Lee Roberts, city attorney for Gadsden, AL, determined the city of some 37,000 needed to update its cell phone tower regulations. A temporary moratorium on tower construction was put in place in March, and the new ordinance is now ready to go, GadsdenTimes.com reported early last week. While residents are keen on new technology, they aren’t so much on the towers. Roberts is trying to find a balance.
While the city can’t deny new construction under federal law, according to Gadsden Times, there is room for negotiation on where the towers are built. While special circumstances sometimes arise, towers in Gadsden normally are limited to 100 feet. The Center for Municipal Solutions, known for its expert work in Alabama code and propagation maps, has been brought in to mediate between the city and carriers as to where the towers should go.
Then, on Thursday (November 12), the Gadsden Times’ opinion writers offered their observation, noting a pair of Pew Research Center surveys describing the wild growth of cell use, and the even faster adoption of smart phones.
“So it’s no surprise that wireless carriers are seeking to maximize coverage and bandwidth availability, and handle new generations of technology (5G will be here before you know it),” said the Op-Ed piece. “Doing that requires the construction of cell towers, which typically aren’t attractive structures or something that people want to see as frequently as, well, cellphones.”
The paper concluded: “it’s better to go into any situation seeking compromise and a way to make things work, rather than strife. We see a fair standard being established that should balance the competing but equally significant interests of aesthetics and commerce.”
