Infrastructure Coalition Urges “Rapid and Predictable” Regulatory Review of Avian/Tower Interaction Issues

Posted by JackieM on June 1, 2009 in Uncategorized

On May 29, PCIA filed comments on the FCC migratory bird rulemaking in co-operation with other industry stakeholders that comprise the “Infrastructure Coalition.” The Infrastructure Coalition also includes CTIA, NAB and NATE, and is united by a common interest in advocating for tower review processes that meet federal environmental obligations in an efficient manner. The Infrastructure Coalition filed these comments in response to an FCC request for input on a Petition for Expedited Rulemaking filed by the American Bird Conservancy and other organizations. The Infrastructure Coalition asked the FCC to focus on the immediate need to address agency obligations pursuant to a 2008 federal court remand order to implement notice procedures for proposed towers.The Infrastructure Coalition proposed a locally-based notice process for all proposed towers. This process arises from PCIA member suggestions to analogize the notification issues in the migratory bird docket with those surrounding the Nationwide Programmatic Agreement (”NPA”) between the FCC and the National Conference of State Historic Preservations Officers, among others. Like the notice regime established under the NPA, the Infrastructure Coalition’s proposed notice regime balances the FCC’s regulatory obligations with nationwide needs for robust wireless infrastructure and timely network improvements to bring broadband to unserved and underserved areas.

Additionally, the Infrastructure Coalition opposed requests to amend the FCC’s regulations that affect its obligations pursuant to the Endangered Species Act and the Council on Environmental Quality. Finally, the coalition asked the FCC to proceed with a rulemaking to address “nationwide migratory bird issues based on good science, including peer-reviewed studies, rather than on anecdotal ‘evidence.’” This request expresses the Infrastructure Coalition’s dispute of anecdotal evidence regarding alleged bird kills near towers, which is not supported by our members’ field reports that such incidences are rare, especially at non-guyed towers.

In reply comments (due June 15), PCIA expects to address the need for exclusions from the notification process for projects that do not implicate the FCC’s notice obligations. Through these comments and related in-person advocacy activities, PCIA will continue to encourage an efficient regulatory framework based on sound scientific principles, and workable for infrastructure development at a time when it is needed most.

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FCC Releases its Rural Broadband Strategy

Posted by MikeS on May 27, 2009 in Uncategorized

The FCC released its Rural Broadband Strategy today, as required by the 2008 Farm Bill. The FCC adopted PCIA’s emphasis on tower siting and pole attachment reform as necessary elements to ensure rapid deployment of broadband services in rural areas. PCIA also noted in its comments that a rural broadband needs assessment must include a review of wireless broadband availability. All comments on this docket can be found by entering “09-29″ under “Proceeding” on the FCC’s comment search page.

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NYSWA Event

Posted by admin on May 11, 2009 in Uncategorized

I attended and spoke at the second annual New York State Wireless Association Conference and Trade Show last week. It featured numerous exhibitors, a dozen education sessions on a wide variety of topics, keynote addresses, and entertainment.

Kudos to the officers, directors, committee members, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees for this impressive event.

You can get more information at: http://www.newyorkstatewireless.org/

Mike Fitch

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PCIA Continues to Urge FCC to Provide Timeframes for Local Siting Decisions

Posted by MikeS on May 6, 2009 in Uncategorized

Problems with local zoning delays in the wireless facility siting process continue to slow wireless deployments. PCIA recently sent a letter to Acting FCC Chairman Copps as well as Commissioners Adelstein and McDowell reminding that the local zoning process is the single largest barrier to wireless service deployment, also preventing the deployment of wireless broadband. The letter provides numerous examples of egregious and unwarranted delays in this process, particularly on simple collocation applications, and requested that the FCC declare that all collocation applications must be locally approved or denied within 45 days.

PCIA has also filed comments and reply comments in an FCC docket on this subject and has conducted numerous meetings with FCC officials.

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FCC Seeks Comment on Petition for Expedited Rulemaking Affecting Tower Deployments

Posted by MikeS on April 29, 2009 in Uncategorized

The FCC released a Petition for Expedited Rulemaking for public comment. The Petitioners request that the FCC take the following actions:

1. The FCC should amend its NEPA regulations consistent with Council on Environmental Quality regulations to cure existing “deficiencies” in FCC regulations and to “ensure that only FCC actions that have no significant environmental effects are categorically excluded”;
2. The FCC should prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement addressing the environmental consequences of its Antenna Structure Registration (”ASR”) program;
3. The FCC should promulgate rules to clarify the roles, responsibilities and obligations of relevant stakeholders in complying with the ESA;
4. The FCC should consult with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on the ASR program regarding “all effects of towers and antenna structures on endangered and threatened species;” and
5. The FCC should complete the proposed rulemaking in WT-Docket 03-187 to adopt measures to reduce migratory bird deaths in compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

PCIA will file comments encouraging prompt FCC implementation of measures balancing court orders with the need for timely deployment of wireless infrastructure.

Comments are due May 29, with Reply Comments due June 15.

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PCIA Files Comments with NTIA/RUS on Recovery Act

Posted by MikeS on April 13, 2009 in Uncategorized

On April 3, 2009, PCIA filed comments with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (”NTIA”) and the Rural Utilities Service (”RUS”) in favor of grant eligibility for wireless infrastructure in the $7.2B Recovery Act program intended to improve broadband. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (”Recovery Act”) instructs NTIA to use this money to stimulate broadband supply and demand in “unserved” and “underserved” areas, yet the Recovery Act did not define those terms. PCIA urged NTIA and RUS to find that private-sector wireless infrastructure providers are directly eligible for funding, and noted the cost and speed efficiencies of wireless broadband deployments over traditional wireline deployment.. PCIA also suggested that “unserved” should be defined as areas in which no wireless broadband service is available and “underserved” should mean “those areas in which there is only one provider of ubiquitous wireless broadband service.” Finally, PCIA urged NTIA to focus on “underserved areas” as development in these areas “will provide more benefit in terms of capital investment, job creation and ultimately, consumer utilization.”

NTIA received over 1400 comments on how it should disperse the stimulus funds, which must be distributed by September 30, 2010. NTIA is expected to announce its Notice of Funds Availability in June 2009.

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FCC Requests Comment on a National Broadband Plan

Posted by MikeS on April 8, 2009 in Uncategorized

The FCC requested comment on the development of a National Broadband Plan required by the Recovery Act. In its Notice of Inquiry, the FCC asks numerous questions on how it can “enable the build-out and utilization of high-speed broadband infrastructure.” The FCC specifically asked “to what extent do tower siting, pole attachments, backhaul costs . . . and rights of way issues, as well as others, stand as impediments to further broadband deployments where such deployments would be made by market participants in the absence of any government-funded programs?” PCIA will provide comment that the wireless infrastructure industry stands ready to invest billions of dollars in deployments but these deployments routinely face unnecessary delays in the local zoning process.Comments are due June 8, with Reply Comments due on July 7.

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Welcome to our new Web site!

Posted by admin on January 7, 2009 in Uncategorized

Welcome to the new pcia.com!

As you have noticed by now, the staff at PCIA has been working diligently over the past several months to bring you a new,  interactive website dedicated to all things wireless infrastructure. We trust that you’ll enjoy all of the new features including the Telecomcareers.net career center, top-notch education through our partner Eogogics, up-to-the-minute news feeds, an events calendar, and this fancy new blog…just to name a few.

Post your company’s news, join our Facebook and LinkedIn groups, follow us on Twitter, and spread the word: PCIA is a strong and active association that is working for wireless everywhere.

Our hope is that our new web site becomes a valuable resource, keeping you informed, prepared and involved.

We encourage you to let us know how we’re doing.

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The State Wireless Association Program Booms with the Launch of two New Associations

Posted by admin on January 2, 2009 in SWAP

PCIA’s grassroots initiative, the State Wireless Association Program (SWAP), continues its impressive expansion with the formation of two new organizations. The Virginia Wireless Association (VWA) launched on June 26, 2008, and the Wisconsin Wireless Association (WiWA) followed on July 9, 2008. SWAP encompasses 22 wireless associations covering 33 states.

VWA held an inaugural luncheon at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, and the association is lead by Ed Roach, Rich Biby, Ed Donohue, Neal Grunstra, and Ginger Beaudoin.

The meeting featured keynote speaker Morgan O’Brien, current Chairman of Cyren Call Communications and co-founder of Nextel Communications. During his speech, O’Brien addressed the importance of the wireless industry, “You should consider yourself either smart or lucky to be working in this industry.  Speaking for myself, there has always been at least as much luck as anything else.  For those who think that wireless is at the end of its development cycle, I say, think again.  We are just at the beginning of the incredible transformation that wireless broadband will bring and the changes to our lives will be even bigger than what we have seen in the past.”

The Wisconsin Wireless Association held its kick-off luncheon in Delafield, WI. Michael Fitch, President & CEO of PCIA—The Wireless Infrastructure Association, gave the keynote address. Fitch stressed the importance of the State Wireless Association Program, “I am here today to emphasize the importance of the Wisconsin Wireless Association. You will be a key element in the effort to expand wireless communications across this region. Your work will be a vital part of enabling the wireless future that our country wants and needs,” Fitch said.

The Officers of the Wisconsin Wireless Association are Sarah Berry, Todd Anderson, Sharon Templeton, Ken Baumgardt, Jeff Roznowski, and Mike Long. During the luncheon, approximately 80 individuals signed up as volunteers to support the important task of improving wireless communications in Wisconsin.

PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association supports all of the state wireless associations. For more information about VWA please visit www.vawireless.org. For more information about WiWA please visit www.wisconsinwireless.org. For more information about the State Wireless Association Program, please visit www.swaprogram.net.

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