NATE Statement on FCC Approval of 5G Upgrade Order
For Immediate Release:
June 9, 2020
NATE Statement on FCC Approval of 5G Upgrade Order
(Washington, D.C.) – NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association issued the following statement regarding the FCC’s approval of Commissioner Brendan Carr’s 5G Upgrade Order during today’s open meeting.
“NATE member companies perform tower co-location equipment and network upgrades on a daily basis and today’s affirmative vote by the FCC will provide much needed clarity and flexibility needed to streamline these deployment activities, make additional existing tower infrastructure eligible for these upgrades and ultimately bring more 5G services to communities and consumers across the country,” said Director of Legislative & Regulatory Affairs Jim Goldwater. “NATE commends Commissioner Carr and his colleagues on the Commission who voted in the affirmative to move these important 5G measures forward.”
The 5G Upgrade Order resolves uncertainty about section 6409(a) of the 2012 Spectrum Act in order to expedite the process for state and local governments to review applications to deploy wireless infrastructure. The order includes a declaratory ruling and notice of proposed rule-making that would eliminate siting delays, promote co-location and accelerate wireless network builds by clarifying rules for upgrading equipment on existing infrastructure, according to the agency. According to Commissioner Carr, the 5G Upgrade Order clarifies the FCC’s 2014 rules (that were drafted to implement the 2012 Spectrum Act) by:
· Explaining when the 60-day shot clock for local approval begins
· Specifying what new equipment qualifies for streamlined approval
· Clarifying how local governments’ concealment and aesthetic conditions of approval
apply
· Asking for public comment on what activity related to a modification can occur
outside of a wireless site
The new order will also accommodate backup generators and advanced equipment like edge data centers for tower sites, making the process of tower co-locating faster and simpler.
For more information on today’s FCC developments, visit www.fcc.gov. For more information on NATE, visit www.natehome.com today.
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About NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association
NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association is a non-profit trade association dedicated to providing a unified voice for companies in the diverse tower and communications infrastructure construction, service and maintenance industries. Today the Association boasts over 1,000 member companies located throughout the United States, Bahamas, Canada, China, Ghana, Israel, Jamaica, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Trinidad and the United Kingdom. For additional information on NATE, please visit www.natehome.com.
Contact: Todd Schlekeway
(605) 882-5865
