Wireless carriers and towercos tell
the FCC that municipalities are dragging their feet and charging
excessive fees to site infrastructure. Localities argue they have
processes in place to protect the public. Some 70 comments were filed in
the past 30 days on the FCC’s proposals to ease regulatory barriers to
siting wireless infrastructure. Replies to Docket 17-79 were due Monday
night. Here are Inside Towers’ takeaways from the infrastructure point of view; see the municipalities arguments in a separate story.
The Competitive Carriers Association
emphasized the need for the FCC to shorten shot clocks, adopt a “deem
granted” remedy, and reform historic and environmental review reform to
enhance broadband deployment. Mobilitie said “There is no question that
needed deployment is being materially slowed and impeded by regulatory
barriers.” In a petition filed in November 2016, the company asked the
Commission to “dismantle excessive fees that many localities are
imposing on wireless providers for access to local rights-of-way
(ROWs),” noting “many localities are imposing extremely high fees – as
much as $10,000 or more per site in up-front licensing and application
charges, and equally excessive annual ‘rents.’" Continue Reading
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