The Federal Communications Commission’s order preempting local ownership of streetlights and other municipal property in the public right of way is now active. What does it mean to cities? Nothing much, according to a court filing by the FCC…
The Order does not itself require localities to do anything, nor does it compel approval of any particular siting request; it simply articulates standards for courts to apply if and when they are confronted with any future siting disputes that might eventually arise…nor does it prevent localities from recovering all of their actual and reasonable costs…
The Order’s safe harbor for recurring fees up to $270 per small cell per year is not a “limit o[n] compensation” above that amount, as Movants wrongly assert; rather, the Order makes clear that localities may charge higher fees if a reasonable approximation of their costs exceeds that amount.
When the Order takes effect, the only consequence is that carriers may submit new requests to be processed under these standards. If a locality does not timely grant a request, the carrier must allow at least sixty days to elapse before seeking judicial review. A court must then determine whether the locality has violated the statute under the particular facts presented and whether relief is warranted—determinations that “remain within the courts’ domain.” The Order will thus have no compulsory effect until the affected locality has an opportunity to justify its decision before a “court of competent jurisdiction.”
The FCC made these statements in its successful opposition to a request by a group of local agencies, led by the City of San Jose to put the “September Order” on hold. The federal appeals court based in Denver denied the group’s request last week, saying it “failed to meet their burden of showing irreparable harm if a stay is not granted”.
Both AT&T and Verizon signalled that they intend to take a more aggressive attitude towards cities once the FCC order is, in theory, in effect. But as the FCC itself points out, there’s no urgent need to humor them. Yet.
My clients are mostly California cities, including some that are directly involved in this case. I’m not a disinterested commentator. Take it for what it’s worth.