New York’s 5G Dilemma: Navigating the Future of Urban Connectivity and Public Spaces

Journey With Purpose

We explore the introduction of Link5G towers in NYC and the resulting public outcry. Learn about the technological advancements promised by 5G, the city’s rationale for these 35-foot structures, and the concerns over their impact on historic neighborhoods and the urban landscape. Engage with the complex interplay between progress and preservation in the city’s streets.

We talk to Matt Butcher a licensed electrical engineer in the telecom space, Andrew Berman the Executive Director of Village Preservation, from Carnegie Hill Neighbors Executive Director Joanna Cawley, and historical preservationist Simeon Bankoff.

• LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE:
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify

Show notes & links Companion episodes

• Typology.city – where our bodies meet public policy
• CityBridge‘s Link5g page
• LinkNYC Franchise Documents
• The original Link5g presentation to the City (pdf)
• NYC Open Data: LinkNYC kiosks, LinkNYC Kiosk Status
• Engineer Matt Butcher of Sublight Engineering
• Village Preservation and their opposition to Link5g
• Carnegie Hill Neighbors and their opposition to Link5g
• Companion episodes:
  • Colin Kelly – Better Bin
  • Graham Rossmore – Curbs for People
  • Karen Kubey – Cities of Imagination

Episode key takeaways

• Introduction of Link5G Towers: The episode discusses the introduction of Link5G towers in New York City, larger cousins to the existing Link NYC kiosks, intended to enhance 5G connectivity across the city.
• Public Concerns and Aesthetics: There is significant public concern regarding the size and design of these towers, with critics arguing they are imposing and clash with the city’s aesthetic, particularly in historic districts.
• Technology and Infrastructure: The discussion highlights the technical aspects of 5G technology, emphasizing its capacity for faster data transmission and the engineering considerations that dictate the size and structure of the towers.
• City’s Approach and Community Reaction: The city’s process of implementing these towers has faced criticism for lack of public engagement and transparency, with many community boards and preservation groups opposing the installations.
• Historical and Cultural Impact: Concerns are raised about the impact of the towers on historic sites and the overall visual landscape of the city, with suggestions that alternatives could be more discreet and contextually appropriate.
• Financial and Practical Considerations: The city defends the project by highlighting the financial benefits and the need for improved 5G infrastructure to meet future demand, while critics question the necessity and location choices for the towers.
• Design and Planning Critiques: There is a call for better design integration and planning, with examples from other cities that have managed to incorporate similar infrastructure more seamlessly into the urban environment.
• Advertisement and Commercial Aspect: The role of these towers as platforms for digital advertising is debated, with concerns about the visual and psychological impact on the cityscape.
• Community Engagement and Process: The podcast advocates for more meaningful community engagement and a more transparent decision-making process in the deployment of new technology infrastructure in public spaces.
• Future of Urban Space and Technology Integration: The broader discussion reflects on how New York City, and cities in general, can balance technological advancement with preserving the character and functionality of public spaces.

Sponsored by:

Expedition Works

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Guest Bios Matthew Butcher

Principal of Sublight Engineering, has over 30 years of experience as an electrical engineer with practice areas of radio frequency (RF), electrical, and computer engineering. His RF work includes human exposure assessment; wireless network design; and interference assessment and mitigation.

Measuring, modeling, providing guidance on, and developing standards related to human exposure to RF is a primary focus of Sublight Engineering. Since 2000 Mr. Butcher has been working with industry, government, workers, and the public on this topic.

As a Senior Member of the IEEE and the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES) Mr. Butcher helps develop the C95 standards for the safe use of electromagnetic energy. He is the co-chair of (SC1) Techniques, Procedures, & Instrumentation, responsible for C95.3 – IEEE Recommended Practice for Measurements and Computations of Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields with Respect to Human Exposure to Such Fields, 0 Hz to 300 GHz.

Andrew Berman

Executive Director, Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

Andrew is a lifelong New Yorker, born and raised in the Bronx, where he attended New York City public schools and graduated from the Bronx High School of Science. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Art History from Wesleyan University, and has lived and worked on the West Side and in Lower Manhattan for more than twenty years.

Since 2002 he has been the Executive Director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, which has become the largest neighborhood preservation organization in New York City. During his tenure, GVSHP has secured groundbreaking landmarking and neighborhood zoning protections in the Meatpacking District, along the Greenwich Village waterfront, and in the South and East Village. He has helped lead the charge against development plans by
Donald Trump and NYU.

Joanna Cawley

Joanna Cawley is Executive Director at Carnegie Hill Neighbors (“CHN”), a historic preservation organization maintaining architectural integrity and historic character in Carnegie Hill, with volunteer help on preservation advocacy, quality of life programming, and work based training programs. A grassroots-style community leader, Joanna liaises with DOT, DPR, NYPD, DOHMH, DYCD, and SBS, to build capacity in Carnegie Hill, and along the abutting boundary with Yorkville on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Simeon Bankoff

Simeon Bankoff is a consultant specializing in historic preservation concerns and organizational strategies. He has been active in numerous community-based preservation activities in New York City and beyond. His clients have included Save Harlem Now!, the Center at West Park, Carnegie Hill Neighbors, the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative, the View Carre Property Owners and Residents Association among others. Mr. Bankoff previously served as the Executive Director of the Historic Districts Council (HDC), the citywide advocate for New York’s historic neighborhoods from 2000 through 2021.

“People will often react to the new and the foreign with fear or concern or sort of envisioning a worst case scenario. Sometimes there are reasonable concerns that are in there. That can be addressed and integrated into the planning, to actually make it better, , make it a more perfect, , system.”

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