Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Small Cell topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
PURA unanimously approves Crown Castle plan to attach small‑cell to Bridgeport utility pole
Summary
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority unanimously approved Crown Castle Fiber LLC’s application to place a small‑cell facility on replacement pole #9505 adjacent to 30 Doreen Drive in Bridgeport, finding the filing complete and RF emissions compliant with FCC limits despite opposition from adjoining property owners.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on Feb. 18 unanimously approved Crown Castle Fiber LLC’s application to install a small‑cell telecommunications facility on a replacement utility pole in the public right of way adjacent to 30 Doreen Drive in Bridgeport.
Authority staff presented the application and recommended adoption after reviewing the company’s plans and technical showing. “On 04/30/2025, Crown Castle Fiber LLC submitted an application to the authority requesting approval of its construction plan to install a small cell wireless telecommunications facility,” staff member Patrick Fryer said, describing the proposed attachment to replacement pole number 9505.
The staff report said adjoining property owners Arturo and Natasha Gravina opposed the placement, arguing it creates a safety concern for neighboring property owners, would reduce property values and aesthetic appeal, and does not comply with Bridgeport zoning regulations. Fryer said the company provided evidence that radio‑frequency emissions from the proposed facility would be “substantially below” Federal Communications Commission limits and that the application met the authority’s filing thresholds.
PURA cited state law and past decisions that give it jurisdiction over placement of small‑cell facilities on utility poles in public rights of way and said federal law constrains state regulation of RF environmental effects. “PURA is sympathetic to the Gravinas’ concerns and greatly appreciates their advocacy and respectful participation in this proceeding,” Fryer said, but the staff recommendation noted the authority lacked legal grounds to deny the application on the stated bases and recommended approval with specified conditions.
A commissioner moved to adopt the staff‑recommended decision and, after a roll call, the panel voted unanimously to approve the construction plan in docket 25‑0‑4‑25. The decision finds the application complete, that the proposed facility complies with applicable FCC regulations regarding emissions, and that the selection of pole #9505 was reasonable and prudent based on the evidence presented.
The order directs compliance with conditions set out in the decision. The transcript does not list those conditions in full within the meeting record and does not record any formal appeal or further action at this session.
