New cellular technology utilizing local antennas can significantly improve wireless access to the Internet in residential areas. In the Grove, placing compact antennas at streetlevel in our neighborhood would reduce blind spots and increase bandwidth and transmission speed.
Last fall the County Council considered revisions to existing requirements for cell transmission equipment to allow local installation in residential zones. However, the legislation was tabled to allow time to resolve controversy over how little or how much control communities would have over antenna placement and appearance, and their recourse for enforcing installation requirements. The Montgomery County chapter of the Maryland Municipal League weighed in to protect local community interests, and will monitor renewed legislation this year.
You may view both their letter to the Councilpdf and the text of the zoning revisionspdf that were tabled in 2018 on the Town web site (linked here), or obtain copies from the Town Office.