and Wireless Hybrid (DAS) vs an All Wireless Network when Seeking Wide Area Coverage
A recent engineering study in Minnesota compared the costs of building different types of networks and found that all fiber and fiber and wireless networks were prohibitively expensive compared to all wireless networks
https://www.pipestonestar.com/articles/study-finds-wireless-broadband-most-feasible-option-for-local-rural-service/
3. Important Links
a. New Canaan Wireless Policy - 3/3/2014
b. Utilities Commission Resolution on Cell Service Coverage - 12/1/14
c. Improving New Canaan’s Cellular Service
4. Proposed, Planned, or Approved Cell Towers
a. Norwalk Armory Docket
5. Natural Gas
6. Energy Efficiency
Cell Tower Planning Process Resources
CT Siting Council
CT Public Act 12-165 “AN ACT CONCERNING THE SITING COUNCIL”
CT Siting Council Telecommunications Database
CT Siting Council Pending Proceedings
CTSC Cell Tower Map
AntennaSearch.com Towers within 4mi of Town Hall
AntennaSearch.com Antennas within 4mi of Town Hall
Cell Phone and Cell Tower Health-Related Sources
CT Department of Public Health Cell Phone Fact Sheet
CT Siting Council EMF Guidelines
CT Siting Council EMF Sources
FCC Wireless Devices and Health Concerns
FCC Radio Frequency Safety FAQ
FCC Human Exposure to Radio Frequencies: Guidelines For Cellular and PCS Sites
FDA Radiation Emitting Products and Procedures
EU Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR)
German EMF Health Portal (English language)
World Health Organization Electromagnetic FIelds Home
COMMISSION FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS
The Commission coordinates with other Commissions and Departments to provide informational and technical support on matters related to power, gas, electric and telephony.The Commission is set up into teams
By issues
Cellular tower improvement
Gas supply analysis
Solar/ Green energy programs
By town relationships
Building commission
Board of Selectmen
By external providers relationships
CL&P Relations
State agency Relations
Green Bank
Smart Power
DEPARTMENT FORMS AND APPLICATIONS
The Utilities Commission issues no forms. Applications for membership to the Commission must be addressed to Chairman, New Canaan Utilities Commission, 77 Main Street, New Canaan, CT 06840.PUBLIC REQUESTS TO THE COMMISSION
To request information, give suggestions, or recommend some form of action, residents should state such requests in writing.
Address communications to:
Chairman
New Canaan Utilities Commission
77 Main Street
New Canaan, CT 06840
Please include telephone numbers and, if available, e-mail addresses. Requests may also be made to the Commission by e-mail at Utilities.Commission@newcanaanct.gov
If you would like to call and leave comments or questions regarding the effort to expand and improve cell coverage in New Canaan, please leave a message at this number: 203-594-3041
Important Links
http://www.clpbringspower.com/subpage.html#TreeTrimmingNatural Gas Service Areas
Cellular Project FAQs
Visual Analysis of proposed Irwin Park Site
New Canaan Wireless Policy - 3/3/2014
Utilities Commission Resolution on Cell Service Coverage 12/1/14
Summary of Key Points of Cell Coverage analysis 12/1/14
Cellular Coverage Analysis of New Canaan 12/1/14