The Montgomery County Council’s vote on a zoning text amendment that would have allowed the attachment of small cells to existing utility poles in residential areas was called off this week as members could not agree on amendments.

From The Washington Post:

Montgomery Council President Hans Riemer (D-At Large) and Montgomery Executive Isiah Leggett (D) said they had tried to balance the needs of the wireless industry to expand broadband capacity with residents’ concerns that the equipment and poles would be ugly or too close to homes. However, they said, council members couldn’t decide whether to allow the poles to be 30 or 60 feet from homes and disagreed about which kinds of cell equipment applications should be granted administratively and which should require a public review process.

The issue may be reconsidered once the new council is in place following elections later this month.

For more information:

Montgomery County lawmakers cancel vote on ‘small cell’ bill to regulate 5G network (The Washington Post)

Montgomery County Council Puts Small Cell Zoning Vote on Hold (Conduit Street)