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Bill to expand penalties, scrap-metal rules and zoning relief for telecom equipment draws mixed testimony
Summary
House Bill 7,173 would add telecommunications equipment to scrap-metal statutes, expand critical-infrastructure protections and authorize zoning relief for sites at risk; wireless industry groups backed the measure while a resident raised public-health and transparency concerns about small wireless installations.
Speaker Pro Tem Kennedy introduced House Bill 7,173, telling the committee that theft and vandalism of telecommunications equipment — including copper wire, batteries and power cables — has damaged public-safety communications and other services.
The sponsor said the bill would: (1) amend scrap-metal statutes to include telecom materials; (2) update critical-infrastructure definitions to reflect contemporary telecommunications technology; and (3) authorize municipalities to grant zoning relief so providers can harden sites with measures such as fencing and cameras.
The sponsor cited state-level incidents, saying the Rhode Island Department of Transportation reported 11 miles of copper cable stolen on state highways with about $470,000 in material loss.
Jeremy Crandall, representing CTIA, the wireless industry trade association, testified in support and described repeated vandalism and thefts that remove batteries and engineering equipment at cell sites. Crandall said the bill addresses both market incentives for stolen materials (by expanding scrap-metal law) and the need to allow providers to fortify sites quickly.
Angel Lopez, a Providence resident, testified in opposition. Lopez raised concerns the bill would extend protections to privately operated small wireless facilities under Rhode Island General Laws 39-32 and said municipal responses and public-record requests about those devices had been denied. Lopez urged the committee to hold the bill and request an investigation into potential public-health impacts and municipal budget effects tied to R.I. Gen. Laws 39-32.
Committee members asked clarifying questions; no committee vote on the merits was recorded during the hearing and testimony concluded on HB 7,173.
