House Democrats Urge FCC Delay Vote on 5G Infrastructure Order, Republicans Back Advancement
House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and seven other committee Democrats urged FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Tuesday to postpone a planned vote at the commission's Wednesday meeting on the pending…
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5G wireless infrastructure order and declaratory ruling (see 1809190030). House Digital Commerce Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta, R-Ohio, and 24 other House Republicans meanwhile urged Pai to move forward on proposals that match the draft order. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel declined to say last week whether she will vote for the ruling and order. Commissioner Brendan Carr, the architect of the 5G order, continued to defend it (see 1809210005). The ruling and order's proposed language limiting “the purpose for which small wireless facility fees can be collected by cities and municipalities … will only stifle local policy innovation, including efforts to bridge the digital divide,” the House Commerce Democrats said in a letter led by Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif. It's “troubling that many cities and municipalities feel like they have not been heard by the Commission in this process,” including not providing adequate opportunity to “provide feedback on the proposed presumptive fee limits,” the Democrats said. The FCC's “failure to make a genuine effort to understand and take into account the perspectives of all stakeholders, including localities, raises doubts about whether the proposal in the Declaratory Ruling and Order will in fact yield the best result for consumers.” The FCC should "act swiftly to clear the way for more investment in our nation's vital communications infrastructure," House Republicans said in a letter led by Rep. Billy Long, R-Mo. "The FCC should take steps to ensure capital is being invested in deploying broadband, not being spent on burdensome regulations that make investing in higher cost areas, particularly in rural America, less feasible." China and South Korea "are eager to win" the race to 5G, "which is why we need smart, efficient" FCC regulations "that promote investment so the U.S. ultimately wins, the Republicans said. "We are pleased to see the strong support expressed today [in the Republicans' letter] for the policies the FCC will vote on tomorrow," a Carr spokesman said. "Their letter builds on the support we’ve already seen from more than several dozen mayors and state officials from across the country. Seventeen months into this proceeding, it is time to act and ensure our regulations are 5G ready.”