The Verizon- and AT&T-backed legislation moved swiftly from introduction to subcommittee to the scheduling of a House Consumer Affairs Committee vote last week. But the vote, which had been rescheduled from Monday to Tuesday, was ultimately cancelled after several entities representing local governments expressed concerns that the bill didn’t improve broadband access to rural areas and it undercut municipal zoning authorities.
The office of Rep. Brad Roae, who chairs the House Consumer Affairs Committee, told Government Technology that the legislation will be brought back up in the fall when the Legislature reconvenes. Roae has publicly accused municipal officials of trying to force wireless carriers to pay high fees.
The proposed bill would have set a lower fee than what the FCC mandated for small cell antennas in 2018.
Rick Bloomingdale, president of the Pennsylvania American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), said publicly that the legislation lacked safety and training provisions for workers who would install the small cell antennas.
This was Verizon and AT&T’s third attempt at passing a small cell antenna bill in Harrisburg, Pa., aimed at easing rules and regulations for 4G coverage and next-generation 5G services.
Municipal officials have previously said the installation of small antennas could decrease the charm of popular historic districts or place them in residential areas without prior zoning approvals from city government.
