The proposed towers are 120 feet to 210 feet tall and resembleflagpoles which the carriers argue are unobtrusive and no detrimentto quality of life, health or property values. Some of the projectsare being proposed for unlikely but logical locations.

For example, Verizon Wireless wants to build a 120-foot stealthcell tower in city-owned Pineywood Cemetery in Winter Park, anaffluent Orlando suburb. Verizon is willing to pay $18,000 a yearrent for the site but the city is still considering the offer.

In Lake County, Nextel is battling residents who oppose aplanned 180-foot tower on property owned by the Danny LenBuick-Pontiac GMC Trucks Inc., off busy U.S. 441 and Old Mount DoraRoad in Mount Dora. County officials have scheduled a Sept. 6public hearing on the issue. In Florida alone, Nextel handles 50million wireless calls per week.