Proposed cell tower project causing controversy

OCEAN CITY, Md. – If you’ve driven around Ocean City, you may have noticed cell phone towers on certain street corners.

Soon enough, the city plans to put up even more, but some don’t think it’s such a good idea.

Resident Michelle Greenfield said, “We are seeing no difference in the cell reception.”

Some Ocean City residents are expressing concerns over newly installed cell phone towers.

With more coming in areas like Montego Bay, the latest towers could be the least of their concerns.

Town Engineer Terry McGean said, “They are now looking to put installations into some of those neighborhoods.”

McGean tells 47 ABC as cell phone technology progresses, so does the city.

These towers will be put up by Crown Castle, a company contracted by the state.

With close to 100 already in the city within the last two years, the city tells 47 ABC the increased need for cell phone and internet service is creating even more demand.

McGean said, “They’re going to install what they call small cell or distributed antenna systems which are small towers that are about the height of a street light.”

Greenfield also said, “It is very large, it’s not small. It’s black and blocks the view from our porch.”

She also said since the city installed the tower on her street corner it’s done more harm than good.

She said, “In my home which is just feet away form the cell tower we are seeing no difference at all or on the beach.”

The city understands people are upset.

However, there’s not much they can do to control the situation.

McGean said, “The challenge that we have as a city is that these systems are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission. They limit what we can do.”

The Montego Bay Civic Association has tried to alleviate concerns within their residential area as well, but they seem to tell us the same thing.

MBCA President Michael Donnely said, “People are just going to have to live with it. There’s nothing you can do. It is just like putting a street light up. When someone says ‘I don’t like that street light because it shines in my bedroom’ we explain it has to be there since its a public utility.”

The town of Ocean City has yet to finalize when more of these cell phone towers will pop up when they meet with Crown Castle to address public concern in the coming weeks.

For more information you can always call the Town of Ocean City at 410-289-8221.