Blog: City Council Will Again Hear AT&T Appeal—Is it Delay or Denial?

Monday night the City Council for cell antennas. AT&T is appealing . The council will re-open the public hearing and make a decision on July 16. We applaud the mayor's attempt to reach a compromise by assuring that all viable sites have been studied.

However, this application has been in process for four years. Moreover, it was clear, from some council members' remarks on this and other occasions, that they will not vote for any new wireless service in Albany, no matter the carrier. In fact, since the wireless ordinance was passed in 2005, no new installations east of Interstate 80 have been approved.

The city's —21 pages—and complex. By contrast, as pointed out by a speaker Monday night, the city's approval/accommodation for massage parlors runs to three lines. The complexity of the wireless ordinance lends itself to nit-picking and finding technicalities on which to deny applications. 

In the meantime, the city has sent out a Request for Proposals for an engineer to study feasible sites for wireless, seven years after the ordinance was passed. Based on experience, this process will take at least one year.

Monday night the council did approve upgrading the city's internal information technology systems. Cost: $50,000. It can be argued that these actions are necessary, but the approval of this additional wireless service would cost the City nothing. In fact, to the city for service not provided.

The Chamber continues to support fair coverage for Albany wireless customers, regardless of carrier. We urge the City Council to , taking into account the greater good for Albany residents, businesses and vistors.