The FCC is making pole attachments for wireless infrastructure easier and eliminating barriers in a specific case. With a 5-0 unanimous vote yesterday, the Commissioners approved changing the agency’s rules, so that replacement utility poles that have no potential effect on historic properties, do not need to complete historic preservation review. The changes are meant to encourage the deployment of small cell infrastructure.
Specifically, the provider is exempt from the review when a pole is replaced with a substantially identical pole, the original pole is not historic and the replacement does disturb new ground. The replacement must be consistent with other size, location, and appearance restrictions.
Commissioner Michael O’Rielly said the changes take into account when a wood pole is replaced with metal. Another pole-related item in the works will include things like twilight towers, he said.
“This common-sense provision will ensure that the wired and wireless infrastructure necessary for the emergence of next-generation services can be built while promoting continued protection of historical properties at the same time,” said NTCA-the rural broadband association lobbyist Michael Romano. CTIA said the actions “will help enable the wireless industry to invest hundreds of billions of dollars and create millions of new jobs to foster U.S. leadership in next-generation networks.
November 17, 2017
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