UPDATE As the summer tourist season approaches, Dewey Beach, DE is moving forward to remove three 5G cell tower poles from the dunes back into the town streets. As WBOC-TV reports, the relocation is part of an ongoing dispute between the town and Verizon. Verizon has argued that there are limited locations available to provide the level of service the shore town requires. Residents, however, have argued that placing the cell tower poles right on the beach is both inappropriate and unsightly.
A crew is currently at work transferring equipment from the original sandy sites to new poles on Rodney Street, Cullen Street, and Clayton Street. Dewey Beach officials have noted that their goal is to have the new units installed and the beach poles removed prior to the arrival of Memorial Day vacationers. Other relocation efforts have been discussed, but are awaiting final approvals and permits.
One of the poles slated for removal sits on the dunes near St. Louis Street. St. Louis Street neighbor, Lyn Shoop, said that she is unhappy with the current placement, but isn’t convinced that moving the 5G pole to her street represents an improvement. “Some of them [the 5G poles] have been moved a matter of feet, which in my opinion doesn’t really fix the problem,” she told WBOC-TV.
“Maybe moving it to the top of the street would be better, maybe not right when you’re about to walk on the beach,” agreed fellow resident, Cameron Wick. “Also, I just feel like it’s a waste of money. They already spent so much money putting it in. To move it a couple feet would make absolutely no sense.”
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