Resource Center

For many property owners, the wireless industry appears to have its own vocabulary – here are a few key terms you should be familiar with:

Cell Site / Cell Tower

A location where a wireless carrier has installed communications equipment and cellular antennas on a tower or rooftop to operate their wireless network.

Lease Agreement / Wireless Lease

The contract between a wireless carrier or tower company and the property owner detailing the financial and operational terms and conditions under which a cell tower can be operated.

Co-location Rent

Rent paid to the property owner by additional wireless carriers to place their antennas and/or communications equipment on a cell tower owned by another carrier or tower company.

Escalator

The lease terms that specify when and how much the rent paid by the wireless carrier will increase, typically defined as a percentage of rent at fixed intervals.

Right of First Refusal (ROFR)

Language within the lease that allows the wireless carrier or tower company to match a buyout or prepayment offer made by a third party.