After more than a year of deliberation, the Federal Communications Commission has released its draft Declaratory Ruling and Third Report and Order, focusing on state and local management of small cell wireless infrastructure deployment. The document, if approved by a majority of commissioners at the FCC’s September 26 open meeting, would enact substantial new limits on local wireless siting review.
The proposal would result in huge revenue losses for local governments from small cell lease agreements, new unfunded mandates and a loss of local control over issues like undergrounding, negotiations for public benefits and the ability to fully control the appearance of city streets.
The proposal offers many of the benefits of utility status to wireless providers, without any resulting requirement to build out and provide service to all residents in a timely fashion. By removing the leverage that cities have in negotiations with wireless providers, this proposal threatens to widen the digital divide, allowing providers to cherry-pick the most marketable areas for infrastructure, while leaving rural and less-profitable places behind.
(Read more: CitiesSpeak)