In case you missed it, in February 2017 the Virginia General Assembly approved a wireless infrastructure bill that, among other things, will improve state uniformity for siting and fee structures of small cell facilities.
What this streamlined process allows, according to CTIA’s Jamie Hastings, is “wireless providers to leverage the technology they need to enhance the existing 4G LTE network and create the footprint for 5G, which is coming fast and will give municipalities certainty when processing applications.”
What exactly does this mean for us as consumers?
- Faster data speeds and access to the connected 5G life of the future
- State economic growth and the creation of new jobs for Virginia communities.
- Improved energy management capabilities, better access to healthcare and healthcare management, increased public safety, and better public and personal transportation
As Kevin Glass noted in the Washington Examiner, this “legislation . . . vastly updates [Virginia’s] infrastructure regulatory regime on a statewide basis. . . .[It will] enable faster rollout of the next generation of wireless technology to the benefit of its residents across the state.”
Why smalls and why now? Demand for data is skyrocketing, with 25x more data used in 2015 than in 2010. By 2021, data use is projected to be roughly five times the 2015 rate.
Virginia’s Wireless Communications Infrastructure bill—SB 1282—now awaits the Governor’s signature. But it is important to look at how the bill’s provisions can be applied to states across the nation.
To keep us connected now and in the future we need reforms—greater access, reduced costs, and streamlined processes—that reflect new infrastructure technologies, such as small cells, to increase capacity now and to make 5G a reality.
Across the country, let’s embrace small cell technology in order to enjoy the benefits of better coverage and faster speed. Add your voice now.
For more information on the benefits of the Virginia small cell bill, check out:
