Although state Vermont officials have been proactive in working to extend digital connectivity within the state, not all residents like the prospect of cell towers moving into town. As the Times-Argus reports, a Town Hall meeting conducted in Worcester, VT drew an audience whose most vocal participants objected to plans to build a 200-foot cell tower in the area.
Construction plans are still in the early stages. Largely rural Vermont is not a good candidate for the kind of small cell delivery system that works well in more densely populated areas. Instead, Industrial Wireless Technologies Inc. has proposed placing a tall tower in an elevated area to bring wireless coverage to the surrounding area. The site preferred by the telco is a wooded mountainside location off Norton Road in Worcester.
“This company put their first and boldest proposal out there. Let’s knock it down!” cried resident Peter Comart as he rallied for his neighbors to sign petitions challenging the proposal.
“A good applicant would come to the town and say: ‘What works for your community?’ and work with us,” agreed neighbor Chris Owen. Owen noted that he did not believe that the company had a coverage map showing coverage deficiencies that would be addressed by a new cell tower. He also questioned whether or not aesthetic sensibilities had been considered. “We’re going to need to work really hard to get a better deal for Worcester,” he concluded.
Traveling to the meeting from nearby East Montpelier, Ron Koss said his town faced a similar issue. They had planned to delay the process through extensions, but ended up paying off the landowner, who withdrew permission to build a cell tower on his property. Koss indicated that this was a $40,000 proposition, reported the Times-Argus.
“I don’t like the letter [and] I don’t like the proposal, but I do want better cell service in Worcester,” stated resident Daniel Hollister. “I have a nice spot of land too, [and] $18,000 [a year] is tempting for me to put up a tower on my land,” he added. In its report, the Times-Argus referred to the region as “cell-starved.”
Many opinions were aired, but no final decisions were reached.
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