In lawsuit, AT&T blames Cambridge for crappy wireless service between Harvard Square and Alewife

AT&T yesterday filed a federal lawsuit against Cambridge because the Zoning Board wouldn't let it put up some antennas in Harvard Square.

In its lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Boston, the company says federal law gives it the right to do whatever it needs to to ensure "the provision of personal wireless services," local zoning ordinances be damned.

AT&T argues that 1558 Massachusetts Ave., across from Harvard Law, is the only "feasible" place to put antennas to remedy "a significant and substantial gap in its personal wireless services coverage" in an area bounded by Alewife, Concord Avenue and Brattle Street. The company said it looked at other locations in the area, but none would work, either because the owners didn't want cell antennas on their buildings or because the signals would be blocked by other nearby buildings.

To show it isn't completely heartless to Cambridge concerns, AT&T said it would encase the 12 antennas in six faux chimneys that would "substantially match existing chimneys on the roof of the Site" and that the air-conditioning equipment required for the transmitter equipment in the basement would be "located out-of-sight and out-of-earshot on the roof of the building."

Earlier this year, the zoning board actually voted 3-2 for the proposal, but that effectively killed it because a proposal needs at least four votes.

Complete complaint.