The Mobile Internet Report Key Themes*

US Zoning Regulations – Health / Environment Issues +
Lost Property Value Creating Obstacles for Wireless Network Rollout
In the United States, wireless carriers have had difficulty building out their networks in
certain residential areas because residents have opposed towers being built “in their back
yard,” citing potential adverse health effects / property value depreciation / negative
aesthetic impact.
Currently, there are roughly 3,300 pending siting applications. 25% of the applications have
been awaiting approval for over a year and more than 180 for over three years, per a 2008
CTIA survey.
The FCC approved tower siting “shot clock” rules in 11/09, requiring local authorities to
grant / deny cell tower approval within a period of 90 days for co-located towers (shared by
multiple operators) or 150 days for new towers, alleviating the problems that delays have
caused in the past.
Section 704 of the US Telecommunications Act of 1996 governs federal, state, and local
oversight of cell site location for "personal wireless service" facilities. The Act established a
framework for state and local zoning authorities’ jurisdiction over the construction,
modification, and placement of cell towers. While local zoning authorities are able to
prohibit certain cell site locations, the law gave the FCC the ability to preempt that authority
if deemed necessary.
Recently, many local authorities have contested Section 704 regulations and believe they
should have the ability to prohibit cell site construction based on the negative
environmental and human heath-related impacts of wireless technologies that they
perceive. Local authorities in Los Angeles and Portland, OR, recently took measures
against Section 704 health preemption and are calling on the FCC to change its
regulations.
Source: FCC, Morgan Stanley Research. 654