Reject Federal Pre-emption of Local Control Over Cell Towers

On November 2, Southwest Harbor voters approved a “wireless facilities” ordinance governing the placement of cell towers, 5G repeaters, etc. The ordinance did a good job of covering the preservation of historic sites and visual attractiveness, as well as fairness to wireless providers/siters. The ordinance also promised protection of “health, safety, and welfare,” a limited protection under current federal law but the intent of the citizens is clear. Neighboring towns of Bar Harbor, Mt. Desert, Tremont, Trenton, Ellsworth have similar ordinances and it is worth noting also the presence of Acadia National Park between and within these towns. All vestiges of local control are about to be eliminated — by Congress or the FCC, whichever can accomplish this first. Congress is pushing through a bill (HR2289) supposedly to speed up getting broadband to underserved areas. Great idea, but . . . Its actual purpose is “to provide that an eligible [wireless] facilities request ... is not subject to requirements to prepare certain environmental or historical preservation reviews.“ This change would enable a telecom company to put a tower or repeater antenna wherever it pleases. A community would have no effective say regarding its location. The bill has cleared all committees, roughly along party lines, morphing from one page into a hundred pages of dense, repetitive material, and is now before the full House of Representatives. I want my town to retain existing local control over “wireless facility” placement. I am asking you to oppose this legislation and the Senate equivalent.