

by Paul McClaren

Have you ever tried to make a call on your cell phone that would not go through? You had five bars, so what is the problem?

The problem isn’t a new one—it’s as old as when AT&T first began throwing around the idea of a wireless phone system in the 1930s. Back in the early days of wireless communication when cells used two-way radio towers to broadcast signals, as CityLab’s Tim De Chant explains, the coverage overlapped and resulted in inefficiency: too many towers, too little signal.

Today, other factors are at play as well. The population density has increased, wireless devices have become far cheaper and plentiful, and cellular antennas receive much more traffic with much bigger bits of data. Cell towers’ ability to provide coverage cannot keep pace.

In an effort to strengthen our telecommunications, President Obama made the topic a national priority in his 2012 Executive Order, “Access is essential to the Nation’s global competitiveness in the 21st Century.” The government began enacting new laws like the Spectrum Act that limit local government authority. The State of California followed suit, imposing timelines for approval (AB 57) and proposals for new limits on local government as in the proposed SB 649.

Connectivity is essential to our City’s ability to compete, too. We responded proactively by enacting a new ordinance (effective August 26, 2016) that protects the City of Santa Monica from uncontrolled expansion while streamlining the review process to meet statutory deadlines.

What does this all mean for Santa Monica?

Providers will apply to expand their infrastructure with small cellular antennas, called small cells. These small cells convert slow radio waves to fast light waves.

What does that mean for you?

Fewer dropped calls, faster data transfer speeds, and a more reliable network, one that can accommodate advances in technology, be it in the car, in the home, or out on a walk. This is not just a vastly more reliable network, but a sustainable one, too. Not having to search and utilize weak signals means that your phone battery will last longer as it needs less power for its own antenna.

Our estimates indicate that providers will apply to install roughly 300 small cells in the City of Santa Monica in the next two years, and 600 in the next five years.

How are we managing this expansion?

Our new wireless ordinance manages that expansion responsibly. We require that the applications propose installations on existing infrastructure only (i.e. streetlights), installation of shrouds to integrate them, and paint so they match. These design features will make them less obtrusive and in line with our standards.

The City also will confirm that the proposed installation is compliant with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) safety standards for radio frequency emissions. The FCC passed a law that, “preempts local decisions premised on the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions.” This means we cannot deny an application on the grounds of emissions or adverse health effects if the proposal is FCC compliant.

The Federal and State governments are making telecommunications a priority and we are ready for what that means in practice. We are already processing 136 applications, and when found compliant with FCC guidelines and our local ordinance, we will grant approval for installation.

If you live near a proposed installation, you will receive notification by mail. As we take the next steps towards building a more connected Santa Monica (with fewer dropped calls), we want to hear your comments, suggestions, and concerns. Please email us at pwpermits@smgov.net with the subject line “Advancing Telecommunications.”