PCIA, DAS Forum put forth FCC roadmap for environmental, historic preservation reform
March 28, 2013
PCIA - The Wireless Infrastructure Association and The DAS Forum have offered a “roadmap” to the FCC for streamlining the commission’s environmental and historic preservation requirements to facilitate distributed antenna system (DAS) and small cell deployments.
PCIA details several actions the FCC could take to streamline DAS and small cell deployment in the public rights-of-way. PCIA specifically urges that the FCC strongly consider the addition of a categorical exclusion for DAS and small cell solutions to Note 1 of Section 1.1306 of the Commission’s rules, while also discussing other viable solutions.
In its recommendations, PCIA cites a report by Amos Loveday, Ph.D., that compares DAS and small cell solutions -- technologies not contemplated when the Nationwide Programmatic Agreements were drafted -- to the FCC’s current environmental and historic preservation framework.
Dr. Loveday is a noted historian, researcher, and former Preservation Specialist for the FCC and State Historic Preservation Officer for the State of Ohio. His research is based on a review of preservation and FCC documents, as well as conversations with a variety of State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) and individuals from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP).
PCIA contends that DAS and small cell solutions are deployment-ready technologies that are perfectly positioned to timely and efficiently meet the goals of ubiquitous, high-speed wireless broadband networks. Further, these technologies are highly adaptable and can be modified to service future spectrum allocations and communications standards with minimal impact on surrounding areas.
Because DAS and small cell deployments have minimal impact on the environment, and are well received by the preservation community -- as the Loveday report demonstrates -- the technologies can play an important role in keeping pace with consumer demand for wireless, contends PCIA and The DAS Forum.
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