Recent power outage highlights town’s inadequate cell coverage

The recent widespread power outage should serve as a wake-up call for Acton. When the electricity went out, many of us lost more than power. We lost our ability to communicate with the outside world.

Acton has lived with inadequate cellular coverage for far too long, in large part because a vocal minority has resisted the infrastructure needed to address it. On October 14, we experienced the consequences.

Without electricity, our home wi-fi networks stopped working. Without reliable cellular service, our phones became virtually useless. I couldn’t even call an Uber to go to the airport. Traffic was a nightmare, with signals affected by the outage. And with traditional landlines largely a thing of the past, many residents were left without a dependable way to communicate.

Now imagine a more serious emergency. A medical crisis. A house fire. A child trying to reach a parent. An elderly neighbor living alone. What happens when the power goes out and your cellphone has no signal?

This is not about convenience, aesthetics, or preserving the character of our historic town. It is about public safety and ensuring that Acton has the basic infrastructure its residents need in 2026.

I appreciate that some residents have concerns about cell towers. But those concerns cannot continue to outweigh the very real consequences of inadequate coverage for the broader community.

Acton prides itself on being a thoughtful, forward-looking community. Yet we have allowed a fundamental piece of modern infrastructure to remain woefully inadequate.

We need reliable cellular coverage throughout Acton, and we need it urgently. Our town leaders must prioritize solutions, remove unnecessary barriers, and move approved projects forward without further delay.

Let October 14 be our warning, not the day we look back on after something far worse happens.

Kelly McKee

Hubbard Street