Earlier this week, Assembly Member Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) gutted and amended his Assembly Bill 2788 to provide a ministerial approval process for “small cell” wireless antennas and associated equipment while also mandating that the infrastructure be permitted throughout all zones and eliminating the requirement that proposals be subject to public review.
While RCRC is a strong advocate for the deployment and expansion of new telecommunication technologies, AB 2788 represents a major land use power grab by telcos to circumvent the very critical role of local governments in reviewing the installation of telecommunications infrastructure. AB 2788 would also eliminate any authority a local government has to ensure that the technology fits within the aesthetics of a community, which is critically important in rural areas that often have historic downtowns and historic preservation sites that rely on tourism as a key driver of economic development. RCRC joined a coalition of local government organizations, including the California State Association of Counties, Urban Counties of California, League of California Cities, and the American Planning Association’s California Chapter and issued an opposition letter to the measure. The bill is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee next week on Tuesday, June 21, and the Senate Governance and Finance Committee the following week on Wednesday, June 29. The coalition opposition letter is available here.