By:  Benyamin Davidsons

A tech firm has proposed a solution to the “ugly” 32-foot 5G cell phone towers to be installed in New York City.

As reported by the NY Post, Comptek is pitching Mayor Eric Adam’s administration with  smaller poles that can be affixed or connected to existing lampposts to better blend in.  Particularly in the city’s high-end shopping neighborhoods including Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue and Park Avenue, as well as historic streets like Soho and the Upper East Side’s Carnegie Hill, the city has received complaints about the impending plans to erect bulky 32 foot antenna towers to enable 5G cell phone receptions.

There are some 2,000 towers to be installed across the city via an agreement between the city and tech consortium CityBridge, which owns LinkNYC and Link5G.  Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who represents Manhattan’s East and West Side, has been one of the vocal opponents to the planned 32-foot towers.  Though he agrees with the need to expand broadband capacity, he says the planned poles would aesthetically be “out of context” in the historic districts which he represents.  Per the Post, he co-signed a letter to the city Landmarks Preservation Commission — along with Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, state Sen. Liz Krueger, Assembly members Alex Bores and Rebecca Seawright and Council members Keith Powers and Julie Menin — arguing that the city should further review the plans for the bulky towers.  Nadler’s office has been briefed on Comptek’s proposal for smaller towers and the congressman’s representative commented that Mayor Adams should consider implementing the proposed smaller poles.

“We are truly excited to propose this solution to New York City, which will address the aesthetic issues raised by various communities and enable every neighborhood to secure the internet access they need,” said Comptek Chief Executive Officer and founder Jim Lockwood.  He added that the company would work with the community and seek feedback so that pole designs will match local architecture and the neighborhoods’ character.  “Once each neighborhood selects the pole design consistent with the existing street light fixtures already arrayed on their streets, we can deploy this solution within six months,” he told The Post.  “We look forward to working with City officials and communities to advance this important goal while maintaining the look and feel of neighborhoods across the City.”

Comptek, which started in 2002 in Gramercy Park, has put up similar smart pole technologies in other major cities in the country including Los Angeles and Denver.  “From Los Angeles and Portland, to El Paso and through the Midwest to the East Coast, we’ve worked closely with communities to design 5G, WiFi, and multiple technology streetlight poles that match community characteristics and goals,” Lockwood said.

“This extensive track record of successful telecommunication projects around the nation enables us to take our advanced, patented technology and work with community partners to develop designs that consistently meet their approval.”

“It’s a good innovative solution. It could be a win-win for everybody,” commented Nadler spokesman Robert Gottheim.

“The mayor’s Office of Technology and Innovation said it will review Comptek’s design. “From design improvements to new digital services and more robust community programming, the Office of Technology and Innovation is always happy to hear and evaluate new ideas for ways to strengthen our various technology programs as we continue to work to close the digital divide,” said the OTI spokesman.