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City attempts to protect poles
protecting decorative poles color
Lisa Hobbs photo A city ordinance aimed at protecting the downtown decorative poles from the state will soon be under consideration by McMinnville officials. A bill making its way through the Tennessee General Assembly would allow cell service providers to place devices on them to enhance coverage, as well as replacing any pole that cannot be used for that purpose.
McMinnville officials will be taking steps to protect downtown decorative poles against a telecommunications bill that appears to be on its way to becoming state law. House Bill 2279 enacts the Competitive Wireless Broadband Investment, Deployment, and Safety Act of 2018. As written, it would allow AT&T and other cell carriers to place antennas on any pole owned by a local government and replace any pole that cannot be used for the devices.