Novato is considering joining other Marin communities in regulating equipment for the next-generation wireless network known as 5G.

This week, the City Council voted unanimously to consider crafting regulations on 4G and 5G equipment, with the discussion possibly taking place as soon as March.

Councilwoman Pat Eklund said she brought the item before the council based on input from local residents and because of her own interest in the topic as a former Environmental Protection Agency employee.

“I’m pleased because I believe we need to take action soon,” Eklund said Thursday. “And we are fortunate here in Novato because our city attorney did an emergency ordinance for the town of Sonoma. He’s already on top of the issue and hopefully we can get it agendized soon.”

Some of the restrictions the council will be vetting include whether to ban small cell installations in residential areas or streets; requiring setbacks from schools, hospitals and other areas; visual and viewshed protections; permitting requirements; notification of residents; and creating a committee to “study the viability of a fiber optic network,” according to Eklund’s report.

Several local communities have already adopted some form of regulations on the cellular facilities, including San Anselmo, Ross, Mill Valley, San Rafael and Fairfax.

A decision by the Federal Communications Commission last year does limit how much authority local jurisdictions have over 5G installations.

Under the FCC’s new policy, local jurisdictions can charge no more than $270 per year per cell site in access fees.The FCC rules also set timelines for granting approvals for antennas, requiring cities and counties to act on applications for deployments on existing structures within 60 days. Applications for entirely new installations must be acted on within 90 days.

While supporters say 5G networks will allow for faster download speeds for mobile devices, opponents cite potential health risks caused by microwave exposure.

Novato-based attorney Harry Lehmann provided a letter to the City Council on Tuesday outlining his arguments in favor of banning 5G technology in Novato, saying it would be “morally wrong” to allow it.

“5G does not create a ‘risk’ of injury, like some essential medicines, because the participation of our bodies in microwave saturation is not a choice,” Lehmann wrote. “5G thus creates a constant hazard, not just a risk of injury.”

The health risks of 5G networks and cellular radiation have been a topic of debate. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control states that more research is needed to determine whether there is a health risk.