A transmission line phase shifter ideally suited for use in low-cost, steerable, phased array antennas suitable for use in wireless fidelity (WiFi) and other wireless telecommunication networks, in particular multi-hop ad hoc networks, is disclosed. The transmission line phase shifter includes a wire transmission line, such as a coaxial, stripline, microstrip, or coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission line. A high-permittivity dielectric element that overlies the signal conductor of the wire transmission line is used to control phase shifting. Phase shifting can be electromechanically controlled by controlling the space between the high-permittivity dielectric element and the signal conductor of the wire transmission line or by electrically controlling the permittivity of the high-permittivity dielectric element.