Acton Center to get long-sought cell boost

Acton is moving ahead — on two fronts — in its push for better cell coverage.

The town has entered lease negotiations with Verizon to put an antenna at the Umbrella Arts Center. Two “small cell” AT&T transmitters are also moving forward on Sudbury Road.

While abutters sound alarms, officials wonder whether the second project’s low-powered technology could help fix other dead zones.

“It’s about time,” said Select Board member Mary Hartman when asked about the Verizon transmitter. 

Umbrella antenna

Acton issued a request for proposals at the town-owned Umbrella site after a previous cell effort failed. This time, officials accepted Verizon’s proposal. Deputy Town Manager Megan Zammuto said Verizon expects to power up its antenna by 2027. 

A Verizon spokesperson didn’t answer Acton Bridge questions prior to press time. 

Select Board member Paul Boehm riffed on the 2023 movie “Hit Man” and its protagonist’s catchphrase, “All pie is good pie,” when approached by The Bridge last week. 

“All agreements on cell towers are good agreements,” he said. 

Low-power transmitters

The Umbrella antenna could improve Verizon’s Acton Center coverage. However, it won’t help residents with other carriers, and the signal won’t reach most spots more than 1 mile from the Umbrella.

AT&T is making its move with small transmitters on utility poles at 1 Sudbury Road and 143 Sudbury Road. The proposal is the first of its kind under a 2022 small cell policy.

Small cell sites cover a quarter-mile radius. AT&T projections show new antennas would create a coverage corridor from Crosby’s Marketplace to Monument Square. 

Ed Pare, a lawyer representing AT&T, said his team views its proposal as “low-impact” because the 143 Sudbury Road antenna is in a business area and the 1 Sudbury Road site is 80 feet from the nearest home. 

“Eighty feet is a lot of distance for a small cell facility because of the low power,” Pare told the Select Board late last month.

Health concerns

Neighbors said they still fear health effects from cell tower radiation. Several said they first learned about the proposal two weeks before the June 30 public hearing. Since AT&T applied in April, abutters asked why they weren’t told earlier. 

Su-en Wong of 1 Sudbury Road cited Acton’s historical restrictions and asked how the proposal passed muster.

“We can’t even change a color swatch on our house,” she said. 

Select Board Chair Mark Howell, who lives near cell towers on Annursnac Hill, said he recognizes those concerns. He also said there may be “some room for improvement” in publicizing future hearings. 

But Howell also said the coverage boost would help first responders.

Boehm said any cell decision “is a balancing act between different concerns.” 

As the town struggles to site traditional towers, he said, “this appears to be a very prudent addition.” 

The Select Board unanimously approved AT&T’s application. 

‘Totally disagree’

Wong walked out of the Town House with her husband, Liam Paskvan. In an interview, Paskvan said he and his wife “totally disagree with the decision.” 

Paskvan said AT&T’s proposal should count as a “least preferable location” under the small cell policy. He acknowledged the town’s effort to expand coverage, but said it “needs to be done in a prudent manner.”

AT&T spokesperson Karen Twomey said Select Board approval marked “an important initial step” and the company appreciates town leaders’ support. Acton Municipal Light Plant Director Jason Bulger said he heard from AT&T and they expect to install transmitters next year.

State solution?

Bulger told the Select Board that “carriers’ lack of interest” has been the main barrier to small cells. Pare said it would be “great” if AT&T could add more small cell machines, “but those are just corporate decisions, and there’s limited capital.”

The town is considering more wireless infrastructure at Emerson Field. In a recent Land Use Working Group meeting, Zammuto said West Acton coverage gaps lack a “known solution.” 

She said officials should keep cell coverage in mind as they consider redevelopment at 2229 Main Street, the old Peabody School, MCI-Acton, and beyond.

State Sen. Michael Barrett (D-Lexington) said the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utility, and Energy — which he co-chairs — has been working on ways to simplify cell tower siting statewide.

He said multiple bills in the current legislative session could help the situation. 

Barrett’s initial conversation with a Bridge reporter dropped out mid-call.  

“It’s not a problem just for Acton,” he said once back on the line, “but Acton is a poster child for what can go wrong.”