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posted by martyb on Monday August 17 2020, @06:52PM   Printer-friendly

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/08/fcc-beats-cities-in-court-helping-carriers-avoid-2-billion-in-local-5g-fees/

The Federal Communications Commission has defeated dozens of cities in court, with judges ruling that the FCC can preempt local fees and regulations imposed on wireless carriers deploying 5G networks. The ruling is good news for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile.

The FCC voted to preempt cities and towns in September 2018, saying the move would prevent local governments from charging wireless carriers about $2 billion worth of fees over five years related to deployment of wireless equipment such as small cells. That's less than 1 percent of the estimated $275 billion that the FCC said carriers would have to spend to deploy 5G small cells throughout the United States.

Cities promptly sued the FCC, but a ruling issued [Wednesday] by the US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit went mostly in the FCC's favor. It wasn't a complete victory for the FCC, though, as judges overturned a portion of the FCC ruling that limited the kinds of aesthetic requirements cities and towns can impose on carrier deployments.

"The court rightly affirmed the FCC's efforts to ensure that infrastructure deployment critical to 5G... is not impeded by exorbitant fees imposed by state and local governments, undue delays in local permitting, and unreasonable barriers to pole access," FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said, calling the court decision "a massive victory for US leadership in 5G, our nation's economy, and American consumers."

On the losing side were localities including Portland, Oregon; San Francisco; New York City; Los Angeles; Boston; Chicago; Washington, DC; Las Vegas; Philadelphia; Austin, Texas; and others.


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  • (Score: 2) by Tokolosh on Tuesday August 18 2020, @02:15PM (1 child)

    by Tokolosh (585) on Tuesday August 18 2020, @02:15PM (#1038352)

    I guess you support the rights of the people of Indiana?
    https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2020/08/cities-sue-netflix-hulu-disney-claim-they-owe-cable-franchise-fees/ [arstechnica.com]

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  • (Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Tuesday August 18 2020, @02:58PM

    by fustakrakich (6150) on Tuesday August 18 2020, @02:58PM (#1038368) Journal

    Heh, well, I'll be the first to admit that sometimes you have to call the cavalry. But the locals should have some say in what goes on in their towns. But they shouldn't let the corruption take over. They have to vote out the council members that try to pull this shit.

    Everybody is already paying cable fees, on the cable that occupies a right of way

    --
    La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..