The City is looking to fast track installation of 18 massive new 5G towers on the Upper East Side
The City is looking to fast track installation of 18 massive new 5G towers on the Upper East Side | NYC Office of Technology & Innovation

More Colossal 32’ Tall 5G Towers Coming to the Upper East Side

The City is working to fast track installation of 18 massive 5G cell phone towers across the Upper East Side and it is set to be the hot topic of discussion during the meeting of Community Board 8’s Transportation Committee on Wednesday night. Standing 32 feet tall, the colossal eyesores will be attached to new LinkNYC kiosks, expanding free Wi-Fi service on the UES, according to the NYC Office and Technology and Innovation.

OTI says it is restarting deployment of the LinkNYC kiosks across the five boroughs, including at 18 proposed locations in Lenox Hill and Carnegie Hill, which the agency says are a “critical component of the City’s efforts to equitably expand Wi-Fi access,” according to a letter sent to Community Board 8 last month.

The 32' tall towers would house 5G transmission equipment and have a LinkNYC kiosk at the bottom
The 32′ tall towers would house 5G transmission equipment and have a LinkNYC kiosk at the bottom | NYC Office of Technology & Innovation

The massive, 32-foot tall towers include space for 5G transmission equipment that can be rented to cell phone carriers and are planned to be installed in three clusters across the neighborhood — the largest of which includes nine antennas in Carnegie Hill around the area from Park to Fifth Avenue between East 86th and 96th Streets.

ALSO READ | Upper East Siders Stunned by 5G Tower Suddenly Installed Outside Their Windows

In Lenox Hill, there would be two smaller clusters of 5G towers, with five transmitters to be erected in the area from Park to Fifth Avenue between 63rd and 65th Streets and another three antenna sites to be built around the Hospital for Special Surgery and Weill Cornell Medical Center along York Avenue and East 71st Street.

“Because we want to bring Links to your area within a short timeframe, we ask that you provide any comments on this site as soon as possible,” the letter from OTI continues, warning Community Board 8 that construction of the hulking three-story-tall structures will proceed if it doesn’t receive feedback by January 16th — which is likely why the proposed 5G tower locations will be taken up by the Transportation Committee this week.

An artist’s rendering of what a Link5G Kiosk could look like in Brooklyn
An artist’s rendering of what a Link5G Kiosk could look like in Brooklyn | NYC Office of Technology & Innovation

“We believe that digital connectivity is a human right, necessary to fully participate and access opportunities in society” OTI spokesperson Ray Legendre told Upper East Site on Monday.

“As part of our city’s ongoing efforts to bridge the digital divide, Link5G ensures reliable, ultra-fast network speed and expanded mobile coverage are equitably delivered across the five boroughs,”  Legendre added.

ALSO READ | Amazon Flouts Law, Safety Risks Using UES Streets as Free Warehouse Space, Neighbors say

The gigantic new 5G LinkNYC cell towers are rolling out as part of the same initiative by the City which is responsible for the huge 5G antenna that was installed atop a street light in Yorkville back in October, fewer than 10 feet from the Gracie Gardens co-op building on East 90th Street.

The 5G tower is directly outside Gracie Gardens residents' windows
The 5G tower is directly outside a Gracie Gardens resident’s windows | Virginie Glaenzer

That time around, OTI violated the terms of its own franchise agreement by not notifying Council Member Julie Menin’s Office or Community Board 8 prior to the installation of transmission equipment, which only earns the City a paltry $350 a month.

ALSO READ | Officials Call for 5G Tower to Relocate as City Says Its Hands Are Tied 

It is not clear how much revenue a LinkNYC 5G tower generates for the City each month.

To have your voice heard on the proposed new locations, you can sign up to speak during the pubic comment portion of Wednesday’s CB8 Transportation Committee meeting by clicking here.

For updates around the clock, follow us on InstagramTwitter and Facebook

For updates around the clock, follow us on InstagramTwitter and Facebook

Suggest a Correction
——
Copyright 2023 Upper East Site. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, broadcast, or redistributed.

Oaxaca Taqueria has closed all its locations, including the UES restaurant | Upper East Site

Popular Mexican Chain Oaxaca Taqueria Closes All Locations, Including UES Restaurant

This former parking garage on East 65th Street will be transformed into an early childhood education center | Upper East Site

FROM PARKING TO PRESCHOOL: Defunct UES Garage to Transform into Early Childhood Center