Public Hearing Will Address Proposed Wireless Technology Ordinance

Submission by the city of Wheaton

As cellular technology advances, wireless telecommunications companies are introducing new types of infrastructure in order to meet the demand of customers. Some technologies look to place equipment on public property, such as on utility poles or other locations in the parkway.

The city council will be considering an ordinance establishing rules for where companies can place this equipment and the minimum distance between devices. The purpose of the proposed ordinance is to protect the city’s existing infrastructure systems and prevent residential areas from becoming oversaturated with equipment from competing wireless providers.

Unlike cell towers, equipment for new technologies such as Small Cell and Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) provide coverage for 1/10 mile or less to allow providers to increase the capacity of their overall network. This means the provider would need to install equipment in many locations throughout an area in order to provide coverage.

The proposed ordinance would require equipment:

• to be placed only on an existing structure or utility pole in the public right-of-way,
• to be at least 500 feet away from a similar device.

The city does not have the authority to regulate equipment based on EMF (electromagnetic fields) emissions. Federal regulations control the level of EMF emissions that wireless devices can emit.

You can review the proposed ordinance on the city’s website and at city hall, 303 W. Wesley St. To provide the City Council with feedback about the proposed ordinance, you can attend a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday, June 27 at Wheaton City Hall, 303 W. Wesley St. or provide written comments to sbarrett-hagen@wheaton.il.us.