Government
Small Cell Towers In Deerfield Township
Small Cell Towers continue to compete for utility space in county road right of ways, throughout Deerfield Township. This demand for communication data transmission is growing and is generating more pressure for small cell towers to be located in the public right of ways. Deerfield Township is committed to work with our County Engineer to make sure the right of way use permit process addresses small cell towers and other data transfer infrastructure in a manner that minimizes impacts and is compliant with the law.
Regarding citizen concerns about radiation hazards caused by 5G technology, the Federal government has explicitly preempted local communities from regulating cell towers based on radiation and health issues. The Federal Communications Commissions has sole jurisdiction on the matter. This is clearly stated at 47 U.S. Code Sec. 332(c)(7)(B)(iv): “No State or local government or instrumentality thereof may regulate the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent that such facilities comply with the commission’s regulations concerning such emissions.” The court cases support this - we simply have no say.
The FCC is currently running tests regarding the concerns:
Deerfield strives to ensure that those small cell towers permitted to be installed in the public right-of-way, are of a decorative nature so that they do not have a negative impact on the community aesthetics.