MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The City of Myrtle Beach is looking to improve cellular service to accommodate the growing number of people and technology in the area, but they want the community to get involved in the process.
The city is holding a public forum on Thursday to explain a concept called Small Cell Wireless Technology. This technology would be placed around the city in areas that are “hidden in plain sight” to increase the amount of cell coverage in the area, according to city spokesperson, Mark Kruea.
“They would be on things that already exist, like flag poles or on trash cans,” said Kruea. He said this is to avoid building large cell towers that would mess up the look of the city.
“We’ve spent tens of millions of dollars making Myrtle Beach look pretty,” said Kruea. “As we recognize the need for increased cellular communication, we want to make sure we don’t undo all the prettiness that we’ve done, and make sure the new devices fit in, almost hidden, so that you don’t see them.”
Myrtle Beach has looked at many cities across the United States already using small cell technology, to get a better idea of how this concept could work here. For example, the light poles on the boardwalk are a place the city can put some of the small cell technology without building a tower.
The first public forum is on Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. The second public forum is on Thursday, Feb. 22, at the same time and place. Both meetings will be held in rooms 206-208 at the convention center.
