Title
Public Hearing on the Wireless Communication Facilities Design Guidelines. In September 2019, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a ruling on small cell wireless facilities to be placed in the public right of way. The FCC decision asks local governments to publish any aesthetic standards by April 15, 2019, so the City has prepared design guidelines prior to this date to ensure that new small cell wireless facilities are screened and camouflaged as much as possible. The design guidelines are published on the City's website and a copy of the policy will be distributed to any small cell applicant. Preparation of these design guidelines is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3), as it can be seen with certainty that implementation of aesthetic guidelines will have no significant effect on the environment
Body
To: President Sullivan and
Members of the Planning Board
From: Andrew Thomas, Acting Planning, Building and Transportation Director
Liam Garland, Public Works Director
BACKGROUND
With the growth and expansion of the telecommunication industry, small cell wireless facilities are being touted as the next important phase in the evolution of wireless technology (5G). "Small cell wireless" describes a lower-power, smaller-scale technology that typically involves mounting an antenna and associated equipment on existing streetlights and utility poles. Unlike large macro cell towers in previous years, small cells are intended to be deployed as a network of closely-positioned devices, which makes placement on street lights and utility poles along city streets suitable for their deployment.
On September 26, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Declaratory Ruling and Third Report and Order geared toward speeding up deployment of small cell wireless facilities in the public right-of-way. Specifically, the FCC ruling limits the local discretion on permitting, es...
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