Verizon Blasts La Grange's 5G Rules, Says They Violate Law

LA GRANGE, IL — A representative of Verizon has warned that La Grange's rules on the placement of 5G antennas violate state and federal laws.

The Village Board approved them anyway.

At a meeting earlier this month, the board considered an ordinance and guidelines for the placement of 5G antennas, known as "small wireless facilities."

Residents in La Grange, Western Springs, Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills have expressed concern that 5G antennas would hurt the towns' beauty and people's health.

During public input at the meeting, Mike McDermott, Verizon's director of state and local government affairs, said proposed regulations calling for studies of noise and radio frequency emissions exceed the village's authority under state law. Such requirements, he said, would "materially inhibit" the telecom's ability to provide service, which would violate federal law.

McDermott, a La Grange Park resident, said the aesthetic criteria for the antennas would be discriminatory and exceed the village's authority.

He said the company was willing to work with the village on the creation of rules.

Later in the meeting, the village's attorney, Mark Burkland, said the rules comply with state and federal laws.

"There are many instances where this document and design document specifically note that the village has proper authority only insofar as it exists in the state statute and FCC rules," he said.

State and federal law, Burkland said, give towns little authority over regulation of 5G antennas, which are part of the next wave of cell phone technology.

Ryan Gillingham, the village's public works director, said the guidelines are a way for the village to negotiate with telecoms for the placement of antennas.

Unlike 4G equipment, 5G antennas must be a lot closer together for customers to get better service. Officials said they understood residents' concerns about 5G antennas, including their effect on their property values.

Because of La Grange's street grid, it would be hard to avoid putting some poles in front of houses, especially on north-south streets, Gillingham said.

He noted the village sought to restrict putting poles within 50 feet of the primary entrance of a property.

Village President Mark Kuchler said the village would strive to find appropriate places for antennas.

"We will work doubly hard to make sure nobody is unduly burdened by multiple poles on their property," Kuchler said.

Trustee David McCarty said village officials typically comment on state and national politics when it severely affects local residents. In the case of state and federal 5G laws, he said, they are "100 percent an outgrowth of regulation."

With other forms of technology, America has come together to regulate where things go, he said.

"That's why we have utility right-of-ways behind houses. That's why roads are where they are," McCarty said. "The idea that the federal and state governments allow these alleged utilities to put stuff on our front yards and our main right-of-ways is absolutely abhorrent to me. As a village, we need to ignite or excite every element, so we can change that."

He said he wanted to encourage the fight against deregulation.

"There's nothing we can do about it tonight," he said, "but we can be damn angry about it."

The board unanimously approved the proposed rules for 5G antennas.