after a site is built to compare the actual coverage provided with the propagation maps, <br />and to optimize the performance of its new sites. <br />Drive tests do not detect capacity problems <br />In order to provide satisfactory service to its subscribers, a cellular system must provide <br />both adequate signal strength and capacity. The capacity of a cellular base station, in <br />other words, the maximum number of calls it can handle simultaneously, is finite. If a <br />subscriber attempts to place a call while in an area served by a base station that is <br />operating at capacity, the call may fail, and the subscriber would hear a "fast busy" <br />signal. Even more frustrating, should a subscriber whose call is in progress drive into <br />the service area of a site that is at capacity, the subscriber will be abruptly disconnected, <br />what is referred to as a "dropped call". When a site is at or near capacity, some random <br />callers will be able to place a call or answer a call, others will not. Because a phone <br />that is not on an active call does not consume system capacity, and drive tests only <br />collect signal strength data from whatever site they are measuring, neither a formal drive <br />test or Collinge's test will detect system capacity problems. To be clear, insufficient <br />system capacity will result in the same lack of service as insufficient signal strength. <br />Even in the presence of "5 bars" of signal strength, a subscriber will be unable to place <br />or receive a call in the absence of sufficient system capacity. <br />Signal absorption by fiberglass branches on a monopine <br />During the May 27`" hearing, questions were raised regarding the need to locate <br />antennas above the tree line due to the absorption of AT&Ts radiofrequency signals by <br />Declaration of Thomas Gorton 3 <br />CU 14-3 <br />