<p>Edgartown selectmen agreed Monday to form a new committee to study options for mobile phone service on Chappaquiddick amid concern from residents that a cell tower will be built on the small, rural island.</p>
Edgartown selectmen agreed Monday to form a new committee to study options for mobile phone service on Chappaquiddick amid concern from residents that a cell tower will be built on the small island.
The selectmen’s meeting room was full of Chappaquiddick residents, many of them voicing opposition to the board’s decision two weeks ago to award a contract to Grain Communications of Sarasota, Fla., granting the company the right to build a mobile phone communications network on Chappaquiddick and sign up carriers to provide service. The contract was awarded following a public request for proposal (RFP) process, following state procurement regulations.
Town officials pointed out repeatedly Monday that the contract requires no specific network technology, but begins a public process of permitting and negotiation with ample opportunity for residents to be heard. A cell tower would require public hearings and a special permit from the planning board.
Ken Louard of Grain Communications said getting carriers to commit to service is the first step.
Ken Louard of Grain Communications said getting carriers to commit to service is the first step.
But some Chappaquiddick residents believe the contract will inevitably lead to a mobile phone tower on the small, remote island, against the wishes of many who live there.
Town information technology director Adam Darack read a statement at the beginning of the meeting. He said he has spent the last week reading e-mails sent to the board of selectmen, some of which accused town officials of favoring a mobile phone tower, a lack of transparency, and trying to deceive residents. He rebutted all the allegations.
“Life is not black and white,” Mr. Darack said. “There are not always good guys and bad guys, and sometimes big tough problems present difficult solutions. This is not the wild west, and there is no snake oil being sold.”
Roger Becker, a resident of Chappaquiddick and vocal opponent of a mobile phone tower, said the selectmen’s decision caught many by surprise.
“Suddenly we have jumped to picking a particular proposal that is a tower, with no conversation with the public. I’d like to see a hearing to see whether the town is going to push, or allow, a tower on Chappy even against all this opposition,” Mr. Becker said.
That prompted a sharp exchange between Mr. Becker and selectman Art Smadbeck.
“You’re asking the wrong question,” Mr. Smadbeck said. “The question is, do people on Chappaquiddick want cell service?”
“We all want cell service,” Mr. Becker said.
“If that’s the only way to get cell service, what you’re saying is we would choose no cell service over having to have a tower,” Mr. Smadbeck said.
“We’re not saying that,” Mr. Becker said.
“I’m sorry, that’s exactly what I’m hearing,” Mr. Smadbeck responded.
Two emergency medical technicians cited examples of people who suffered because they could not get to a land line phone to report serious injuries or medical emergencies.
The town awarded a contract to Grain Communications in June of 2012 to build a distributed antenna system (DAS) on Chappy, after more than a year of committee meetings and an RFP process involving residents. But the company abandoned the plan because no carriers would sign on to provide mobile service. Ken Louard, director of business development for Grain, said getting carriers to commit to service is the first step in the process, and if they don’t, then the newest project will not go forward.
“We would never build a tower that sits there waiting for a carrier to come,” Mr. Louard said at Monday’s meeting.
Selectmen asked those interested in serving on a new committee to request appointment by the end of the week. Chairman Michael Donaroma suggested the committee should include Mr. Becker, Mr. Darack, and Trustees of the Reservations superintendent Chris Kennedy, as well as other stakeholders.
The board set a two-month time frame for the new committee to make recommendations.
Comments
We have been Chappy residents
James chappyWe have been Chappy residents for almost 20 years and cell phone services has always sucked. I've never heard of Mr. Becker but he's hurting all of us by putting up a fuss. Just put up a tower and get over it. I get people want to keep the island "pure" but times have changed and they need to grow up and get over it
James - that is the kind of
Young one usaJames - that is the kind of limited, narrow-minded thinking that leaves us stuck with ancient infrastructure with a purpose that serves only as an eyesore and an unnecessary expense.
Technology is advancing at such a rate that Chappy will be superbly served by the new infrastructure coming to the island in fiber cabling, DAS, and the continued build out of the Chappy WISP, which provides an incredible service.
These plans for a cell tower are poorly considered and a throwback to an ancient 1970s solution. They are unneeded, ugly, and even if it is built, it will end up being obsolete within a few years. It is a waste of time and money, and the Chappaquiddick people would be better served by deploying leading edge technology (which is already starting to occur)
Have you guys ever heard of
Vernon Trice Greenville SCHave you guys ever heard of cell tower camouflage? It's cheaper and hardly noticeable if done right.
http://twistedsifter.com/2012/08/examples-of-cell-phone-tower-disguises/
Agree with Young One --- look
Peter Maison New YorkAgree with Young One --- look at all the investment by major phone companies today and you will see dramatic shifts in the use of infrastructure deployment for cell service capalities. Dramatic increases in hybrid networks that use wifi/cloud/small cell capabilities. No one is putting up gigantic towers for a tiny Island and providers who claim that is the way to deploy the signal are looking for the cheapest way to provision this type of service.
Deploying a ubiquitous wifi network throughout Chappy would cost a fraction of the costs associated with a tower and a telecom's traditional structure.
This goes beyond keeping Chappy "pure" it is about avoiding the stupidity of deploying old technology to address new and future needs.
There is too much common sense and considered perspective on Chappy too allow for such a foolish measure to be pursued.
James - My family has also
Doug ChappyJames - My family has also been visiting Chappy for 25 years and owns a house on the island. I could not disagree more that Mr Becker is hurting "all of us". My whole family, our friends, and other property owners we know are fully supportive of him.
If you are so in favor of fast tracking a cell tower, then why not carve out a portion of your land to build a tower? The cell tower is likely to be well over 150ft tall, and will undoubtedly have a big red blinking light on top. It's going to fit in beautifully with Chappy's scenery.
What is the issue with reviewing the facts, and allowing residents (and tax payers) to make an informed decision about how to use town land?
Oh, for God's sake.
Barbara The VineyardOh, for God's sake.
The blinking light could be a
George Stein EdgartownThe blinking light could be a navigational tool. I see no mention of aiding boaters in distress as a public service too. Put to a vote do we see the same shenanigans where four times the amount of people who vote in the regular cycle of elections show up as was the case on alcohol permits issued in West Tisbury ? We all saw how that totally devastated the quality of life there. Perhaps federal or state funding could be aquired to purchase property etc. public safety would be improved.
I agree with them about the
Joanne Jensen Washington stateI agree with them about the concern regarding the cell tower. Considering the location. That's why they oppose. It Hopefully they will change their mind and not build it there.
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