ROCKVILLE — Warning that the federal government will take away local control from the County over how it regulates telecommunications towers, County Council President Hans Riemer (D-at large) on Tuesday introduced a zoning text amendment that will help facilitate the expansion of cellphone antennas in the County.

While the County Council introduced and debated a similar bill about a year ago, with members of the Council saying telecommunication companies needed to deploy the small-cell antennas to expand 4G and cellphone service throughout the County, many residents balked at the idea, claiming the antennas are an eyesore or that the radiation they emit may pose a danger to public health.

GAITHERSBURG – The City Council advanced a controversial proposal to permit Verizon to construct a cell tower at Morris Park over the objections of its most junior member and several city residents.

The council passed a resolution Monday to authorize City Manager Tony Tomasello to immediately execute an agreement with Verizon to construct the tower.

Council Member Robert Wu expressed concern about the lack of information regarding several aspects of the proposal.

“I’ll be frank, I’m vexed, and I have a lot of consternation about the way the Council is handling this issue,” Wu said.