Mayor and Council Adopt Fees for Installations in City Rights of Way
Guidelines and fees issued by the city in January outline requirements for wireless carriers.
A Federal Communications Commission order that went into effect Jan. 14 pre-empts many aspects of the city’s ability to regulate the installation of the small antennas used in the wireless network. The order requires local governments to allow the antennas in public rights of way; to act on applications to install antennas within 60 or 90 days, depending on the type of installation; and to publish aesthetic standards for the installation. It also regulates the fees that local governments can charge.
The Mayor and Council adopted fees for the small cell installations within the city’s rights of way during their Jan. 7 meeting. To view the fee schedule, visit www.rockvillemd.gov and search “Public Works Development Fees.”
Small cell antennas seek to create a next-generation 5G network that delivers faster internet and increases cell phone service coverage. They can be a maximum of 3 cubic feet, with up to 28 cubic feet of other equipment associated with them. They are intended to provide additional coverage in areas with a high volume of cell traffic, or to fill in areas with marginal coverage.
To view a staff presentation about the FCC requirements, visit the Jan. 7 meeting listing at www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter and select the television icon. To find the guidelines, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/286.
The city considered a zoning text amendment to regulate the antennas but put the measure on hold pending legislation debated last fall by the Montgomery County Council. On Oct. 30, the County Council president canceled a vote on the legislation. In developing Rockville’s guidelines, city staff reviewed the FCC order, considered how other jurisdictions reacted and consulted with telecommunications experts.