News

ARTICLE
Date ArticleType
3/18/2020 Member News

HBA Works with Cornelius to Mitigate Harm of Recent FCC 5G Ruling


In 2018, the Federal Communications Commission issued new requirements for local jurisdictions to accommodate 5G telecommunications infrastructure in the public right-of-way. The ruling lacked nuance and now has the effect of forcing cities and counties to permit new cell towers with limited opportunity to require that the infrastructure integrate effectively into the built environment.

Like local jurisdictions, home builders regularly build public improvements. Approvals for new housing include requirements to widen roads, place street lighting and signalization, and create new sidewalks, curbs, and gutters, which require relocating third party infrastructure located in the right-of-way. This work is complicated and expensive, and builders can rarely complete it within a predictable time period.

Cornelius recognizes this issue and - in consultation with HBA - is adopting a Small Wireless Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way Ordinance that places the responsibility for relocating telecommunications infrastructure on the right-of-way permit holder rather than the home builder. Doing so will help provide certainty in the development process and reduce the cost of providing new housing. To learn more about our work with the city of Cornelius and our efforts to ensure that our industry is not responsible for the cost of relocating infrastructure in the public right-of-way, contact Ezra Hammer at ezrah@hbapdx.org.