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Committee approves FCC‑compliant master license agreements for wireless carriers and requests revenue support for streetlights and transit
Summary
The committee forwarded five master license agreements with wireless carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Extenet/Mobility, Crown Castle) to comply with FCC rulings and authorized policy language requesting license revenues be applied to SFPUC streetlight programs and SFMTA transit operations; a public commenter criticized the deals as corporate welfare.
SFPUC and SFMTA staff presented updated master license agreements (MLAs) with multiple wireless carriers that reflect federal FCC interpretations limiting local fees and require FCC‑compliant rates for attachments on city‑owned poles. Jeremy Spitz (SFPUC) said the new agreements lower annual license fees but increase one‑time application fees; agencies expect higher installation volume due to 5G rollout. The BLA reviewed projected fiscal impacts and said the city could see an annual loss of about $3.2 million on existing equipment under the new fee schedule, partially offset by higher one‑time fees and additional installed equipment.
Supervisors requested the agreements include policy language asking revenue generated be used for SFPUC streetlight maintenance and SFMTA transit operations; both agencies agreed to the amendment. Public comment (Eileen Bolden) opposed the long master leases as corporate welfare. The committee amended the resolutions to request revenue allocations and forwarded the five MLAs to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
