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ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — A St. Pete Beach resident said she fought hard to get 5G equipment installed on a pole near her home removed, which AT&T expects to complete by Friday, according to KellyLee McFrederick.
“We’re very grateful,” she said. “We’re grateful for everyone’s support to not have these within the neighborhoods.”
McFrederick said the 5G equipment was installed about two months ago, on a pole 25 feet away from her waterfront property. It has not been activated.
Spectrum News reported on McFrederick’s efforts to stop the installation in July. She said it was ruining her sight lines, put her homeowner’s insurance at risk and would likely lower her property value.
“This is property rights,” she said. “This is happening in neighborhoods everywhere. We’re not against 5G. We’re just saying it should not be affecting property values in the neighborhoods.”
In 2017, Gov. Rick Scott signed a law allowing telecom companies to install small wireless facilities in the rights of way. The state law also pre-empts local municipalities from regulating the location of 5G equipment on city easements.
McFrederick believes AT&T has agreed to move it’s 5G equipment due to a combination of help from lawyers, State Rep. Linda Chaney, Florida Realtors and media coverage.
“I really think it was part of you all, Spectrum News… you brought us a lot of attention,” she said. “Representative Linda Cheney really did help us connect with AT&T… and definitely with the power of the Florida Realtors.”
McFrederick is a real estate broker owner and sits on the Florida Realtors board. During a Florida Realtors meeting in August, McFrederick said they talked about potentially lobbying state lawmakers to change the law about where 5G equipment can be located.
“We lobby to make sure people have their homes and their property rights,” she said. “So this is now going to be going into the think tank for land use, property rights and sustainability.”
McFrederick said the day after the meeting, AT&T agreed to remove their 5G equipment and relocate it to a pole a few blocks away on the 3600 block of Gulf Blvd.
“We had to actually approve it,” she said. “Lauren, my husband and I, we had to actually approve it in writing where it was going to go.”
An AT&T spokesperson sent Spectrum News the following statement:
“We are always working to enhance and improve our wireless network. Following discussions with state and local officials, we selected this new site to offer stronger coverage and a better experience for everyone in the area.”
While McFrederick is grateful the 5G equipment will be moved from her residential street, she wants to continue her advocacy. She teamed up with Lauren Mones over the summer and launched the Florida Coalition For Safe Technology.
“Within 30 days, we funded, to be able to hire the correct attorney,” she said. “To be able to get the ordinance started for the City of St. Pete Beach.”
McFrederick said the group wants to help the city try to take back some control of their easements.
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Josh Rojas
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