5G Technology Ordinance: Marin County Draft Available To Public

MARIN COUNTY, CA – A draft version of an ordinance addressing fifth-generation cellular wireless technology – called 5G – is available for viewing on the County of Marin website, and there are tentative plans for the Board of Supervisors to discuss the topic at its July 9 meeting, according to government officials.

Residents are encouraged to weigh in with their views.

The 5G technology requires installation of a greater number of smaller antennas as they have shorter range compared with existing 4G, the county said. A possibly denser network of closely spaced antennas would be installed much closer to the cell phone users, meaning, in most cases, 5G devices are affixed to existing light poles, utility poles and traffic light poles within the public right-of-way, including in residential districts.

Supervisors earlier this year created a subcommittee to investigate ways that Marin County could retain maximum regulatory control over new wireless telecommunications facilities in unincorporated areas.

Supervisors Damon Connolly and Dennis Rodoni were appointed to the subcommittee and worked with county attorneys to identify potential amendments to 5G policies.

A public workshop was held in February to hear resident suggestions and concerns about 5G and a report about federal-level intentions on 5G facilities was shared. Connolly, Rodoni and Marin County Community Development Agency staff met with representatives from AT&T and Verizon, independent wireless permitting firms, health experts and concerned residents before collaborating on the draft ordinance, officials said.

The draft outlines requirements for 5G application and installation, establishes the county’s location preferences and design standards, lays out public-notification procedures and covers the appeal process. CDA staff would oversee local implementation of new equipment designed to deliver 5G service, the agency said.

"The county joined a court action in 2018 to take a stand with other public agencies against the Federal Communications Commission’s seizing of local control on the deployment of 5G and its limitations on how implementation costs can be recovered by local government agencies," officials said."Although the FCC order has been supported by court decisions, U.S. House of Representatives Bill 530 introduced in January 2019 seeks to halt the FCC order."

The California Department of Public Health has information here about cell phone technology, as it relates to health, with links to other such sources as the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

An online survey, launched in December to measure support and concerns for 5G will remain open until the board hearing on July 9.

Residents can email, mail letters or attend a public meeting to voice their views on 5G with county officials. Emails may be sent to Immanuel (Manny) Bereket, Senior Planner, or write to him at Community Development Agency, Marin County Civic Center, Suite 308, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903.

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