Title
Calling on the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to oppose House Bill 2654, a proposal concerning Small Cell Wireless Facilities, which would remove local control of the public right of way and municipal infrastructure; and further reaffirming the authority of municipalities, and cities of the first class to regulate the public right-of-way.
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WHERAS, The City has been responsible for management of the public rights-of-way ("ROW") since Philadelphia was founded over 325 years ago; and
WHEREAS, This Council has always shown leadership and willingness to work towards the development of "5G Wireless" and other new technologies to secure the high-quality services to be available to the constituents of the City; and
WHEREAS, This Council's commitment is further demonstrated by Bill No. 171012, which was signed by the Mayor on December 14, 2017, which provided authority to the Streets Department to Promulgate Regulations and establish the process by which small cell wireless providers can apply for permits to access the public ROW for the development of crucial new technology; and
WHEREAS, The Streets Department has enacted the regulations in April of this year and has since taken in over 1,250 applications for the placement of small cell wireless facilities. Most wireless providers have expressed strong appreciation for the level of service they have enjoyed, and none have identified any persistent impediments to conducting their business; and
WHEREAS, Telecommunications companies have proposed House Bill 2564 which seeks to eliminate the authority of all local governments within the commonwealth to regulate small cell wireless facilities and related equipment on public property and in public ROW; and
WHEREAS, The proposal is extremely broad and would give telecommunications companies and financial speculators nearly unrestricted access to any municipal structure that can support a wireless antenna - street lights, sto...
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