BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — T-Mobile customers in Brevard County might not be able to call anyone – including 911 – because a hotel owner is messing with a cell tower, the company said.
The communications company leases space on top of the Radisson on Route A1A in Melbourne.
Download the free WFTV News & Weather apps
According to a lawsuit filed in federal court, T-Mobile claims someone from the condo association that owns the hotel has been going to the roof and cutting the power to the cell tower. The lawsuit claims T-Mobile has been forced to go to the roof and restore power.
The company figured it could stop the problem by putting a padlock on its electrical system but claims the condo association came back with bolt cutters and turned off the power again.
Here’s a better look. They’re cell phone antennae. @TMobile leases that space from the condo association that owns the @Radisson’s building. But despite having held the lease for 21 years, the carrier says things have suddenly gone south. #WFTV pic.twitter.com/FHxHIrDcqp
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) July 25, 2018
Residents, visitors and business owners in the area have noticed that their cell phone service goes in and out without warning.
Viral video, must-see stories and breaking news: Follow WFTV on Facebook
“I have four bars of LTE and then out of nowhere it’s off. No service,” said Angelo Abitino, who owns the nearby Napoli Pizza and Pasta restaurant. “I wouldn’t be able to call 911 and then I could have to take matters into my own hands.”
Talking to @TMobile customers today, it took no time at all to find people complaining about the reliability of service in the area surrounding the @Radisson. #WFTV
— Field Sutton (@EFieldSutton) July 25, 2018
T-Mobile claims whoever is flipping the power switch is violating federal regulations.
The company said the cell tower has been on the roof for 21 years.
T-Mobile said it does not know why the condo association started turning off the power.
Read more news from Brevard County
Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/DV3D5PBQIZFEPANBGDDAZHIA5I.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/2CLMRGFOV5G6NM2RH46S2A2MRM.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/V5TWF6CJAZFXBLDTZXOE47OMN4.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/D2DVXVPXTRASLGSZXEHYQHQ74A.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/63RX6RMNFRHUFHYAV37CH22POU.jpg)