Editorial board calls the small cell bill a ‘brazen move’ and ‘audacious power (pole) grab’
Small cell deployments are a high-priority for carriers looking to add density and capacity to networks as LTE networks evolve toward gigabit speeds, then 5G. However, actual deployments of small cell equipment have proved challenging to scale, largely based on inconsistency in municipal and state rules regulating deployments aspects such as access to pole facilities and pole attachment agreements, the process of gathering feedback from locals, and even the aesthetics of concealment solutions.
In California, state Senator Bill Hueso, a Democrat representing California’s District 40, has proposed a bill, AB-649, meant to make it easier for carriers or their contractors to deploy a small cell in the state. The bill would dictate that a small cell deployment is “subject only to a specified permitting process,” including an encroachment permit or a building permit, and spells out three types of fees: a charge per small cell, an annual attachment rate, or a one-time reimbursement fee.
In a July 5 opinion piece, the LA Times Editorial Board makes clear its distaste for the bill, which it views as a way to take-away control of wireless infrastructure projects from local authorities and residents. “Why shouldn’t cities and counties be able to try to leverage their assets to get a good deal for residents as part of the process, or take the time to get the public’s input on what could be a significant change to their physical and virtual landscapes?”
The Editorial Board concludes: “California’s lawmakers ought to be wary as well and show more interest in protecting the rights of communities to govern the use of their infrastructure, rather than letting telecommunication companies make those decisions for them.”
