5G is coming, but not everyone is happy about it

For 5G, rather than relying on the huge cellular towers that already loom over industrial parks and shopping centers, carriers are counting on "small cell" antennas placed only hundreds of feet apart. About the size of a backpack, a small cell is typically installed atop an existing utility pole or streetlight, sometimes with other equipment closer to the ground. The small antennas are less powerful than cell towers, covering an area of up to 1,000 feet rather than a few miles. So carriers need more of them to blanket a neighborhood. Many people, eager for better wireless reception, aren't complaining. And as more people ditch landlines, cities increasingly depend on reliable mobile networks to provide basic services, including emergency response. But for some homeowners, the idea of antennas sprouting like weeds outside the front door is sparking controversy about property values, neighborhood clutter, and the safety of wireless signals. They are fighting city hall, leaving local officials to address their concerns while fending off a federal government eager to press ahead with 5G no matter what residents say.