After more than a year of mediation, Connecticut’s five largest cities have reached an agreement that sets ground rules for the deployment of 5G “small cell” radio technology in their downtowns.
The agreement smooths the path for carriers to install 5G transmitters on city-owned utility poles and other municipal infrastructure, eliminating existing blind spots in city centers.
The agreement between carriers including AT&T and Verizon and the cities of Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, Bridgeport and Stamford was brokered with support from Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration and was finalized in August. The outline has been compiled.
The settlement comes as the Lamont administration continues to make 5G deployment across Connecticut a key priority.
In his 2019 State of the Union address, Lamont said he wants to make Connecticut the first city in New England to have access to 5G mobile networks. He also proposed and signed a bill to streamline the approval process for installing 5G communications equipment on federal land.
Lamont said the technology, which promises faster internet service and better connectivity, will have significant economic development benefits that will help attract new businesses to the state.
Proponents say 5G services could support major advances in virtual and augmented reality applications, industrial automation, connected devices (Internet of Things) and self-driving cars, among other benefits. .
“Compared to today’s wireless networks, 5G networks are up to five times more responsive, up to 100 times faster, and can connect up to 100 times more devices, delivering multiple benefits for residents, businesses, public safety departments, and organizations. It’s an educational institution,” Lamont said in 2019.
However, one concern with the rollout of 5G is the approval process for attaching communications equipment to utility poles. Connecticut’s electric and telecommunications companies have long complained of long delays in the process.
At the beginning of rollout efforts, wireless companies estimated that they would need to install approximately 300,000 antennas the size of mini-fridges (often called small cells) in the U.S. to provide adequate 5G service coverage. I estimated that there would be.
Some local residents are raising red flags about how small cells will affect the look of their neighborhoods. Some have raised concerns that the radiation emitted by the small cells could have negative health effects.
At a January 2021 5G technology forum hosted by Hartford City Council, several experts expressed concerns about 5G technology, including a Canadian doctor who said there is research linking electromagnetic energy and cancer.
Carriers claim that the radio frequencies generated by 5G technology are well below exposure limits set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC’s website states that “there is no scientific evidence that establishes a causal relationship between the use of wireless devices and cancer or other diseases.”
Federal law significantly limits the ability of state and local governments to block the installation of wireless equipment due to radio frequency issues.
A 2018 ruling by the FCC gave governing bodies a 90-day grace period to rule on applications for new 5G equipment and 60 days for applications seeking to install equipment next to existing small cell infrastructure. A grace period of days was given.
Hartford ready for ratification
Hartford was the first city to move to ratify the new agreement, with the mayor luke bronin It is seeking approval from the City Council for signature.
“The innovative features of 5G technology, such as ultra-fast data transmission and exceptional network reliability, will accelerate job creation, help bridge the digital divide, and solidify cities as dynamic hubs of technological advancement and economic activity. ,” Bronin wrote in the paper. September 11 Memo to Members of Congress.
AT&T filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Hartford in December 2021, accusing the city of delaying an application to install small cell wireless equipment on city-owned utility poles downtown. The city argued that it followed procedures, but that AT&T did not properly submit its application.
A 2022 settlement finally allows AT&T to install small cell terminals on seven utility poles in Hartford’s central business district, particularly near the XL Center. At this time, AT&T has no plans to add devices to downtown Hartford, but said that could change in the future. John Emra, President of AT&T Northeast.
Emra said recently signed agreements with cities will govern future additions of small cell antennas to downtown Hartford.
Emra said 5G signals can reach urban areas because they can be transmitted from traditional cell phone towers in a process managed by the Connecticut Siting Council and through small cell transmitters installed on wooden poles owned by utility companies. It is already available in most of the states including. Through a process administered by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.
Emra said the new agreement would help carriers “bridge the gap” by setting a standardized framework for the use of municipal power poles in downtown areas where there are no power poles.
“What we really needed to deploy was in the heart of business,” Emra said, crediting the Lamont administration for pushing for 5G connectivity in Connecticut.
Emra said bringing 5G to city centers will increase competitiveness and help serve the growing number of downtown residents.
“People want connectivity everywhere they go,” Emra said. “They want good connectivity. And if we can’t provide that, it’s a disadvantage for places that don’t have it.”
New Haven Economic Development Director Dean Mack The city said it was able to jointly negotiate an important “win” with the new agreement. For example, carriers must provide municipalities with a map outlining their 5G deployment plans and meet annually with city representatives to explain their plans.
This allows the municipality to be aware of any potential concerns. It also allows them to better coordinate with carriers about potential roadwork, Mack said.
