Owens wants interfering cell phone towers moved
hometownannapolis.com
By MELISSA MONTEALEGRE, Staff Writer
County Executive Janet S. Owens is enlisting allies -- including the nation's head of homeland security -- to support a county law that could force cell phone towers to be relocated if they interfere with public safety communication.
In a letter to former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Ms. Owens asked the White House's homeland security adviser to back the county ordinance under review by the Federal Communications Commission.
"Anne Arundel County is home to several installations that are vital to national security, including Fort Meade, the National Security Administration, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, the U.S. Naval Academy and the defense contractor Northrop Grumman," Ms. Owens wrote in the Aug. 9 letter.
"Thus, it is particularly important that our first responders be properly equipped and able to communicate in an emergency."
Mr. Ridge has not responded to the letter, Ms. Owens said yesterday.
Cingular Wireless LLC filed a petition with the FCC in April, claiming the law overstepped the jurisdiction of the federal agency. No action has been taken on the matter, an FCC spokesman said.
But Ms. Owens said letters sent and responses received from other jurisdictions tell her the county's problem with radio interference is not unique.
"I think we've highlighted something," Ms. Owens said. "The FCC is recognizing that there is a problem."
The law passed by the County Council on Jan. 22 allows county inspections and permitting officials to revoke a cellular company's certificate of compliance if the structure is causing radio interference.
The bill was intended to help stem the proliferation of "dead spots," where police officers and firefighters are unable to use their radios.
After Cingular filed its petition in April, at least 10 wireless companies and associations filed statements with the FCC agreeing with the Atlanta-based company's position.
At the time responses were due, no one filed statements supporting the county's assertion it had the authority over "placement, construction and modification" of wireless facilities.
County Attorney Linda Schuett sought to find some. She wrote to the NationalAssociation of Counties and the International Municipal Lawyers' Association, which invited its members to respond.
"I thought it was important that others affected by the FCC decision have the opportunity to have some input," Ms. Schuett said. "If the FCC rules against the county, there would be many other jurisdictions that would be affected by the ruling."
So far, the county has received support letters from four jurisdictions, including Harford County and Cumberland.
In the meantime, officials in the county Office of Information Technology are trying to address the county's 61 dead spots through other means.
Judy Coenen, the head of that department, said her staff identified 28 "priority" dead spots.
The office is working with wireless companies, including Cingular and Nextel, to add antennas, change their frequencies or reduce power to get rid of the dead spots.
Of the 28 priority dead spots, 17 have been mitigated, Ms. Coenen said.
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mmontealegre@capitalgazette.com |
