A class action investigation has been launched into mobile network tower lease obligations after cell phone tower operators consolidated operations with wireless carriers.

The consolidation resulted in cell tower leases being transferred from wireless carriers like Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile to the cell phone tower company operators, such as American Tower and Crown Castle. Due to the consolidations, many wireless carriers may be violating the terms of their mobile network tower lease that require the cell carrier to pay the landowner more rent.

This investigation primarily affects people who own property with a cell phone tower on the land.  The wireless carrier companies or cell tower companies are allowed to use the land in accordance with the terms of the mobile network tower lease agreement they have with the property owner.

However, big cell phone providers like Verizon and AT&T have partnered up with cell phone tower companies like Tillman Infrastructure which have allowed them to become big players in the cell phone tower industry. These lease transfers left property owners confused as to whether or not their mobile network tower lease agreement terms were violated, and if they are owed past and future rent payments.

Overview of Cell Phone Tower Lease Agreement Basics

Cell phone towers are a vital component of everyday life in the modern digital age as they provide the services necessary for millions of Americans to use their smartphones. Verizon and AT&T are especially dependent on these cellphone towers in order to provide their customers with efficient coverage.

The cell phone towers are typically found on large private stretches of land.  According to Statisticbrain.com, there are approximately 215,000 cell phone towers in the United States.

The average annual mobile network tower lease rate is $45,000, with provisions often requiring the tenant to make supplemental payments to the property owner when companies consolidate. However, a recent review of mobile network tower leases showed that cell tower tenants are often in violation of this provision and may owe landlords hundreds of thousands of dollars in rent.

Some facts property owners should know before agreeing to any mobile network tower lease includes:

• Wireless carriers pay their agents or site acquisition consultations bonuses, depending on the pay rate and how favorable the terms of the mobile network tower lease are for the company.
• Even though a 1% difference in annual rental increases seems small, it is equivalent to the amount of $170,000 over the typical 25 year lifetime of the mobile network tower lease.

It is important to note that the average mobile network tower lease rates often vary between states and counties. Property owners may benefit from a lawyer with expertise in mobile network tower lease law, in case they have any questions or concerns regarding the terms of their mobile network tower lease agreements.

Even though the land is the property owner’s, the deal companies like Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile made with cell phone tower companies may have caused landowners to be shortchanged thousands of dollars in rent. Property owners whose mobile network tower lease may have been impacted by the cell phone tower consolidation deal may be eligible for participation in a class action lawsuit.