Industry Backs Michigan Bills to Streamline Wireless, Fiber Deployment

which would pre-empt local jurisdiction in rights of way (see 1710200023). CTIA, Verizon and ExteNet officials supported the bill at the hearing. Fifth-generation "cannot be delivered without the infrastructure in place,” and the bill would remove barriers to deployment, said CTIA Director-State Legislative Affairs Lisa McCabe. Electric cooperatives don’t want to stand in the way of small-cell wireless technology but said they’re concerned 5G won’t serve rural areas, said Michigan Electric Cooperative Association President Craig Borr. Co-ops have safety concerns such as the danger of crowding poles with small cells too close to electric lines, said HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative CEO Mark Kappler. Also, most power lines are on private property, not public rights of way, “and we do not have the right in those easements to convey those property rights to another party,” he said. The committee also heard -- and wireline industry officials supported -- SB-636, a bill to streamline county regulations said to be barriers to fiber deployment, including high permit and inspection fees. County road agencies are working on streamlining permitting processes, but protecting the public takes priority and the agencies’ cost-based fees are higher in more complex projects, said County Road Association Deputy Director Ed Noyola. Free State Foundation Senior Fellow Theodore Bolema supported both bills in written testimony. “Removing local regulatory barriers to broadband deployment should be a priority for policymakers who want to see more people have access to broadband.” A Michigan resident opposed the wireless bill because she said she gets sick from RF radiation.