Rosenworcel Warns FCC May Base 5G Policy on Municipal 'Caricature'

A “fictional” city is shaping FCC debate on broadband infrastructure deployment and “priming the pump for Washington preempting cities and towns and preventing them from having a role in what is happening in their own backyards,” Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel told the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Saturday remarks. With its local officials who “view improvements skeptically,” delay applications and charge big fees for pole attachments, the imagined city is a “caricature based on some outliers and stitched-together stories,” she said. “But this city is the one dominating discussion in Washington.” Rosenworcel applauded San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo (D) for resigning from the FCC Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee and negotiating his city's own agreement with AT&T (see 1801250049 and 1805020046). With few local members, the BDAC “was loath to admit that cities and towns could be something other than impediments to broadband deployment -- they could be partners,” she said. Liccardo showed “it is possible to create a solution that delivers value for everyone and all broadband deployment does not have to come at the expense of local control,” Rosenworcel said. Carrots are better than sticks, she said. “We can begin by developing model codes for small cell and 5G deployment -- but we need to make sure they are supported by a wide range of industry and state and local officials. Then we need to review every infrastructure grant program at the Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Transportation and build in incentives to use this model.” Rosenworcel praised state and local actions to counter the FCC December order rescinding net neutrality rules, including bills, lawsuits and executive orders: “This one’s not over.” Monday, the FCC didn't comment.