Approving hundreds or thousands of small cells is an entirely different zoning process than approving a full-sized cell tower. But local municipalities are applying the same zoning process to both types of infrastructure, resulting in major delays to the small cell deployment process, according to a new report conducted by CTIA and Accenture.
The report suggests that streamlining the small cell zoning process could lead to the development of “smart cities,” which would result in tremendous economic growth for communities across the United States.
“Communities of all sizes are likely to see jobs created,” the report says. “Telecom operators are expected to invest approximately $275 billion in infrastructure, which could create up to 3 million jobs and boost GDP by $500 billion.”
Some reforms suggested by the report include a streamlined permitting process for small cells, a better right-of-way application process and updated fee structures that take into account differences between traditional cell towers and small cells.
With incoming FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, reforms may be made at the federal level to increase the efficiency of small cell deployment. The incoming Chairman has spoken positively of smart cells on a number of occasions and posited ways for municipalities and states to quicken the deployment process.
“Deploying more infrastructure is important because we’re on the leading edge of a data tsunami… [but] regulations can make it tough to deploy infrastructure,” Pai said in a speech given in 2014, reports Watchdog.org.
January 27, 2017
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