West Palm Beach Puts New Cell Equipment "On Hold!"

The City of West Palm Beach is about to issue a six month ban on the installation of any new cell phone equipment until it can figure out how to regulate it.

Earlier this month, a new state law setting up a process for cell phone companies to put equipment on existing utility poles across the state went into effect. But West Palm Beach is saying "hold on!"

West Palm Beach doesn't want anything going anywhere until it can figure out how it will impact existing rules. City leaders have long been concerned about how cell phone equipment boxes would look hanging from poles around the city.

West Palm Beach has a history of resistance when it comes to cell phone companies putting up new equipment. Long before this new state law, the city had issues with All Aboard Florida (now Brightline), the new high-speed rail line after the company tried to build cell towers along their tracks in 2015.

The second and final vote to issue the ban is scheduled for next week.