Cellular telephones have had the most profound effect on the communications industry of any new technology in the last 20 years. For the broadcaster, the cellular industry has dramatically changed the tower rental business.
Many cellular operators prefer to build their own towers.
This is good for broadcasters because it may offer them more suitable locations to find rental space for their own facilities. Conversely, in locales where there are restrictions on additional towers, cellular operators may turn to broadcasters to rent space on their existing towers as cellular operations expand. The availability of emergency power, a common feature at broadcast and cellular sites, makes either facility even more attractive. Cellular operators make good tenants. Because of the large capital investment required, most cellular operators have stable business operations, and are used to paying their bills on time.