Greenbelt Holds Town Hall on Cell Coverage After 8 Years of Debate

Eight years after a proposed 105-foot cell tower near Eleanor Roosevelt High School ignited a citywide argument, Greenbelt is sitting down tonight with the companies at the center of it.

The city's "Let's Talk Cell Coverage" community town hall is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 25 Crescent Road. City administration and cellular providers are expected to attend to discuss coverage gaps, service reliability, and potential infrastructure solutions.

The debate's roots stretch to spring 2017, when Milestone Communications proposed constructing a 105-foot "marquee" cell tower on the grounds of Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Opposition to that proposal set off a years-long conversation about how, where, and whether new wireless infrastructure should be built in the city. By 2024, the argument had shifted away from tower siting and toward something more fundamental: whether residents could count on their phones at all.

At a September 4, 2024 worksession between the City Council and Greenbelt Homes Inc., officials acknowledged that parts of the city experienced outright dead spots. The concern wasn't merely dropped calls. Councilmember Jordan put the stakes plainly: "It's a life and death thing, and they need to pick up their cellphone and call 911; they want to be able to do that."

The issue returned to the council chamber on December 8, 2025, when members cited a fresh round of resident complaints about dropped calls and weak reception across parts of the city.

Tonight's gathering reflects a central tension the council has openly acknowledged: the city can bring providers and residents to the same room, but it cannot compel carriers to build. "It's a business. So, if they want subscribers in Greenbelt, they need to provide the service," Jordan said. "The city is not in the cellphone tower business."

No specific carriers have been publicly named as confirmed attendees, and no formal agenda has been released. Residents with questions ahead of the meeting can contact Constituents Services Coordinator Gizelle Alvarez at galvarez@greenbeltmd.gov. The city's main line is 301-474-8000.