Quick Study: The Peabody Cell Phone Tower Debate

PEABODY, MA — The Massachusetts Land Court ordered the City of Peabody to issue permits to Verizon Wireless to build a 60-foot cell phone tower on property owned by Michael's Limousine Co. at 161 Lynn Street. City leaders, including Mayor Ted Bettencourt, have been backing neighbors in their fight to oppose the tower. But the clocking is ticking on a 30-day time limit for the city to issue the permits.

If you haven't been following the developments on a daily basis, now's your chance to catch up. We've compiled coverage of the controversy from government sources, court filings and other media outlets that cover Peabody to offer this explainer on what is happening and what could happen next.

What Verizon Wants

Verizon says the tower is needed as it and other wireless companies switch over to 5G networks. Verizon would lease a portion of the Michael's Limousine property to build the tower, which would fill gaps in its coverage and give customers faster downloads over the high-speed networks.

Verizon has the federal government on its side: Federal law places limits on the authority of municipalities to block the installation of structures like the cell phone tower because they provide vital communications services. That law was the basis for the Land Court's March 27 ruling.

What The City Has Done

Contrary to a rumor that has spread through Peabody in recent days, City Council has not approved the cellphone tower. In fact, the city has opposed the tower from the get go and has been fighting Verizon since 2014. "They are a corporate giant trying to roll over neighborhoods. I love the action the neighborhood is taking and I pledge to you we will keep fighting," Bettencourt told the Daily Item earlier this week.

Where The Fight Stands Now

Verizon and Peabody Municipal Light Plant, the city’s electric utility company, are trying to negotiate a compromise. Under one possible solution, Verizon would pint-sized cannisters on city utility poles. A dozen cannisters, which would not be visible from the street, installed in south Peabody would provide the same coverage as the cellphone tower.

PMLP is independent from the city government. Bettencourt is urging residents to contact PMLP and let them know they favor the alternative solution.

How To Contact PMLP

The five members of PMLP's board are elected and meet on the fourth Thursday of every month during the school year, except for November and December, when they meet on the third Thursday. Meetings are held in PMLP’s McCarthy Auditorium at 201 Warren Street Extension in Peabody.

The commissioners are:

• Chairman Thomas J. Paras, 123 Winona Street, (978) 531-7673, tparas@pmlp.com.
• Vice Chairman Robert O. Wheatley, 19 Southwick Ave, (978) 535-1290, prefers phone or mail contact.
• Secretary Thomas M. D'Amato, 14 Samoset Road, (508) 878-2446, tdamato@pmlp.com.
• Charles W. Bonfanti, 15 Longstreet Road, (978) 977-0288, cbonfanti@pmlp.com
• William C. Aylward, 7 Violet Road, (617) 957-7325, waylward@pmlp.com

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).