Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Educational Assets
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

O’Rielly: FCC Needs to Streamline Regulations for ‘Bad Actor’ Communities

By Andy Szal | May 22, 2018

FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly on Tuesday suggested the agency is preparing to crack down on states and local governments with onerous regulations governing wireless infrastructure.

“We’ve tried the nice route,” O’Rielly said during a question-and-answer session at the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s Connectivity Expo in Charlotte, N.C. “I think now we’re going to have to try the aggressive route.”

Proponents of standardizing and streamlining infrastructure regulations nationwide argue the changes are needed to efficiently deploy small cells, which are a fraction of the size of macro cellular towers and therefore should not need the same regulatory oversight.

The FCC earlier this year eliminated federal oversight of small cells in hopes of bolstering development of 5G networks, but those projects remain subject to state and local regulations.

WIA President and CEO Jonathan Adelstein said, to date, 20 states have enacted standard small cell siting processes, but the 30 remaining states generally feature widely varying zoning regulations.

O’Rielly said he still hopes the FCC will take up the matter this summer, although he conceded it “could slip a little.” 

He argued the commission needs to utilize its authority to remove barriers to network development, but opponents have criticized efforts to ease local oversight of wireless projects.

O’Rielly characterized some communities with burdensome regulations as “bad actors” and suggested they simply hoped to extract as much funding as possible from carriers and infrastructure providers.

In some cities, he said, companies have simply opted to build elsewhere rather than meet local demands.

“That can’t be an acceptable answer,” O’Rielly said.

Although he conceded that sweeping FCC action would present problems for supporters of shared state and local authority — and acknowledged the tight budget constraints faced by many governments — the nation’s wireless connectivity is a more important factor.

“I’ve got a larger goal,” O’Rielly said. “Which is making sure the citizens are served.”

You Might Also Like


Filed Under: Industry regulations + certifications

 

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“dw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
Motor University

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Widening the scope for machine tool designers with FORTiS™ enclosed encoder
  • Sustainability, Innovation and Safety, Central to Our Approach
  • Why off-highway is the sweet spot for AC electrification technology
  • Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements
  • North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs
  • Adapt and Evolve
View More >>
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Control Engineering
  • Consulting-Specifying Engineer
  • Plant Engineering
  • Engineering White Papers
  • Leap Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Educational Assets
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.