CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS IN MASSACHUSETTS ARE ASKING THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TO "CAREFULLY" EXAMINE A PROJECT THAT WOULD UPGRADE WIFI SERVICE ALONG THE MBTA'S COMMUTER RAIL SYSTEM. This project would mean the installation of hundreds of 74-foot poles every mile of track along the first 110 locations on the north side of the metro area, including the backyards of unsuspecting homeowners.
"Right now, I don't feel the proper balance is being struck," Sentator Ed Markey told the I-Team. "I want the FFC to look at it to make sure the historic nature of so many of these communities in Massachusetts is not impacted in a way that's completely unnecessary and detrimental."
"The communities are asking for more input and I think they deserve it," Markey also said.
Elected leaders in the North Shore communities such as Medford Mayor Stephanie Burke have said it has been a struggle to get more details about projects such as this for her city.
"We really feel slighted at this point," Burk expressed. "They haven't been forthcoming with information. And to talk about 75-foot poles adjacent to residential homes in a neighbourhood just isn't acceptable."
Ispwich homeowner John McTighe only learned that a structure of this proposed project was in his backyard when the locations were posted online by the MBTA.
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Original article written and photo taken by Ryan Kath of the CBS Boston. Ryan Kath can be reached at rkath@cbs.com. You can follow him on Twitter or connect on Facebook.