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BZA approves AT&T antenna upgrades on MIT Dorrance Building with federal-emissions reporting conditions
Summary
The Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeals granted a special permit for AT&T to modify rooftop antennas on MIT’s Dorrance Building (Building 16), subject to conditions requiring filing of federal emissions reports with the Inspectional Services Department and removal or termination clauses tied to federal license compliance.
The Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeals on Oct. 9 granted a special permit allowing AT&T (Singular Wireless d/b/a AT&T) to upgrade antennas on the Dorrance Building (Building 16) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, imposing conditions requiring the company to file federal emissions reports with the Inspectional Services Department and setting termination triggers tied to federal license status.
Tim Green, representing Singular Wireless d/b/a AT&T, told the board the facility has been at the site for around 20 years and was upgraded in 2017 and 2019; the current application would replace and add antennas (technically three additional antenna elements, including replacing a single larger antenna with two smaller elements) to continue network upgrades. Green said the antennas have little public visibility except for a narrow view from Memorial Drive.
Board member Daniel Legato recused himself from the case because he works at MIT. The board heard no correspondence for or against and received no public comments.
In moving approval, Chair Jim Monteverdi listed several conditions: the work must proceed in accordance with the petitioner’s submitted plans and photo simulations; upon completion the physical appearance and visual impact must match the submitted photo simulations; the petitioner must maintain that appearance; equipment left unused for six continuous months must be removed and the roof restored; the petitioner must file with the Inspectional Services Department each report it files with federal authorities regarding electromagnetic energy emissions from the site within 10 business days of filing with federal authorities; and if federal authorities notify AT&T of noncompliance the petitioner must report that to ISD within 10 business days. The motion further specified that the special permit would terminate automatically if the petitioner’s federal licenses were suspended, revoked, or terminated, and allowed the petitioner to reapply with public notice disclosing the previous termination.
The motion also required that, within 10 business days after receipt of a building permit for the installation, the petitioner file a sworn affidavit with ISD by the person in charge of the installation stating that the equipment will comply with federal safety rules and will be situated and maintained to protect nearby residents from excessive radio frequency radiation to the extent reasonably practicable.
The board voted by roll call with four members participating: Virginia Keesler, Steven Ng, Zaria Miranda and Chair Jim Monteverdi voted in favor; Legato was recused. The special permit was granted 4-0.
The board’s approval includes ongoing reporting obligations to the Inspectional Services Department and automatic-termination provisions tied to federal licensing and enforcement findings. The file contained no public correspondence for or against and the board closed public testimony without speakers.
