as u.s. rolls out ultrafast internet, tensions rise over public right of way - street light price

WASHINGTON (
Thomson Reuters Foundation-
Cities across the United States have warned that this is an illegal attack on public rights of way, facilitated by state and federal authorities on behalf of major telecom companies.
What is being discussed is the introduction of new infrastructure for the next generation of ultra-fast wireless Internet.
Operate this fifth-generation (5G)
Network, the company is developing antenna teams that need to be densely arranged and close to the ground
Usually on a lamppost or a traffic sign, there is one in each city block.
Some of the biggest companies in the industry believe that 5g is not only in the United States, but also in Europe, India, Japan and many other countries as part of their future competitive power.
But as the process progresses, some say local rights in the United States are being trampled. U. S.
State law enforcers have passed the law, depriving local authorities of their ability to decide where the antenna is placed and how much public property usage fees the city can charge the company, a legal act known as a "preemptive right ".
"This is definitely a property issue: the public has this right of way," Debra Society, executive director of the advocacy group "Next Century City," told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
"It's really a gift for big companies.
If cities are forced to accept much lower fees than many say are fair, they will "eventually subsidize big companies," Socia said ".
Five g in 16 states
According to city statistics for the next century, the relevant legislation last year restricted local authorities, although two of the measures were put on hold and one was rejected.
14 other states are waiting for a similar bill.
In central and western United States, despite a long-standing agreement, the city says it has seen discussions about price changes over the past year.
State capital Lincoln reached an agreement with three companies in 2015 to rent a 5g antenna pole for $2,000 a year --
A city official, David P.
This is the result of an important study.
Young said that then last year, telecom lobbyists returned to the city with a new number: $20 per rod, and Lincoln was told it was "the new national standard ".
"It is our responsibility to get fair market value for public assets," Young said . ".
"It takes $4,000 to install street lights at each location.
"In addition, the industry is no longer negotiating with the city, but is looking forward to the authorization of the NEBS state law enforcers to price across the state," Young said.
The legislation to be passed sets the cost of each antenna attachment at $250, while allowing companies to enter "all public property and buildings" and place these things wherever they see fit.
Part of the problem with not being able to guide companies where to put these infrastructure, Young and others say, is that local authorities have little influence to ensure that companies ensure access to services in poor and rural communities.
This lack of local leverage has led many such areas to struggle for Internet access for years, said Christopher Mitchell, director of community broadband networks at the local self-Research Institute.
Only two think tanks.
AT&T, one of the largest telecoms companies in the United States, plans to launch mobile 5g services in more than a dozen cities by the end of this year.
When asked about concerns expressed in some cities, a company spokesman pointed out a recent corporate blog post detailing three cities --
Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Little Rock
The company sees it as a leader in 5g, and AT&T says it is now attracting more investment.
These three cases include legislation or agreement.
According to the post, approvals and fees are increased from $50 per antenna.
As for the other issues raised by the city, the spokesperson raised the issue with the telecom industry group CTIA, although the Thomson Reuters Foundation made several requests and the CTIA did not comment.
In Texas, where cities get little money from the state, the price problem is more pressing.
Last year, when state lawmakers passed a law banning Texas cities from negotiating 5g fees and weakening local regulation, the city warned that it could cost them hundreds of millions of dollars.
"Not only do we have no real discretion where to go, but the state limits the price of each node to $250," Holly G said . ".
McPherson, deputy mayor of Roanoke, Texas
"Before ,(the city)
Each node has negotiated between $1,500 and $2,000.
We do not think this is constitutional because the state is giving up our right of way.
"The Texas Constitution prohibits the use of public property for profit, as well as the devolution of zoning authority to private entities.
These two points are now at the heart of 31 cities in Texas who filed lawsuits against last year's law.
"Our position is that the fair market price and the small-cell (antenna)
Providers are paying compared to the Labor cap that has been set up now --
This constitutes a non-constitutional gift, "said Kevin Pagan, Texas attorney for McAllen, who led the lawsuit.
Pargan and McPherson said Texas law is now seen by some as a national model, and last month McPherson expressed her concerns to federal officials in Washington. A year-
The old Federal Committee convened the advisory committee on broadband deployment (BDAC)
Proposals are being sought on how to speed up the deployment of high-tech
Especially to speed up the Internet by canceling regulation.
The committee pays particular attention to the local level.
Last month, it released a report stating that "excessive expenses" are a key obstacle to investment and suggesting "taking up first . . . . . . Can play an important role ", although" only in careful consideration
One of the few local delegates to the committee was Pagan, who said he was one of four out of a dozen local governments in multiple working groups.
This apparent imbalance prompted the resignation of a city representative, who in January drafted a "Minority Report" warning that the Commission's proposals "often reflect not only the interests of the industry, at the same time, the position of industry municipalities.
Robert DEBlue, who is in charge of the study, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an email that the City View did affect the recent report. L.
Elizabeth Bowles, head of the BDAC, also said, "there is no constituency on the BDAC that has a louder voice than the other.
While Bowles acknowledged that the city was concerned about potential losses from local control, she noted that states had enacted laws such as fees to replace local authorities.
BDAC's role, she said, is to make suggestions that "encourage broadband deployment in the event that local control is required without removing local control ".
The committee will discuss the proposals next month and finalize a full report for action by the Federal Communications Commission, the regulator.