Northglenn resident raises 5G coverage concerns; city says carriers control tower siting

A Northglenn resident asked council on Jan. 27 whether the city would be bringing 5G service to the area; staff and council members advised that carriers control deployment and that the city’s role is limited to siting and land-use regulation.

Resident Sandy Konechnie told the council she experiences intermittent service and asked, “Are we going to get 5 g in the city?” Acting City Manager Loveland and City Attorney Hoffman replied that wireless carriers deploy network technology and that the city does not itself operate 5G service. Hoffman said the city can regulate the location of new towers through its land-use code and noted that pending “shot clock” legislation — which shortens local review timelines for wireless siting — may affect the city’s role.

Council members encouraged residents to report coverage problems to their wireless carrier so the provider can evaluate the need for additional infrastructure. Council member Walker noted that fiber deployments in parts of the city are separate from cell coverage and that providers typically must seek city approval for tower locations.

No formal action was taken. City staff said they would treat inquiries about cell-tower siting through standard land-use and permitting channels.

Why it matters: wireless deployment decisions are mostly made by private carriers; local governments retain land-use authority but face evolving statutory limits that can affect timing and allowable conditions for new wireless facilities.