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PURA approves Crown Castle small-cell installation on pole 9172 in Bridgeport over resident objections
Summary
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approved Crown Castle Fiber LLC’s construction plan to place a small-cell wireless facility on a replacement utility pole (No. 9172) adjacent to 79 Sunshine Circle in Bridgeport, finding the application complete and RF emissions compliant with FCC limits despite objections from nearby property owners.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on Aug. 27 approved Crown Castle Fiber LLC’s construction plan to install a small-cell wireless telecommunications facility on replacement utility pole number 9172 in the public right of way adjacent to 79 Sunshine Circle in Bridgeport. Authority staff recommended approval after concluding the application met statutory filing requirements and that the facility’s radio-frequency emissions comply with applicable Federal Communications Commission regulations.
Josh Coker, authority staff attorney, said Crown Castle’s Dec. 18, 2024 application included the facility location, detailed description, purpose and plans to protect public safety during construction and operation. "The application satisfied these threshold requirements," Coker said. He told the panel the authority has exclusive jurisdiction over the placement of small-cell facilities and utility poles in the public right of way under general statute section 16-234(f) and noted federal law limits state regulation of RF emissions under 47 U.S.C. § 332(c)(7)(B)(iv).
Property owners Jose and Veronica Ortiz of 88 Raleigh Road opposed the placement, objecting that the installation is "a radioactive antenna causing a safety concern for neighboring property owners," language Coker summarized from the objections. Coker said Crown Castle submitted evidence showing projected radio-frequency emissions will be substantially below FCC-prescribed limits and that the selection of pole 9172 was reasonable and prudent based on the record. The authority approved the plan subject to conditions included in the decision.
The panel moved, seconded and adopted the decision by roll-call vote; Commissioner Karen, Vice Chairman David Arconti and Chair Marissa Gillette recorded yes votes. The decision approves construction "in accordance with general statutes section 16-234(f) with certain conditions delineated in the decision," according to the staff presentation. The transcript does not detail the specific conditions; they appear in the authority’s written decision.
