Bethesda TV tower violating light pollution rules again

Crown Castle, yet again, is failing to properly maintain and operate the aircraft warning lights on its 850' telecommunications tower in the 5200 block of River Road in Bethesda. Readers are familiar with the ongoing saga, as every few months, at least one of the white flashing lights malfunctions and exceeds federal light pollution standards. Of course, in January, there was a new twist altogether, when the FAA had to alert pilots after the tower went entirely dark.

This time, the malfunctioning light is facing neighborhoods along Massachusetts Avenue and River Road at firework intensity. A Green Acres resident contacted me on March 31, after her children were kept up all night by the light flashing into their bedrooms. She contacted Crown Castle, the FAA, FCC, and Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner's office.

Surely that should cover it, right?

Wrong. I scouted around from different spots Sunday evening and found the light is still malfunctioning. The resident of Green Acres confirmed last night that the light is still affecting her neighborhood.

I'm going to contact Crown Castle again myself. Something has to be done about this. If Crown Castle will not properly maintain its tower lighting under federal regulations, it should be fined. I think most nearby residents would be satisfied if Crown Castle would simply switch to the foolproof red lights that every other tower in the nearby skyline uses!