Media Contact: 
Evan Swarztrauber, (202) 418-2261
Evan.Swarztrauber@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

Carr Congratulates West Virginia for Enactment of 5G Infrastructure Reform
New Law Addresses Fees and Shot Clocks, Speeding Deployment in The Mountain State

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2019— Today, Commissioner Brendan Carr congratulated Governor Jim Justice and West Virginia’s legislature for enacting Senate Bill 3, the state’s small cell reform bill.  The legislation limits government fees and speeds review periods for the build out of small cells, the building blocks for 5G.
“West Virginia’s leaders recognize the opportunity that 5G will create for its economy, education, and healthcare,” said Commissioner Carr.  “By setting limits on government fees and review periods, they will speed next-gen broadband deployment throughout the Mountain State.  I applaud Governor Snyder and the state legislature on its forward-looking leadership.  With 22 state small-cell bills enacted and counting, and reforms by the FCC at the federal level, we are already seeing significant results.  One provider reports that they turned on 27,000 small cells in 2018 alone—an 800 percent increase from 2017.  Another provider now expects to double its small cell deployment from 2018 levels. I look forward to continuing to advance policies that ensure every community benefits from next-gen connectivity.”
West Virginia’s small cell reform bill allows localities to charge up to $25 per year for the use of the right-of-way and $65 per year for attachment of small cells to certain utility poles, and it requires localities to approve or disapprove of small cell attachments generally within 60 days of applications.  Commissioner Carr led an FCC order approved in September that presumptively reduces annual fees nationwide to $270 per year and sets review periods for attachments at 60 days.
###
Office of Commissioner Brendan Carr: (202) 418-2200
ASL Videophone: (844) 432-2275
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Twitter: @BrendanCarrFCC
www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/brendan-carr