UPDATE The Sioux Falls City Council unanimously approved a contract Tuesday night with Verizon Wireless, allowing the installation of small cell towers to bring 5G technology to the city in early 2019, according to the Argus Leader.
Verizon would pay a $500 application fee per pole, to attach the antennas to existing light poles, buildings and water towers, while paying $25 for a permit and a yearly renewal fee of $175.
In October, Inside Towers reported on Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken’s pro-growth stance to next generation buildout saying the city seeks, “fair and reasonable compensation” for city staff’s time to review carriers’ deployment applications and a “reasonable time frame to approve or deny applications, or work with the carrier on an alternative site.”
The city also wanted easement fees that cover “inflationary costs” incurred when carriers site their infrastructure on city assets, TenHaken said.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) said he was, “excited to see this digital revolution start to take shape right here in Sioux Falls.”
Although several locals expressed concerns over harmful RF emissions, city representatives said their hands were tied due to federal laws paving the way for infrastructure buildout. City Attorney Stacy Kooistra told the Argus that 5G would be coming to Sioux Falls no matter what but the agreement with Verizon allowed it to come into the city “on its own terms.”
January 10, 2019
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