House Commerce Democrats Urge FCC to Allow Local Governments Adequate Time to Respond to Wireless Equipment Rule Changes Amid COVID-19 Response

Twenty-four Members of the House Commerce Committee sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai urging him to delay a vote on a Declaratory Ruling that would limit local governments‘ role in the deployment of wireless infrastructure. The Declaratory Ruling would grant companies the right to expand existing cell sites without any regard to local processes and potential conflicting priorities, which would be especially harmful right now given the ongoing challenges that local governments face due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The FCC is currently scheduled to vote on the Declaratory Ruling on June 9. This letter follows an April request by Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and other House Committee Chairs calling for immediately extending public comment deadlines across the federal government in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.