Verizon to Remedy Cell Phone Dead Zones on Capitol Hill – Seeks Installation of 15 Antennas on Haines Building Roof

Haines Building Seen from North Side, Showing Two AT&T Antennas

Close up of Left Tower Showing Two Antennas

Verizon To Remedy Cell Phone Dead Zones on Capitol Hill – Seeks Installation of 15 Antennas on Haines Building Roof

by Larry Janezich

Verizon Communications representatives appeared before both the ANC6B Planning and Zoning Committee and the CHRS Historical Preservation Committee this week in support of their Historical Preservation Application regarding installing 15 new communication antennas on the roof of the Haines Building at 8^th and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.  The building is owned by Community Connections, and is already the home of 9 similar AT&T antennas, some visible from the Eastern Market Metro Plaza and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Tuesday night, before the ANC Committee, Verizon stated they need the additional coverage to remedy the dead zone problem on Capitol Hill.  Many Verizon cell phone users experience dead zones in the form of dropped calls or poor signal quality.  The company is requesting approval for the installation of the additional antennas in three groups of five each, one on the building’s north side, one on the south side, and one on the east side.  The ten foot tall antennas are set back 10 feet from the building’s façade, but all three installations would be visible from near-by streets.  Verizon’s goal is to start construction by late summer or early fall and be “on air” by the end of the year.

The installation appears to be a given.  At issue is whether to shield the new antennas or to leave them exposed, as are the current AT&T antennas.  The AT&T antennas currently in place look something like the framework of what might have formerly been billboards.

The ANC Committee received assurances from Verizon representatives that the amount of radiation involved is minimal, the company representative stating that the radiation is one-tenth of what is considered to be harmful, and that those exposed to it would “probably receive more radiation from their cell phones.”

Commissioner Ivan Frishberg, who conducted much of the questioning of Verizon officials, moved that the Committee approve the Historic Preservation Application without screening, with a request that Verizon come back before the full ANC6B Tuesday, June 14, and during the ensuing time, determine if it is possible to move the antennas away from the Pennsylvania Avenue side.  He noted that 2 absent Commissioners – Garrison and Campbell – are expected to be present at the full ANC6B next week, and that an amendment to require screening as a condition of approval could emerge during the full ANC6B’s consideration of the issue.

The motion was agreed to by a vote of 4 – 2, with 1 abstention.

Commissioners Frishberg, Pate, Flahaven, and Oldenburg voted for the motion.  Commissioners Metzger and Green voted against.  Commissioner Glick abstained.

Separately, on Monday night, the Restoration Society’s Historic Preservation Committee heard the same presentation from Verizon Communications.

Like the ANC Committee, the Historic Preservation Committee seemed somewhat ambivalent regarding whether screens or no screens would be more intrusive.  The shielding could be fabricated to look like the exterior of the building, but as with the ANC Committee, opinion appeared to be divided whether that would look better or worse.

The final recommendation of the Committee is unknown, since, as is the usual practice, Chair Nancy Metzger announced that the Committee would go into executive session – with only committee members present – to discuss the matter.

The next CHRS Board meeting is on Tuesday, June 21, and the full board could consider the question, or, as is often the case, the Committee may make its recommendation directly to the Historic Preservation Office.