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Members of the Spring Lake community on the Jersey Shore are entering a new phase in their multi-year fight with Verizon over the installation of proposed 5G poles that would improve network service but have rankled residents concerned about their impact.
The town council of Spring Lake, N.J., held a public comment meeting on Tuesday evening regarding a settlement that would see Verizon ditch a plan to install nine 5G poles along the Ocean Avenue boardwalk, with a 10th pole on nearby Prospect Ave., in favor of a more discreet option.
The company reached a proposed settlement with the borough to instead install the 5G antennas into two enclosed, hut-like cupolas that are situated on top of pavilion buildings at the north and south ends of the boardwalk.
That compromise followed a lawsuit in federal court brought by Verizon against Spring Lake in 2024, which the Jersey Shore community’s residents later intervened in.
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Spring Lake litigation counsel Benjamin Clark said that he thinks it’s “a better choice to pursue the pavilion option, rather than to just continue litigation against Verizon because the key thing here, from what I’ve been able to observe and have always been instructed, is ‘preserve the beachfront.’”
Residents at the town council meeting expressed frustration with being left out of negotiations on the proposed settlement, citing safety concerns related to 5G emissions and saying the borough shouldn’t make a deal in the short-term just to end the dispute.
The National Center for Smart Growth at the University of Maryland notes that government researchers, industry scientists and academics from the U.S., Asia and Europe are in agreement that 5G and 4G LTE emissions are safe and don’t pose any dangers to public health.
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Local activists opposed to the settlement also cited concerns that agreeing to the settlement could create a precedent for future expansion of cell towers, while some said they’re not concerned about the quality of their cell service while visiting the beach.
Those opposed to the compromise say the issue of 5G antennas near Jersey Shore beachfronts will arise in other communities as well, and want Spring Lake to take a stand.
Communities on the Jersey Shore like Spring Lake can see a large influx of visitors during the summer months for the area’s beaches and recreation, which can impact the quality of cell service for device users.
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For its part, Verizon said it’s focused on ensuring there are positive relationships in the communities it serves while it works to expand the capacity and capability of its network.
“Verizon is committed to responsibly building our network to meet the growing demand of our customers while maintaining positive relationships with the communities where we work,” Verizon said in a statement to FOX Business.
The Spring Lake town council is planning to hold a vote on the settlement proposal on Sept. 15.
FOX Business’ Madison Alworth contributed to this report.
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