Residents Take Cell Tower Fight to the Internet

With just three weeks until a , East Quogue residents Don Bouchard and Brad Murphree have decided to take the fight to the Internet.

On Thursday, Bouchard and Murphree launched the a site called No T-Mobile Tower in East Quogue, which disseminates information and asks residents to sign an e-petition that states that they do not want a cell tower to be erected on the East Quogue Fire Department property on Montauk Highway and that a study should be conducted to determine a lack of cell service in the area.

The East Quogue Fire Department made the application for the tower, saying there is a gap in communication and the tower is necessary to close that gap. The fire department will also collect $2,200 a month from T-moble in rent.

Bouchard, who grew up in East Quogue, said he and Murphree wanted to get the site up as soon as possible — they have a goal to garner 500 signatures on their e-petition, as well as on written petitions, by Feb. 9.

As of Friday morning, the site already yeiled 20 signatures.

In their ground campaign, Bouchard said, another 20 residents penned their names.

"We have three weeks. I think we can get over 500 people to sign it," said Bouchard, who says that he plans to upload additional information to the site.

Bouchard said aside from signatures, he hopes the site will help educate residents about the issue.

"We are trying to get the word out," he said.

Bouchard said he and Murphree are working in tandem with the East Quogue Civic Association, which has launched its own campaign that aims to rid T-moble from the equation and — the fire district install a tower strictly for their own communications.

That tower, the civic says, should be paid for by the fire district after a public referendum.

Bouchard said he and Murphee are not supporting the civic's proposed referendum until a study is conducted and alternatives explored.

For example, Bouchard suggested that a fire department communications antenna be added to an existing tower such as the one located on Central Avenue.

A cell tower at the firehouse makes little sense, he said, pointing out that it is in a low lying area. He also said that a tower at the firehouse would drastically affect the aesthetics of the community.

"We are a rural, scenic area," he said. "A cell tower does not keep in the character of that."

The East Quogue Fire Department did not return calls before publication.

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