Minnesota State Senator Seeks to Claw Back Small-Cells Law
A Minnesota state senator floated a wireless bill Monday to loosen the small-cells law’s preemptions of local government and order a study on possible health and environmental effects of 5G RF emissions. SF-4534 by David Dibble (D) would let municipalities…
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require telecom right-of-way users to give notice to property owners adjacent to new facilities. Localities could assess fees for replacing small cells and micro wireless facilities strung on cables. The bill would remove fee caps, requiring charges be “reasonable.” It would remove a deemed-granted provision for when governments miss shot clocks to review applications. Minnesota cities support removing deemed-granted, a particularly challenging policy while local governments respond to COVID-19, said League of Minnesota Cities lobbyist Daniel Lightfoot in an interview. Cities should be allowed to charge reasonable fees, he said. League members have heard RF health concerns from residents but it has no position on the proposed study because the FCC bans cities from denying applications on that basis, he said. The bill is potentially controversial with the wireless industry and may be challenging to move so late in the legislative session, Lightfoot said. The bill's prospects seem dim without a House companion and only three weeks left in session, said a Wireless Infrastructure Association spokesperson. CTIA declined comment.