Bill Could Allow Cell Towers in Residential Areas

IF YOU DO NOT WANT THIS BILL TO PASS, PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL YOU LEGISLATORS.  TO FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR, CLICK HERE:  http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/FindyourLegislator.aspx.

Posted in January on the Georgia Municipal Association website.

Don Parsons (R) -
a former BellSouth
executive and member
of ALEC, continues
the push for
making life easier for
cell tower companies.
But, wasn't he elected
to represent the
people in his district?

During the 2013 legislative session Rep. Don Parsons (R-Marietta), chairman of the House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee, introduced legislation supported by several telecommunications companies that would severely limit the ability of cities to determine where a cell tower could be placed within the city. While the bill did not pass in 2013, GMA anticipates an even more ramped-up effort by the telecommunications industry this year.

House Bill 176 is a significant alteration to the way local governments review and regulate cell towers. GMA believes this bill will seriously impair the ability of local governments to protect the public from the intrusion and expansion of towers in locations that are not ideal, or even appropriate, for the construction of a tower. Of particular concern is that GMA believes HB 176 bill would make it very difficult to prevent the building of telecommunication towers in a residential areas. 

HB 176 also contains several other provisions that would be damaging to a community. For example, cities would be prevented from imposing surety requirements to ensure that abandoned or unused wireless faculties are removed. Abandoned and unused towers are eyesores and public safety hazards. Additionally, the HB 176 would prevent a city from determining the rental rate for siting a cell tower on publicly owned property. A city would only be permitted to charge a “market rate” for public property, regardless of the rate the wireless industry would pay to site a cell tower on private property.

GMA believes the construction of new cell towers is necessary for economic development and to ensure a high quality of life for residents, however the placement of new towers must take into consideration all factors that are important to the host community.

For more information contact Marcia Rubensohn at mrubensohn@gmanet.com