Mattapoisett’s notorious cell phone dead zones may start to disappear if Industrial Tower and Wireless gets approval for a new tower.

The wireless communications company has proposed a 145-foot tower to be built in a wooded area off Marion Road.

Industrial Tower and Wireless representative Kevin Delaney said it would fill “a significant gap in coverage for most major wireless efforts.”

Delaney said mobile phone users aren’t the only ones who have had problems with signals.

Marion Police Department also has trouble receiving radio signals in some areas of the town, said Delaney. The company offered the police department free space on the tower.

If it receives approval, the tower would have rental space for a potential five major wireless carriers.

Delaney brought the proposal before the Planning Board on Monday, April 2 with maps showing the expected coverage areas.

“It can transmit about two miles if it was completely flat,” Delaney said. "However, a fall zone near the tower is unlikely to benefit from the tower."

Planning board member John Mathieu voiced concern about the strip of land.

“I live over there,” said Mathieu. “It’s basically not getting coverage for half of the residents that are in that coverage area.”

Mathieu also asked about potential health drawbacks from the tower.

“The FCC regulates all this and they’ve done studies,” said Delaney.

Even tests conducted with 100 carriers signals resulted in “less than one percent of what the FCC’s threshold is, of what they consider to be safe” he said.

Industrial Tower and Wireless still has to go before the Zoning Board for approval, as well as a second Planning Board Hearing.

Before the next Planning Board meeting, the company is required to do studies testing the visual impact of the tower and to notify abutters.