Wi-Fi structures would be placed in up to 60 communities

Washington (July 25, 2017) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, yesterday sent a letter signed by the entire Massachusetts Congressional delegation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) calling for a careful review of the inMotion Wireless proposal to construct hundreds of Wi-Fi monopoles along the Massachusetts commuter rail system.

In 2014, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) entered into a contract with inMotion Wireless to provide enhanced Wi-Fi to the Massachusetts commuter rail system. Under the contract, inMotion Wireless would construct over 300 monopoles as tall as 74 feet. The monopoles would be placed roughly 1.3 miles apart through as many as 60 communities along the commuter rail system. The MBTA started the role out of monopole placement in the Merrimack Valley. Late last month, the MBTA began conducting an additional 30-day review, during which the public will be able to submit comments.

"While we support enhancing the Wi-Fi service of the commuter rail line, we believe that we should also preserve the historical and cultural value of our State and appropriately incorporate the interests of the affected communities,” writes the delegation in the letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.  

A copy of the delegation’s letter to the FCC can be found HERE.

The FCC, under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, is required to consider the effects of projects that it approves on historic sites.