EAGLE HARBOR — After more than a year of delays and technical problems, Pasty.net finally got the okay to make upgrades to its wireless internet equipment from the Keweenaw County Board at its regular Sept. meeting on Wednesday. The upgrades will be made on the tower located between the courthouse and the jail in Eagle River.

Among the delays was the time it took Elcom, a Motorola Solutions Manufacturers Representative, to conduct an audit on the antennas on the tower to determine the county’s requirements for antenna space.

At the August 16, 2023 regular meeting, Board Vice-Chairman Del Rajala said Elcom had conducted the audit, took everything into consideration of what the county and 911 (the Michigan State Police Negaunee Regional Communication Center) wanted placed on the tower, and made their determintations.

“They determined, in their language,” Rajala said at that meeting, “that they could no higher than ‘about’ 72 feet.”

Rajala said that additionally, he was instructed not to install any type of equipment, cables, mounts, antennas, or other apparatus on the ladder way. It cannot be obstructed.

In addition to the delays in Elcom’s conducting the tower audit was an electrical problem that Pasty.Net had to address before the Board could approve the provider’s request for tower upgrades, which was regarded as a safety issue.

Rajala said that a power line on the ground coming from an UPPCO pedestal power feed had been chafed, exposing the wires. Board President Don Piche said that prior to the July 19 meeting, he spoke with Electrical Inspector Ron Ekdahl about the hazard. Ekdahl said he had been in contact with the local company and that its workers were scheduled to arrive the following week to repair it. The repairs were made on August 18.

Also at the August meeting, Rajala said that based on Hopper’s plans, he wants to remove three antennas and replace them with five antennas. Initially, said Rajala, the agreement between Pasty.net and the county was for an exchange of tower space for service for the county. With the addition of three units Pasty.Net plans to install on the tower that agreement has been modified.

Since Pasty is installing five new antenna, in keeping with an agreement made in the past, two of Pasty’s new attennas will remain free of charge; 911will charge $150 per each of the three new antennas to be installed.

With all the obstacles finally removed and overcome, Piche said Pasty.Net’s work can proceed immediately.

In addition to the five units Pasty.Net will place on the tower, 911 will add VHF Marine radio emergency services antenna Starlink antenna, a point-to-point system connect to Eagle Harbor Tower.