Today, CTIA-The Wireless Association® President and CEO Steve Largent
issued the following statement after the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) voted to approve a "shot clock" for tower siting
applications:
"On behalf of CTIA and the wireless industry, I would like to thank the
Commission for moving ahead with this item. The Chairman's leadership
and the efforts of the other Commissioners have given us a foundation
for our continued deployment of wireless broadband.
"Tower siting is a vital piece of our industry. It enables mobile
services, including voice and broadband, for consumers, public safety,
and businesses. Both Congress and the Supreme Court recognized the
importance of taking concrete steps to ensure that the zoning process
does not become a barrier to the reasonable deployment of, and
competition among, diverse wireless networks.
"In early October at our International CTIA WIRELESS I.T. &
Entertainment Show, the Chairman declared his support for CTIA's request
for a tower siting 'shot clock' that would require state and local
zoning authorities to act within a reasonable, fixed timeframe on
wireless tower siting requests. Fast forward to today's meeting when the
Commission provided much-needed certainty to the process by setting a
reasonable review period and clarifying that a zoning authority may not
deny an application filed by one provider based on the presence of
another wireless provider in the area. We sincerely appreciate the
Commission and the Chairman for quickly acting to fulfill this promise.
"CTIA and the wireless industry look forward to continuing to work with
the Commission, state and local zoning authorities and others involved
in tower siting to provide more Americans with the most advanced
wireless services and technology on the planet."
CTIA is the international association for the wireless
telecommunications industry, representing carriers, manufacturers and
wireless Internet providers.
www.ctia.org