As telecom companies formulate plans for bringing 5G mobile networks to cities like Walla Walla, Washington, the local governments must figure out how to accommodate them, reported the Union-Bulletin.
Walla Walla officials are already preparing for the fifth-generation cellular service and the small cell infrastructure, defined by Washington law as having a 3-cubic foot or smaller antenna and a primary equipment enclosure that does not exceed 17 cubic feet. These small cells are typically installed on existing telephone or utility poles. Some fear the addition of small cells in the public right-of-way may obstruct other utility lines and look unsightly, according to the Union-Bulletin.
At a recent City Council work session, Walla Walla Development Services Director Elizabeth Chamberlain commented, “Can we say no to these things? The short answer is no. What we can do, though, is create some regulation that allows us to require them to … show us this is the best place to put this.”
In addition, Walla Walla joined a consortium of cities to enhance cellular regulation and lobby against proposals that would minimize local authority, such as SB 5711, which limits a city’s options for regulating the use of public rights-of-way for telecommunications infrastructure. The bill also proposes to consolidate the permitting processes for small cell installations into a single “master permit,” which will allow companies to install small cells with limited city or public input.
Assistant City Attorney J. Preston Fredrickson believes Walla Walla needs to be prepared with its own permitting plans and regulations for small cells. Fredrickson commented regarding telecom companies, “They’re probably not ready to talk to us yet. But we still need to be ready.”
June 27, 2017
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