T-Mobile backs off on tower

Marguerite Lincoln, a key organizer for the group, said she will meet with other top coordinators against cell tower expansion next week and will hold a meeting with neighbors “soon.”

Harris is also working on setting up a meeting with residents, tentatively scheduling a forum for January and could be open to moving the cell tower — one of the demands from residents.

“There is still need for coverage area,” Harris said. “The need has not gone away. Am I married to this physical site? No. Do we need to get up in that area and provide coverage? Yeah.”

Meanwhile, Lincoln is considering forming a national group with another regional faction against cell tower expansion in the unincorporated city of Windsor Hills. Together, the groups could further challenge federal law and strengthen local municipalities control against telecommunications companies, she said.

“This is an issue that won’t be resolved any time soon,” she said. “The 9th circuit helps but it doesn’t give them all the power [cities] need. The only way that’s going to happen is to make changes to the federal Telecommunications Act.”