The New Jersey state government is considering a bill that would prohibit the erection of, enhancement or addition of equipment to a tower within 1,000 feet of a public or private school, any area zoned residential, or a public park, adding another potential obstacle for carriers trying to expand their networks to keep up with customer demand.
An identical copy of the bill was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly on Jan. 9, and in the New Jersey Senate Feb. 8, sponsored by Assemblywoman Barbara Buono and Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes Jr. in the assembly, and Sen. Jack Sinagra in the Senate.
The bill exempts those towers used exclusively for citizen band and amateur radio service authorized by the Federal Communications Commission, as well as public safety, including, but not limited to, communications for federal, state or local governments, and law enforcement agencies.
If passed, the bill could have a profound impact on wireless carrier siting activities in New Jersey.
“For existing towers that fall within the proposed guidelines, it will limit any future expansion of services on those towers,” said David Cole, a consultant with Cole & Bowman L.L.C., who also called the bill an “assault” on collocation.
Cole represents an unidentified client that would be impacted by the bill if it passes.
Around the same time, the New Jersey bill was being introduced to the state Senate, the Texas House of Representatives became acquainted with a bill that would give individual counties total control over the timing and placement of virtually any kind of tower or antenna, including home satellite dishes and whip antennas on cars.
Such bills are part of an ongoing battle between citizens’ desires to keep radio-frequency-emitting towers away from their homes and schools, and having reliable and quality mobile-phone service. Existing towers are reaching capacity as mobile phone and wireless broadband use continues to climb.
Both the New Jersey and Texas bills are under consideration.
