Verizon cell service improvements on the way for Longboat Key

At its Jan. 17 meeting, Longboat Key’s Planning & Zoning Board approved an ordinance to allow Verizon to extend the height of its nine existing poles on the island to boost wireless coverage. 

The ordinance passed 7-0 by the Planning & Zoning Board and will next go to the Town Commission for a first public hearing on Feb. 3. 

As a part of the town’s utilities undergrounding project, one of the priorities was to find ways to improve wireless coverage on the island. Verizon installed the nine poles in early 2023 with that goal in mind. 

Now, the wireless cellular and internet service company is asking to change the ancillary equipment and extend the height of the poles. 

The change would be from 36 feet to 37 feet for the seven poles along Gulf of Mexico Drive, and from 25 feet to 30 feet for the two poles in the neighborhoods. 

According to the memo provided by staff, the additional equipment and height will enhance the 4G wireless coverage on the island and will also introduce 5G service. 

Verizon’s website states the “G” stands for “generation,” and 5G coverage offers the latest generation of speed and coverage for wireless customers. This means faster processing speeds compared to 4G or 3G. 

This will also enable the potential for alternative internet services through Verizon. 

“I only see positives with this proposal,” Assistant Town Manager Isaac Brownman said at the meeting when asked about any negatives. 

The board members agreed the positives of better wireless coverage outweighed any possible negatives of allowing extra feet.

“I think this is a good thing,” board member Eddie Abrams said. “I think it obviously enhances our communications ability on the island and I think makes the island more attractive for folks to come here and live here.”

When the poles were installed, they were designed to match the appearance of the new streetlights that were installed with the undergrounding project. That design, along with deliberate placement with tree coverage to try to decrease visibility.

In April 2024, town commissioners approved an ordinance to allow AT&T to install wireless service upgrades on the town’s new streetlights, as well as a ground-mounted unit next to the box. This new equipment provided similar upgrades to AT&T’s wireless coverage on the island.