The US Federal Communications Commission has approved limits on local government fees and how long it takes to award permits in order to support the roll-out of 5G networks. In particular, the changes should support the deployment of millions of small cells for new networks.
The decision caps the fees for permits to no more than the reasonable costs incurred for managing the applications and rights of way and even sets specific fee levels for small cells. It also clarifies when state or local regulations could prove a barrier to communications services, such as non-fee requirements like aesthetic and undergrounding requirements.
The second part of the decision sets deadlines of 60 days for approving small cells at a collocation site on preexisting structures and 90 days for new builds. The existing deadlines of respectively 90 and 150 days for wireless facility deployments other than small cells, established in 2009, also were codified. Any state or local decision relevant for deploying mobile networks will be subject to the deadlines, and a failure to meet them could be considered a prohibition on the provision of services, as set under the Communications Act.
The decision was welcomed by industry groups and operators, such as CTIA, CTA, CCA and Verizon. The CTIA said around 800,000 small cells are expected to be deployed in the US in the next eight years, accounting for around 80 percent of wireless network deployments. While small cells can take one or two hours to install, the review process can take a year and cost thousands of dollars in fees, the industry group said.
The National Association of Counties and the National League of Cities were less pleased with the FCC's decision, saying in a joint statement that the "one-size-fits-all approach" will not work in most places. The decision "promises to force local governments to rubber-stamp small cell applications or face crippling legal recourse from providers", they said. They called for the FCC to delay the rule, and said they would work with cities and counties to mitigate its impacts.
