State Representative Lonnie Reed (D-Branford) announced that the Connecticut House of Representatives voted unanimously to place restrictions on the siting of new telecommunications towers and to penalize telecommunications providers who submit deceptive applications. The bill was introduced by state representatives Reed, Pat Widlitz (D-Branford/Guilford), and Deb Heinrich (D-Guilford/Madison).

"A unanimous, bi-partisan vote sends a powerful wake-up call to the Connecticut Siting Council that has been approving more than 90 percent of the applications for cell towers," said Reed. "We must ensure a fair process and give much more consideration to new technologies that minimize impacts to neighborhoods, the environment, and to scenic treasures such as Long Island Sound. And penalties must be imposed on those who would game the system."

Widlitz said, "The passage of this bill is critical. We are being bombarded with cell tower proposals along the shoreline. This is an assault on our towns, degrading some of the most valuable, ecologically sensitive, and scenic property in the state. There has got to be a better way."

The legislation (HB 5213) was triggered by proposals to erect cell towers along Amtrak's rail line right-of-ways-even in residential and scenic areas. One proposal that has received preliminary approval from the Siting Council would construct a 125-foot tower off of Pine Orchard Road in Branford, close to neighborhoods with more than 100 homes.

The Connecticut Siting Council was first established in 1972 and had jurisdiction over the siting of power facilities and transmission lines, as well as hazardous waste facilities. The council's jurisdiction has since been extended to include various other forms of infrastructure, including telecommunications sites. The bill now moves on to the Connecticut Senate.