FCC Changes Rules for Small Cell 5G Equipment

[DooKey]

The FCC voted 3-2 to change the rules (WARNING auto play video) regarding small cell 5G deployment. The intent of the rule change is to reduce government reviews that were really designed for large cell tower deployments. This reduction in bureaucracy should allow these types of deployments to proceed faster. I'm all for faster and think this is a smart move. I hope we see 5G sooner rather than later.

In a 3-2, party-line vote Thursday, agency commissioners passed a measure that exempts small cell radio deployments from federal environmental and historical preservation reviews originally meant for large cell phone towers. The vote didn't affect reviews from towns and cities. The agency may consider exemptions for those reviews later this year.

 

[IdiotInCharge]

So, is the answer as to why it wasn't a 5:0 decision just 'politics'?

 

[Dead Parrot]

^^ probably. Being against the 'other guy' has become more important then making good policy. Both sides are guilty.

These type of reviews really need to be local anyway. A DC bureaucrat doesn't have to live with a tower looming overhead or the lack of cell service if the tower application is rejected.

 

[katanaD]

The vote didn't affect reviews from towns and cities. The agency may consider exemptions for those reviews later this year.

and that is where these decisions need to stay, with the locality in charge of where they are to be placed.

Now if they pass federal exemptions, then that would be an issue.

 

[gtrguy]

Cellular emissions testing is a joke anyway.

 

[Sparky]

My parents still have a cdma 1x tower from C Spire that they are forced to use even though the coverage map shows 3g.

 

[Exavior]

will be interesting how many other things change in regards to these devices. Many places have already been changing laws due to these devices. If the FCC is relaxing laws whiling everyone else is adding them you still have the same standoff against them.

 

[WhoMe]

As I found out when they put in a tower across the street from me blocking my view, there's nothing you can do to stop them (since they have a utility easement even though when it was made nobody ever dreamed it would be used for anything but power, water or sewer) or even get them to at least put the power lines underground (like they require the homeowner's to do). I doubt this will make much difference. At this point I might as well get 5g service since the damage is already done (at least my snow/rain fade shouldn't be too bad).

 

[Exavior]

As I found out when they put in a tower across the street from me blocking my view, there's nothing you can do to stop them (since they have a utility easement even though when it was made nobody ever dreamed it would be used for anything but power, water or sewer) or even get them to at least put the power lines underground (like they require the homeowner's to do). I doubt this will make much difference. At this point I might as well get 5g service since the damage is already done (at least my snow/rain fade shouldn't be too bad).

small cell aren't towers. They are smaller units that go on existing poles or side of buildings.

they also don't count as utilities so they try to get around those rules. We had a company approach us (local telephone / isp) and wanted us to purchase a very specific piece of equipment, put it on certain roads every 10 poles, connect then all with fiber then rent them exclusive rights to the equipment and fiber. All because they have no rights in utility easements but we do.

That is part of what I was referencing above, many cities around me have made sure to update their laws and rules as to what can and can't be put up on city poles or in easements. Also changes rules for putting in fiber based on what you are going to do with it as they want to limit people from doing exactly what the one company wanted us to do.

 

[WhoMe]

small cell aren't towers. They are smaller units that go on existing poles or side of buildings.

they also don't count as utilities so they try to get around those rules. We had a company approach us (local telephone / isp) and wanted us to purchase a very specific piece of equipment, put it on certain roads every 10 poles, connect then all with fiber then rent them exclusive rights to the equipment and fiber. All because they have no rights in utility easements but we do.

That is part of what I was referencing above, many cities around me have made sure to update their laws and rules as to what can and can't be put up on city poles or in easements. Also changes rules for putting in fiber based on what you are going to do with it as they want to limit people from doing exactly what the one company wanted us to do.

The more equipment they hang on the tower the worse it looks. I didn't mean to imply they would put a whole new one in that wouldn't make sense. I don't know where you are, but here in CA, I checked with two specialist attorneys and yes the courts have expanded utility easements to include communications equipment (for the common good)...it's case law. They both said I could go to court and it would take six years and I'd have about a 20% chance of winning (i.e. if I was lucky enough to get a judge who was pissed off at the power company for some reason...and "winning" would most likely mean they would have to disguise it as a tree...I've seen those, they look worse than the raw equipment).