NYC Design Panel Blasts Some 5G Pole Designs as 'Ridiculous'

New York City Public Design Commission members critiqued aesthetics of the Department of Information Technology’s (DoITT) 5G deployment plan. The committee voted 6-0, with one abstaining, to largely approve the plan, at Monday's livestreamed virtual meeting. The authority rejected installing facilities on certain types of poles, among other conditions. President Signe Nielsen, abstaining over objections about the matter’s handling, said she had concerns about how small cells looked on three or four pole types. Some “look ridiculous,” agreed Commissioner Laurie Hawkinson. Commissioner Ethel Sheffer favored customizing designs, especially since some have historic significance and are part of the “fabric of the neighborhood's design.” Commissioner Manuel Miranda asked if installations could be clearly labeled. DoITT directed industry to collaboratively design a uniform, minimally obtrusive attachment, said Brett Sikoff, the agency's liaison to the commission. In cities where deployments were unregulated, "a lot of this equipment is unshrouded and ... haphazardly put on poles," he said. Different designs for different poles could be more obtrusive and confuse residents, he said. The city’s involvement means more equitable deployment, Sikoff stressed. Commenters raised health concerns about RF emissions, comparing emissions to “second-hand smoke” and facilities to cluster bombs. Some commissioners voiced uncertainty about health risks, noting science is outside their purview. The FCC governs RF safety, Sikoff said. “We can only enforce the rules.” Some commissioners said they heard complaints about not enough outreach. Sikoff said it was sufficient and DoITT addressed concerns.