Tampa Mayor, Who Encourages 5G Collocation, Not a Fan of Florida Small-Cells Law

The new mayor of the host city of NATOA encouraged carriers to collocate equipment for 5G, and isn't a fan of a related state law that makes it harder for communities to act in this area, she said in an interview after speaking to the conference of local cable and telecom officials Tuesday. "We're trying" to encourage such telecom gear sharing space in the same facility, said the Democrat who took office earlier this year. "We're working on that," Jane Castor (D) said Tuesday of Tampa's 5G efforts more broadly, including with carriers. On Florida's small-cell law that's facing legal challenges from other municipalities, "the state is usurping local rule," she said. "I disagree with it" because communities have to make some of their own decisions on 5G, she said. The small-cell issue at the "U.S. Conference of Mayors was a very relevant topic," Castor said. It's hard to achieve "balance" in the 5G permitting process, she continued. Asked about Tampa's overall experience with telecom providers, she said "we have a good relationship." The mayors group says some members of the FCC, "Congress, and state legislatures have wrongly characterized this balancing act among competing interests for the public rights-of-way and maintenance of local authority as barriers to 5G deployment and, instead, have put the interests of national corporations ahead of the needs of communities and imposing a one-size-fits-all policy which preempts existing state and local policies." The U.S. Conference of Mayors "works closely with NATOA and its members on these matters," emailed Kevin McCarty, the mayors' group staffer who has worked on telecom and related issues. The mayors' group continues to oppose the 2018 small cell order and hopes that the 9th Circuit will reverse and remand it, he said.