Regulators urge removing sunset on Vermont's telecom siting law as filings spike

Representative Kathleen James opened the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure committee's Jan. 14 hearing on H.527 by saying the panel would continue testimony on a bill to extend the sunset on 30 VSA 248a, the statute that establishes an expedited, statewide review process for telecommunications siting in Vermont.

Greg Faber of the Public Utility Commission, who manages processing for §248a filings, told the committee the statute was designed to streamline siting decisions that have statewide and multistate effects rather than leaving every case to town-by-town review. "The 248a is an expedited review process. It was designed to be expedited," Faber said, explaining the statute's three project categories: de minimis modifications (typically antenna swaps adding up to 75 square feet or less), limited-size-and-scope projects (towers up to about 140 feet or modest earth disturbance) and large projects (taller towers or more than 10,000 square feet of earth disturbance).

Faber said the majority of petitions are de minimis and that medium and large projects must provide 60 days' advance notice to towns, adjoining landowners, regional planning commissions and state agencies,…