Telecom firm is facing scrutiny in San Mateo

“Over a dozen unapproved antennas have been operational, many since February. It took concerned residents experiencing symptoms to discover this, placing the public at great risk with little industry accountability,” San Mateo resident Lindsay Raike said during public comment at a council meeting July 15. “The city is repeatedly letting Crown Castle get away with violations, showing leniency that would never be extended to a resident building without a valid permit.”

Public Works Director Matt Fabry confirmed that Crown Castle has 19 sites in operation that did not get final approval from the city and, despite numerous requests, the firm has not made the necessary changes to its facilities to obtain compliance. The city had also issued a stop-work order based on previous work performed by Crown Castle, which caused utility damage.

“They aren’t allowed to do any additional work on installing other facilities. They aren’t allowed to submit any additional permits,” Fabry said. “All that work is on hold until they make substantial progress getting all those 19 sites dealt with and then making substantial progress on evaluating all the work they did with the fiber boring.”

In an emailed statement, a Crown Castle representative said the firm “received all necessary permits from the city of San Mateo to build the 19 small cells referenced,” adding it is in the process of final restoration work and is actively working with the city to do so.

Some public commenters also directed their frustration toward Councilmember Amourence Lee, claiming she has inappropriately solicited donations from Crown Castle for the nonprofit CORA, an organization she has worked for as a paid consultant. Several claimed the relationship should preclude her from being involved in discussions surrounding a new wireless ordinance currently in the works.

According to an email from City Manager Alex Khojikian to No Cell Outs, however, a city probe found no substantive conflict between Lee and the telecommunications firm, as Crown Castle “is not a source of gifts or income to Council Member Lee,” the email stated.

Preliminary discussions over an updated ordinance addressing some of No Cell Out’s concerns were held during a City Council meeting in May. A finalized ordinance is expected to be drafted and reviewed by this fall.