CHARLOTTE, NC — Concern that a mysterious cell phone tower in Charlotte is grabbing phone calls and information without you knowing.
Internet stories and posts warn people about the spy technology. WCCB Charlotte investigates a tower in South Charlotte.
“Well, it stands out a bit,” says South Charlotte resident Charles Shedd. “On the other hand, it’s not just some other jagged tower sitting in the breeze there. So I don’t mind it at all.”
Shedd lives in the shadow of a cell phone tower on Ballantyne Commons Parkway that looks suspiciously like a tree.
“That’s actually just code requirements these days,” says South Charlotte resident Justin Brown. “They have to. The new towers going up, they have to be disguised to blend in.”
You’ve probably noticed it if you’ve been driving on I-485, on the loop.
A cell phone tower disguised, and not disguised very well, to look like a pine tree. But folks are asking some questions about it, wondering: is it just a cell phone tower?
“Everybody keeps seeing these Facebook posts about how they’re capturing our information, our text messages and everything else,” says Brown. “I saw one today about this exact tower.”
The tower sits on property owned by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, who did confirm that they lease the land to Berkley Group LLC.
“Income. Fewer taxes. Go for it,” says Shedd.
We tried to contact Berkley Group, but couldn’t get an answer or leave a message, and the address listed on their website led to a mailbox at a UPS store.
“Looks like a normal cell site,” says Brown.
And Justin Brown would know. He used to work for a company that builds towers like this.
But is this one being used to spy on us?
“I figure they probably are,” says Brown. “But whether they’d be that blatant about it I don’t know.”
“Apparently there are towers out there that intercept rather than transmit,” says Shedd. “But someone knows it’s for real, right?”
We were not able to find out who uses the tower. We’ve requested more information on the lease from CMS, and will continue to try and contact the Berkley Group.
