Oklahoma is 18th State With Small-Cells Law
Oklahoma is the 18th state to make a small-cells law after Gov. Mary Fallin (R) Thursday signed SB-1388 to streamline 5G deployment by pre-empting local government authority in rights of way, as some expected (see 1804260071). “By modernizing rules for…
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small cell deployment, Oklahomans will be ready for 5G,” said CTIA Senior Vice President-State Affairs Jamie Hastings. “In Oklahoma City alone the industry will invest $525 million to deploy 5G.” Hastings cited a CTIA map based on an Accenture report. The Oklahoma Municipal League supported the final bill, said Executive Director Mike Fina in a Friday interview. Municipalities worked with telecom companies from day one and it was "a long struggle" to get to the end agreement, he said. Companies at first sought an unconditional right to be on poles, but by the end of the process local governments felt they still had control, Fina said. The league official wasn't totally happy with the rate caps, with the law setting annual attachment fees at $20 and application fees at $350, but "it's a give and take" and the industry gave in to localities on other issues including placement of auxiliary equipment, he said. The bill is effective November and the league plans to spend the months ahead preparing members for implementation, Fina said.