City of Gaithersburg Considers Changes to Small Cell Regulations
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City of Gaithersburg Considers Changes to Small Cell Regulations

Posted January 10, 2019 at 3:56 PM

5G Wireless Infrastructure and Small Cells Zoning, Land Development, Real Estate

While some communities are re-inventing themselves as smart cities, many other small towns are busy deciphering what 5G means to them. Bringing 5G capabilities to an area means either new telecommunications towers or small cell deployment and all the financial implications of each.

The September FCC 5G and Small Cell Order is trying to help wireless companies speed deployment of 5G capabilities. The order states that local government cannot prohibit wireless telecommunication services. Local governments are trying to ensure their regulations do not run afoul of the FCC requirements and their regulations do not have the effect of prohibiting wireless telecommunication services to their residents.

Gaithersburg, Maryland City Council members discussed potential changes to small cell tower ordinances for local right-of-ways at a public hearing on January 7, 2019. New changes in FCC regulations and the telecommunications industry spurred on the proposed revisions that would allow developers to increase the size of cell tower equipment housing. Crown Castle and AT&T have been in communication with local government to discuss the possible changes. According to Deputy City Manager Dennis Enslinger, the current size regulation for cell tower equipment is 2.8 cubic feet, and with the changes it would increase to 12 cubic feet.

Council Member Ryan Spiegel will soon become president of the Maryland Municipal League and the City of Gaithersburg Council, where he has expressed the importance of this issue, and continuing to regulate small cell installation.

The public record on the potential ordinance changes will be open until January 31, and the Council will re-address the issue in mid-February.

The telecommunications land use attorneys at Miller, Miller & Canby are experienced and entrenched in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia’s 5G Wireless and Small Cells Zoning. Our telecommunications, zoning attorneys and real estate attorneys are closely monitoring the impacts of the FCC order and the efforts of local legislatures to craft small cell legislation in order to be able to advise telecommunications carriers and potential landlords. Click here to view all MM&C articles related to this topic.

Sean P. Hughes is an attorney in Miller, Miller & Canby’s Land Use practice group. His career spans more than two decades of focus in legal and wireless telecommunications and he has represented clients in land use and zoning matters throughout the Mid-Atlantic.  To learn more about the firm’s Land Use and Zoning practice, click here.

Cathy Borten is an associate in Miller, Miller & Canby’s real estate practice group. She focuses in commercial real estate transactions and leasing, real estate litigation, land use and zoning and commercial financings and settlements. Cathy has over 10 years’ experience in leasing, land use and zoning in the wireless telecommunications industry. Cathy also participated in the drafting of the Montgomery County and City of Gaithersburg original small cell ordinances. To learn more about the firm’s Real Estate practice, click here.

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