Crown Castle faces scrutiny over 5G antennas and signal range claims

During the recent Sustainability & Infrastructure Commission meeting on April 9, 2025, significant concerns were raised regarding the deployment of 5G antennas by Crown Castle in San Mateo. A key speaker highlighted discrepancies in the claimed range of these antennas, asserting that their effective reach extends beyond the 200 feet stated in official applications. This revelation has implications for the placement of antennas, particularly in relation to residential areas and sensitive sites like daycares.

The speaker referenced a presentation from Paul Challoner, a VP at Ericsson, which illustrated that the antennas could provide strong signal coverage even at distances up to 500 meters (approximately 1,640 feet). This contradicts Crown Castle's claims and raises questions about the feasibility of alternative sites that could be further away from populated areas.

Additionally, the speaker pointed out that while Crown Castle uses vague terminology such as "coverage" and "densification," the actual purpose of these antennas appears to be facilitating 5G home internet services. This assertion was supported by observations from Verizon's website, which indicated that areas with deployed antennas have access to 5G home internet, while those without do not.

The meeting concluded with a call for the commissioners to consider these points carefully in future discussions and appeals regarding antenna placements. The implications of these discussions are significant for community planning and public health, as the placement of telecommunications infrastructure continues to evolve in response to growing demand for high-speed internet access.