Title
Staff Report for a Discussion Concerning a Master License Agreement with Verizon Wireless for Small Cell Installations on City-Owned Street Lights and Utility Poles
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Small cell antenna installations allow wireless infrastructure and wireless service providers to attach cellular antennas to existing infrastructure, such as City-owned streetlights and similar City-owned utility poles. The City has negotiated a draft agreement with Verizon Wireless to govern the installation of small cells in the Public Right-of-Way. Staff recommends that the Facilities Committee move the agreement forward to the full City Council for its consideration at a future date.
BACKGROUND
Mobile device usage has grown rapidly in recent years, requiring more bandwidth, and placing heavy demand on existing network infrastructure. As a result, mobile service providers are beginning to supplement their current 4G networks with small cellular base stations ("small cells") to increase bandwidth and capacity on their networks. A small cell is similar to a mobile hot spot in that it covers a small area with high-density usage.
These 4G small cells, and the evolution to 5G wireless technology, depend on closely spaced antennas for which streetlights and similar municipal vertical assets are ideal for cost effective installations. Wireless infrastructure companies build and maintain this "neutral" small cell network infrastructure that they in turn can lease through partnership agreements to wireless service providers. Some wireless service providers choose to build, maintain, and operate their own small cell infrastructure.
City Staff has reached consensus on a draft comprehensive Master License Agreement with Verizon Wireless to deploy small cell technology in the City of San Leandro.
Analysis
Under existing federal and state law, local municipalities have retained limited authority to regulate wireless telecommunications facilities in the pu...
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