Officials say FCC rulemaking could curb local control over wireless siting; city joins coalition

Speaker 1, an unnamed city official, told the briefing that the Federal Communications Commission is reopening rulemaking on wireless facilities and that the city has joined a coalition of cities to try to influence the process. “They’re not big fans of local government and... I think I used the word sycophant to, to the council, to industry,” Speaker 1 said, criticizing the agency’s perceived deference to wireless and telecom industry interests.

Speaker 1 said the city has engaged local counsel and outside counsel; he named attorney Gail Karish with Best Best & Krieger as heading the division working on the matter. He said the goal is to retain as much local control as possible over the siting and appearance of wireless facilities.

The official also noted a practical constraint: the FCC is the ultimate arbiter of its rules, which limits avenues for local adjudication of federal rule changes. No specific new draft rule language or formal municipal ordinance was presented during the briefing.

The city said it will remain actively involved in the coalition and will update the public as the rulemaking proceeds. No formal action or vote by the council was recorded during this briefing.