PCIA Strategizing to Expand State Legislative Focus

January 20, 2013

PCIA is going to be keeping a close eye on the state and local regulatory scenes looking to ensure that its successes on the federal side translate to positive local action for cell site developers, Jonathan Adelstein, president and CEO, PCIA, told AGL Bulletin.

“We are interested in pursuing additional state level initiatives that will reinforce the success we have had on the federal level with Section 6409, the FCC shot clock and Obama’s executive order on siting on federal land,” Adelstein said. “We want to build on that momentum and expand our state initiatives to facilitate broadband wireless deployment.”

California is at the top of the list of states that are known for cell siting issues. The association is in the process of hiring a lobbyist in the state and is working with coalition partners on a legislative proposal.

“We hear a lot of concerns from the citizens of California and the tech industry, that even though it is a hotbed of innovation in wireless technology, it is difficult for consumers there to get adequate bandwidth to their devices,” Adelstein said. “There are real capacity constraints, and it can be real difficult to deploy wireless broadband networks in various places there. There is room for progress because the vast bulk of consumers and legislators understand the importance of wireless broadband for economic productivity and job growth.”

Adelstein mentioned that the association has already had success on the state level in November of last year when the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania passed a law streamlining and fully defining its review process for collocations.

“We are going to build on our legislative successes,” he said. “We have a pretty good record on getting state legislation enacted. We are developing a strategy based on where there is a need and an opportunity.”

PCIA has not lost sight of the national picture, however. The association continues to work on getting the court’s approval for the FCC’s shot clock ruling. Earlier this month, it made a “friend of the court” filing urging the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals’ upholding of the FCC’s authority.