Updated Jan. 24
Concerns over an unfair advantage to Verizon and its customers led Chilmark officials to deny a proposed infrastructure improvement plan from the company.
On Tuesday, on Jan. 17, the Chilmark Select board unanimously denied Verizon Wireless’ request to install small cell wireless facility equipment on 14 existing utility poles within the town. The board expressed concerns that the proposal will not implement uniform cellular service improvements.
Select Board Chair Marie K. Larsen said improving only Verizon’s service in the town is not what’s best for all residents.
“I think this is the best proposal from Verizon but I don’t think it’s what’s best for people in this town,” said Larsen. “I think it’s a mistake to go forward with this.”
Board members Matthew Poole and Jeffrey Maida echoed Larsen’s sentiment. Poole said he hoped Verizon would be open to working with Chilmark to establish a solution that helps everyone in town.
“I’d like to encourage Verizon to come back or at least open their internal process to participating in an all carrier solution,” said Poole. “I think uniform service for all residents and visitors is our responsibility as the select board.”
“I agree it’s not in the best interest for the town as a whole,” said Maida.
Cell phone connectivity has been an ongoing issue for Chilmark and Aquinnah, which share a cell phone coverage network. There are dead spots with no service throughout the town and first responders have previously told The Times they have had instances when poor connection has made it harder to help someone in need of assistance.
At a public hearing during a Chilmark Select Board meeting earlier this month, Verizon explained that the small cells are superior technology to the current distributed antenna system (DAS) — which strategically places nodes to enhance signal strength for cell phones — that Chilmark relies on and would be an “improvement that will benefit the town.”
Despite the improvements to Verizon’s service, the board agreed it was not the best solution for Chilmark. Pool made a motion to deny Verizon’s request, which was unanimously approved.
In a letter sent to the Chilmark Select Board on Jan. 16, Verizon contended that denial could violate federal law under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Verizon’s letter alleged that a denial by Chilmark could violate discrimination and prohibition of service laws. The letter explains that allowing American Tower to construct DAS expansions and denying Verizon to construct its smaller and less obtrusive small cells could be discriminatory treatment. Additionally, preventing Verizon from improving its network in alternative ways, as the DAS falls short of Verizon’s service needs, could violate prohibition of service laws.
No immediate next steps from Verizon were detailed at the meeting on Tuesday.
Editor’s note: Jeffrey Maida’s surname was misspelled in a previous version of this story.
Where are the copy editors??? It behooves you to get people’s names correct- especially town officials in office for quite a while:
https://www.chilmarkma.gov/select-board
I hope Verizon sues the town and forces the entire island to reconsider the abysmal cell service levels that Islanders are forced to contend with. Given the winter storm we are about to face and the potential emergency calls for help that might be stymied by the poor service, this foolish move on behalf of the Town of Chilmark couldn’t come at a better time to illustrate how pathetic the island is doing at improving service. The day when the entire island needs to rely on a reverse 911 call to save all of our lives from a wildfire could be coming and the poor cell service on the island has already or will in the future cost lives.
Bull feathers! Denial of public safety to enable first responders to perform their duties is worthy of a lawsuit by taxpayers of Dukes County if not the Sheriffs Office. A disgrace exhibiting s lack of integrity to an oath of office each elected official has taken. Family in Madison VA has a similar issue. They are at the eastern end of the Shenandoah preserve. Chilmark is a town crawling with tourists daily. Having driven cabs on the Island you just go off the grid at various points. Not good for many reasons
As above, so we get NOTHING.
Horrible decision – seems we wait for a catastrophe to allow ANY service and safety improvement.
Narrow-minded standing on ceremony (in)action.
Put up a tower. Just do it.