Council approves Dish Wireless rooftop antenna at Sheffield School to fund Innovate Newport repairs

The Newport City Council voted to allow Innovate Newport to install a Dish Wireless rooftop antenna array on the Sheffield School building under the group's lease with the city.

Joe Nicholson, a volunteer board member of Innovate Newport, told the council the group needs exterior-alteration permission under its lease and that the revenue stream will be used "to plow it back into the building," funding repairs to windows and water-related infrastructure. "We're just gonna take that money and plow it back into the infrastructure," Nicholson said during the hearing.

Brian Sullivan, the Dish Wireless representative, described minor site adjustments and provided a public-safety estimate for radio-frequency emissions: "It's like 2.3% of the maximum," he said, adding that emissions would be well below FCC limits. Sullivan also said typical effective coverage at the proposed mounting height would reach roughly a half-mile in this urban setting.

Council members asked about neighbor outreach, siting alternatives, and how Innovate Newport would use the funds. Nicholson said Innovate Newport had notified neighbors and expects to direct lease revenue to capital work until the lease expires in 2032, after which the building should be in better condition.

After discussion, the council moved and approved the request. The approval is limited to the alteration described to the Sheffield School site and does not alter any underlying lease terms beyond the city's standard approval for exterior changes.