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Review of NYC OTI; CityBridge proposal for a 5G Tower in CB5 District
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2023, the following resolution passed with a vote of 34 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, New York City, through its Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), has contracted with
CityBridge to install and operate a citywide wireless communications network; and,
WHEREAS, CityBridge installed its LinkNYC network as the initial deployment of the citywide wireless
communications network intended to replace outdated public pay phones; and
WHEREAS, LinkNYC has provided free wireless internet connectivity using towers placed on sidewalks
throughout NYC, many of which include electronic display screens; and
WHEREAS, CityBridge is now in the process of upgrading its LinkNYC network to 5G infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, Link5G infrastructure is a 32’ tall tower installed on sidewalks in the public right-of-way; and
WHEREAS, CityBridge and OTI stated that the 32’ height of the towers is required to align with 5G
equipment already installed on NYC street lighting poles by commercial providers; and
WHEREAS, Link5G towers in commercial districts include electronic screens similar to those found on
LinkNYC kiosks that display advertising and public information; and
WHEREAS, Design of the Link5G towers has been approved by the Public Design Commission; and
WHEREAS, Link5G must adhere to siting requirements determined by NYC Department of City Planning,
and must obtain Landmarks Preservation Commission approval if sited in historic districts; and
WHEREAS, CityBridge and OTI have proposed one (1) site at this time within Community Board Five for the installation of the new 5G Tower; and
WHEREAS, This location is on the northwest corner of 6th Avenue and West 53rd Street, in front of the Hilton Hotel, and will also have a bronze plaque imbedded into the sidewalk commemorating the location of the first cell phone call in history; and
WHEREAS, CityBridge and OTI stated that the location of the tower within CB5 was selected based on the commemoration of the first cell phone call; however, the plaque could be easily be imbedded without the new tower in place; and
WHEREAS, CityBridge and OTI stated that they currently do not have plans to install additional 5G towers in CB5 at this time but eventually they will be installed throughout the district replacing many of the 11’ high existing 4G kiosks and that there was no master plan for installations within CB5; and
WHEREAS, The locations of these future 5G towers are not yet known but they will be spread throughout the district in order to provide 5G coverage and some towers will be located within CB5’s Historic Districts impacting the historic character of those areas; and
WHEREAS, It is possible that future 5G towers are to be installed directly in front of residential apartments, and we believe that potentially 10’ of distance from a tower to a residence is permitted is extremely insufficient and should be revisited as a policy; and
WHEREAS, Concerns were expressed regarding the locations of the 5G towers on public sidewalks in CB5’s crowded midtown district given that the towers are infringing on the limited public space; and
WHEREAS, Concerns were also expressed regarding the aesthetic impacts of the towers given their height and visual prominence as shown in renderings; and
WHEREAS, It is not known, given the density of CB5, whether Link5G would even be necessary to address any digital deserts within CB5; and
WHEREAS, Suggestions were made to OTI and CityBridge for concealment of the 5G equipment and
exclusive use of existing light poles to mount equipment in lieu of new towers, which has other visual impacts as well, but OTI and CityBridge stated that this was not deemed feasible to provide adequate 5G coverage; and
WHEREAS, New York City is in control of this process through its contract with the provider; and
WHEREAS, CB5 appreciates the need for ever evolving technology to serve its district and its visitors and wishes to be a partner with OTI to ensure that Manhattan has state-of-the-art connectivity and other
technology; and
WHEREAS, CB5 concludes that more time and information is required to review the 5G towers, their
locations within 5G, and the towers’ impacts both visually and practically to the inhabitants of and visitors to CB5; and therefore be it
RESOLVED, that Community Board Five Manhattan disapproves the proposal as presented to install Link 5G towers at the northwest corner of 6th Avenue and 53rd Street, in front of the Hilton Hotel; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that Community Board Five disapproves the installation of any Link 5G towers within the borders of CB5 until such time as all interested parties, including CB5, residents, business owners and community groups have a better opportunity to provide input and more information about locations of potential digital deserts be provided; and be it
FUTHER RESOLVD, Community Board Five requests that a moratorium be placed on construction and
At the regularly scheduled monthly Community Board Five meeting on Thursday, January 12, 2023, the following resolution passed with a vote of 34 in favor; 0 opposed; 1 abstaining:
WHEREAS, New York City, through its Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), has contracted with
CityBridge to install and operate a citywide wireless communications network; and,
WHEREAS, CityBridge installed its LinkNYC network as the initial deployment of the citywide wireless
communications network intended to replace outdated public pay phones; and
WHEREAS, LinkNYC has provided free wireless internet connectivity using towers placed on sidewalks
throughout NYC, many of which include electronic display screens; and
WHEREAS, CityBridge is now in the process of upgrading its LinkNYC network to 5G infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, Link5G infrastructure is a 32’ tall tower installed on sidewalks in the public right-of-way; and
WHEREAS, CityBridge and OTI stated that the 32’ height of the towers is required to align with 5G
equipment already installed on NYC street lighting poles by commercial providers; and
WHEREAS, Link5G towers in commercial districts include electronic screens similar to those found on
LinkNYC kiosks that display advertising and public information; and
WHEREAS, Design of the Link5G towers has been approved by the Public Design Commission; and
WHEREAS, Link5G must adhere to siting requirements determined by NYC Department of City Planning,
and must obtain Landmarks Preservation Commission approval if sited in historic districts; and
WHEREAS, CityBridge and OTI have proposed one (1) site at this time within Community Board Five for the installation of the new 5G Tower; and
WHEREAS, This location is on the northwest corner of 6 th Avenue and West 53 rd Street, in front of the Hilton Hotel, and will also have a bronze plaque imbedded into the sidewalk commemorating the location of the first cell phone call in history; and
WHEREAS, CityBridge and OTI stated that the location of the tower within CB5 was selected based on the commemoration of the first cell phone call; however, the plaque could be easily be imbedded without the new tower in place; and
WHEREAS, CityBridge and OTI stated that they currently do not have plans to install additional 5G towers in CB5 at this time but eventually they will be installed throughout the district replacing many of the 11’ high existing 4G kiosks and that there was no master plan for installations within CB5; and
WHEREAS, The locations of these future 5G towers are not yet known but they will be spread throughout the district in order to provide 5G coverage and some towers will be located within CB5’s Historic Districts impacting the historic character of those areas; and
WHEREAS, It is possible that future 5G towers are to be installed directly in front of residential apartments, and we believe that potentially 10’ of distance from a tower to a residence is permitted is extremely insufficient and should be revisited as a policy; and
WHEREAS, Concerns were expressed regarding the locations of the 5G towers on public sidewalks in CB5’s crowded midtown district given that the towers are infringing on the limited public space; and
WHEREAS, Concerns were also expressed regarding the aesthetic impacts of the towers given their height and visual prominence as shown in renderings; and
WHEREAS, It is not known, given the density of CB5, whether Link5G would even be necessary to address any digital deserts within CB5; and
WHEREAS, Suggestions were made to OTI and CityBridge for concealment of the 5G equipment and
exclusive use of existing light poles to mount equipment in lieu of new towers, which has other visual impacts as well, but OTI and CityBridge stated that this was not deemed feasible to provide adequate 5G coverage; and
WHEREAS, New York City is in control of this process through its contract with the provider; and
WHEREAS, CB5 appreciates the need for ever evolving technology to serve its district and its visitors and wishes to be a partner with OTI to ensure that Manhattan has state-of-the-art connectivity and other
technology; and
WHEREAS, CB5 concludes that more time and information is required to review the 5G towers, their
locations within 5G, and the towers’ impacts both visually and practically to the inhabitants of and visitors to CB5; and therefore be it
RESOLVED, that Community Board Five Manhattan disapproves the proposal as presented to install Link 5G towers at the northwest corner of 6th Avenue and 53rd Street, in front of the Hilton Hotel; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that Community Board Five disapproves the installation of any Link 5G towers within the borders of CB5 until such time as all interested parties, including CB5, residents, business owners and community groups have a better opportunity to provide input and more information about locations of potential digital deserts be provided; and be it
FUTHER RESOLVD, Community Board Five requests that a moratorium be placed on construction and planning of Link5G poles and devices in our district.