Palouse approves First Step internet tower

The board of adjustment for the City of Palouse has approved a new 45-foot radio tower to be put in by First Step Internet on city property behind the fire station.

The work is an indirect extension of a longtime deal between the city and the internet provider stretching back to the late '90s. In exchange for housing equipment in back of city hall and on the roof of the city hall building, First Step provided the city with free internet.

Last year, the Moscow-based company approached Palouse to put a radio tower by the fire station. It will be used to broaden internet-access range in Palouse and be used by the city's emergency management services as well.

This spring the request was heard by Palouse's planning commission followed by consideration by the board of adjustment, which approved the project in early July. Construction began in mid-July with First Step paying the entire cost. The tower is expected to be complete and online by Sept. 1 or earlier.

For Palouse's emergency services, the new antenna will replace the existing EMS beacon on the roof of the fire station. The higher antenna is expected to offer clearer signals over longer distance.

“It's a nice addition,” said Palouse Fire Chief Mike Bagott. “It's just another link in the whole communications puzzle.”