County accepts telecommunications committee report; council votes 10-0 to move recommendations forward
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Summary
The County Council received the Telecommunications, Transmissions, Facility Coordinating Committee master plan and, after a staff briefing noting a decline in applications linked to an FCC auction lapse and carrier transitions, voted 10-0 to move the committee recommendations on Feb. 17, 2026.
The Prince George's County Council's Committee of the Whole received the Telecommunications, Transmissions, Facility Coordinating Committee (TTFCC) master plan and annual report on Feb. 17 and voted unanimously to move the committee's recommendations forward.
Staff overview: Nathaniel Tutt, a county staffer, told the council the master plan and annual report are required to be transmitted to the council "pursuant to section 5 a 1 55 of the county code" and summarized the committee's role in reviewing proposed wireless infrastructure and ensuring compliance with county, state and federal regulations, including those of the Federal Communications Commission.
Committee findings: Michelle Lyons, chair of the TTFCC, said applications for wireless sites declined in 2025 compared with 2023–24, a trend she attributed to an FCC spectrum-auction lapse and the sale of DISH Wireless assets to other carriers. Lyons described three macro-structure applications in 2025: a proposed 350-foot tower at Oak Grove Substation near Brown Station Road/Turkey Branch Park; a proposed 180-foot tower at the Palmer's Corner substation in Fort Washington (a PEPCO replacement); and a 43-foot monopole proposed by Verizon on the grounds of Collington Life Care Community in Bowie. The committee recommended the Verizon proposal for permitting review and recommended height increases for two existing structures (including a proposed 113-foot increase on behalf of AT&T and a proposed 151-foot increase for a PEPCO transmission tower in Capitol Heights), subject to community notification procedures.
Community and denials: Lyons emphasized that the county does not automatically approve every application and said the committee has denied approximately 314 applications since its inception for reasons such as proximity to intersections, underground utilities, or near schools. She said community notification is required for proposed height increases and that the TTFCC works to coordinate between carriers and neighborhoods.
Council action: Council member Adam Stafford moved to adopt the committee recommendations; Council member Fisher seconded. The clerk conducted a roll call and the chair announced the motion carried, 10–0.
Why it matters: The master plan maps existing and potential wireless sites and guides how the county coordinates carrier proposals, public-notification practices and permit recommendations. Proposals for taller structures or new macro towers can have visual and community impacts; the committee's recommendations trigger permitting reviews, community outreach and any further council action required by county code.
Next steps: With the committee recommendations moved forward, individual permit applications and any required public-notification steps will proceed under the county's review and permitting process. The council adjourned after announcing upcoming meetings and events.
