BLM approves telecom tower in Morongo Valley despite resident’s opposition
In a May 27 press release, the Bureau of Land Management announced their approval of the tower to be built by Interconnect Towers LLC, stating that “The project will improve telecommunication and broadband connections for Morongo and Yucca Valley communities.” The decision includes an amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan to update the visual resource management classification for the project area. The tower will be a “multi-tenant wireless broadband communications site,” though it is unclear what companies will be leasing space on the tower.
The Interconnect project was originally proposed in 2022 and has been met with substantial opposition from Morongo Valley Residents Against the Tower (RATT), who have organized and fundraised with the objective to have BLM deny the project. RATT organizer Sara Fernandez says the group is currently organizing the non-profit Friends of Morongo Valley to continue the opposition to the tower, “due to the fact that the funds we need to raise for federal litigation are beyond what one individual should bear the tax implications of.”
At a contentious Yucca Valley town hall in 2025, U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte stated, “the tower project has been withdrawn” and that “developers are looking for another place to build it.” What followed was an announcement last February that the new site would be 800 feet from the original proposed site with the same environmental concerns, according to RATT.
Fernandez and the Friends of Morongo Valley group will be holding a public meeting this Saturday, May 30 in Covington Park’s Mesquite Room from 2:00-4:00 p.m. to start fundraising and provide information to concerned residents moving forward. In their recent newsletter, the Friend of Morongo Valley stated: “California courts have been favorable in their rulings on environmental projects, and the organizations we’ve spoken with feel we have an excellent case. Our next step is to file an injunction against construction on the tower along with a federal complaint.” For more information on the Friends of Morongo Valley, email: friendsofmorongovalley@gmail.com
Z107.7 has reached out to the office of Representative Obernolte for comment.
