City Hall and your network signal

 According to the FCC, pending zones for phone towers have to be authorized by the location's City Hall. Among requests to extend zoning for wireless facilities were requests to replace antennas. According to this research, cities were also denying other carriers from establishing wireless facilities on areas their residents appear to be using another carrier. Although the City Halls claim this is a way to reduce competition, it also affects consumers and their ability to receive good reception from their carrier. This also did not stop the AT&T merger with T-Mobile. So next time your phone reception is below average, it might not be the carrier, but the  City Hall.