(MT) -- AT&T has withdrawn its application to erect a cell tower on Benchwood
Lane in Rhododendron.

The cell tower was to be placed on the property of Scott Michaels — a wireless
telecommunications facility consisting of a 150-foot monopole.
Opposition was quickly formed in the Mountain community, with members of a
group self-described as “Don’t Cell Us Out,” plus efforts from the Mt. Hood
Corridor CPO.
They carried the day when the application was withdrawn March 11.
“A good number of people wanted two things: improved cell phone service,
and community input and planning on the location of a tower,” said Dave
Fulton of the local CPO. “The proposed location was opposed because of the
historic and recreational residential area. We will continue to work with the
community, county, emergency service providers and cell phone companies to
achieve these goals.”
The application and statements made by CascadiaPM (subcontractor to AT&T)
proved to be weak and unsupportable, according to Fulton.
“They never supported their erroneous statement about lack of cell phone
coverage along Hwy. 26, and never showed that AT&T had a third site near
BPA power lines in Brightwood,” he said.