Montgomery County considers allowing 5G towers to be closer to homes

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - As 5G technology is being rolled out in cities across the country, Montgomery County is considering changing its rules so 5G towers can be closer to homes.

The proposal by Councilman Hans Riemer would change county zoning so 5G antennas could be 60 feet from homes or as close as 30 feet under certain conditions. Currently, cell phone towers must be 300 feet away from homes.

5G will give you lightning-fast mobile internet, up to 100 times as fast as what we have now. You’ll see the difference on your phone and devices, but also in your neighborhood.

Current cell phone towers are at least 100 feet high and are typically zoned to be a distance from homes. 5G towers are much smaller but need to be closer, positioned on light and utility poles.

But bringing the towers closer to homes is not without controversy. Riemer proposed the same bill last year, but there was so much blacklash, he had to pull the measure when he realized he didn’t have the votes.

“There’s a lot of concern about how it’s going to look what the aesthetics are in the neighborhood,” he said. “There are also objections, you know many people believe that our phones are dangerous. They believe that these things give you cancer. I think most of us have made a decision in our daily lives that we’re going to continue to use phones and we’re going to continue to rely upon wireless.”

Riemer proposed the bill Tuesday, and he says a public hearing should be scheduled soon.