Do you need some helpful tips regarding your AT&T cell site agreement? Maybe you have been contacted you to put an AT&T cell tower on your property? The experts at Tower Advantage can assist you with industry secrets and ways to maximize your opportunity. In addition, the President of Tower Advantage is a licensed attorney who has been in the industry for over two decades.
AT&T Knows How To Make Money
More Than Just “American Telephone and Telegraph”
AT&T is the largest communications company in the world. In recent years, they made massive purchases including DirecTV for $48.5 billion in 2015 Time Warner for $86 billion in 2018. Since their founding in 1885, they have become more than just American Telephone and Telegraph.
Difficult to Comprehend This Amount of Money
In 2019, its revenue exceeded $181 billion dollars. So that amount is easier to comprehend, if you stacked $1 bills end-to-end, they would go around the world over 400 times. In order to continue that type of yearly cash flow, AT&T uses lease experts to negotiate the best lease rates possible for their benefit – not yours.
AT&T’s Lease Negotiators Are Not On Your Side
Their Negotiators Get Bonuses If They Can Convince You To Accept Low Rent/Bad Terms
Almost every lease negotiator that works on behalf of AT&T are paid bonuses for the lower the rent you accept, and for the more tenant-favorable provisions that they secure in the AT&T cell site agreement. As a result, their agents will be looking after AT&T’s interests – not yours.
Scare Tactics Are Often Used So You Make a Hasty Decision
Also, we often find that these negotiators will attempt to rush landlords into making a decision. It is a tactic employed in the hopes to have the landlord accept most of the provisions with little push-back. In addition, it makes the property owner feel as if they will “lose the deal” if they hire an advocate that will cause more back-and-forth with the agreement terms.
You Will Never Lose The Deal Simply Because You Hire a Cell Tower Lease Consultant
We can say with confidence that you will not lose a lease opportunity for hiring a lease expert like Tower Advantage. Just as you would not be expected to represent yourself in court, hiring a well-qualified advocate in the telecommunications industry is no different. Here are just 10 Factors To Consider When Hiring a Cell Tower Lease Consultant.
They Will Try To Persuade You
Of course, telecommunication tenants may persuade you to act by yourself, but that is only because – that way – they have the best chance of getting most of the lease terms they want. Don’t be fooled! The experts at Tower Advantage will listen to all of your goals and concerns to provide you with the best chance for success.
Knowledge Is Power
As we like to say – knowledge is power. We know exactly what provisions AT&T will never agree to delete from their agreements. Alternatively, we know the type of language that AT&T will approve because we have negotiated hundreds of AT&T cell tower leases across the country. Moreover, we have a database of rents for thousands of sites all over the nation. This knowledge provides you with the information you need to make the best decision possible.
Schedule your free initial consultation today with one of our experts.
The Basics Types of AT&T Cell Tower Lease Agreements
There are two basic types of leases, depending on whether a landlord is leasing AT&T ground space for a tower, or leasing them the building and rooftop space for a cell site.
Option and Lease Agreement versus Structure Lease Agreement
An Option and Lease Agreement is used primarily for leasing land from a property owner. Alternatively, the Structure Lease Agreement is used for leasing the building and rooftop – or other structure – from a landlord.
What is an Option?
The “option” portion of the Option and Lease Agreement does not commit AT&T to start paying the rent until they exercise the option. Normally, they will exercise it – which then triggers the first rent payment – after they complete their due diligence to make sure the property meets their needs.
Option Fee
In exchange for AT&T being allowed to “tie up” your property without actually paying rent, AT&T will pay an option fee. The amount they offer is normally far below the amount they will agree to pay. Normally option periods are approximately 12 months with an automatic renewal, for an additional renewal option payment. However, most companies always ask for much more than they need for much less than they want to pay.
What Are The Differences Between The Types of Agreements?
The main difference are the provisions related to the “tower” differences. In an Option and Lease Agreement, AT&T will build and own the structure. In a Structure Lease Agreement, the structure is owned by the landlord – which is the building where the antennas and equipment will be placed. Of course, this is the simple part.
The Differences Are Important
The more complex part is knowing what sections of the lease should be modified to protect the different types of issues that can arise for a landlord. Some of these include equipment modifications and sublease sections. Tower Advantage has that knowledge and can ensure your lease is “rock-solid” when it comes to protecting your rights.
AT&T Cell Site Lease Agreements Normally Have 25 Sections and Are Over 15 Pages Long
Most consultants should not try to negotiate this type of agreement.
Require The Proper Legal Expertise
In order to negotiate a cell site agreement, you must have the proper legal background and credentials. Tower Advantage is not only a cell tower expert, our founder is a licensed attorney. This provides you with the skill-set necessary for your maximum success. Based on our experience negotiating these agreements, we recommend engaging a cell tower expert who can properly address the issues in the lease so you are properly protected.
Many consultants claim to have the proper legal expertise, but when asked about their education or credentials, they fall short. Unfortunately, one of the major mistakes landlords make is focusing simply on the rent and disregarding the other 20+ sections of the lease. This can result in many problems with their cell site tenant and their property for decades.
AT&T’s Attorneys Drafted The Lease
Every single provision in the lease was drafted by an attorney for the benefit of AT&T. So, unless you have an expert with the required legal background – like Tower Advantage – to address it on your behalf, you are at a serious disadvantage.
We have negotiated hundreds of these agreements for the benefit of our clients. From modifying the language related to termination, to ensuring our clients are not left removing an abandoned tower, we know what needs revision in these leases for you protection. Moreover, we have language databases of what AT&T has accepted in the past, and what language they will absolutely refuse to modify.
Join our alumni of clients who were happy they contacted Tower Advantage for their complimentary, no-hassle consultation.
What is Fair Rent For a AT&T Cell Tower Lease Agreement?
AT&T is a billion-dollar company for many reasons. One of those is due to having experts secure great lease rates on their behalf with landlords across the nation. Consequently, AT&T can generate more revenue for every tower they operate in their network.
Fair Rent
What is fair rent? AT&T knows that “fair rent” means one thing to one landlord, and something completely different to another. AT&T’s negotiators understand that most landlords will jump on the idea of getting paid anything for a piece of land that is not generating any income. Similarly, they know that the property owner’s rooftop will not normally generate any revenue – apart from cell site tenants.
Tower Advantage will help you obtain more than just fair rent. It will depend on a variety of factors that we analyze in relationship to your overall goals with the AT&T cell tower lease agreement.
Just Some Factors To Consider
Using our extensive database, along with our vast experience, we know the main reasons why some leases pay more than others. As you can imagine, there are cell sites across the nation, some of which are right next to each other, paying very different rent amounts. Those reason can vary depending on the particular situation. In addition to who the tenant is, the other factors include:
– the amount of lease area?
– what type of tower?
– the type of equipment?
– how long is the lease?
– are there any subtenants?
We have reviewed leases with rents paying only $200 per year. Alternatively, we have successfully negotiated others for rent totaling over $10,000 per month. On average, building and rooftop leases in urban areas pay more than tower leases in rural areas. However, that is not necessarily always the case depending on the factors listed above.
Tower Advantage maintains one of the largest databases of cell tower lease rates all around the country. We can use that vast data, along with our expertise negotiating hundreds of leases relating to the factors above, in order to provide you with the best opportunity for success with your AT&T cell tower lease agreement.
Contact Tower Advantage today and we can help you get the most rent for your particular situation.
Contact Tower Advantage today for your free consultation
regarding your AT&T cell tower lease agreement.
(833) MY-TOWER
(833) 698-6937
