Policy Resolution TST-17-05

WHEREAS, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) supports the need to ensure mobile broadband access in creating economically sustainable communities of color;

WHEREAS, the African American community leads the nation in wireless broadband adoption-12 percent of African Americans are smartphone-dependent, compared with 4 percent of Whites according to the April 2015 Pew Research Center Report, U.S. Smartphone Use in 2015;

WHEREAS, the U.S. leads the world in 4G LTE services – of which 99.6 percent of Americans have access to – providing broad coverage and wireless connectivity that offers unmatched consumer benefits in areas such as education and health;

WHEREAS, building on the value of wireless to consumers, the next generation of mobile connectivity will increase network reliability, reduce latency (delays in data communications), provide consumers and businesses with higher speeds, and be capable of serving a greater number of wireless devices than current technology;

WHEREAS, to ensure the success of next generation technology and the United States’ leadership in this next generation of wireless, wireless carriers will have to deploy small antenna
infrastructure connected via wireline fiber facilities;

WHEREAS, next generation signals cover shorter distances thus requiring several times as many
smaller cells than traditional cell towers and that next generation networks work only if deployed
intensively; and

WHEREAS, in order for next generation networks to have maximum impact for consumers, wireless carriers, state and local governments – especially in densely populated urban areas – must work together to encourage deployment of this technology.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) affirms that local governments should balance the deployment of new generation wireless technology with local governments’ role in managing rights-of-way, maintaining safe communities, and promoting economic development; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that local governments should modernize its permitting processes to enable the rapid deployment of small antenna infrastructure to support next generation networks; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that NBCSL urges local governments to work collaboratively with businesses to bring next generation networks to their cities.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate, the Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Communications Commission and other and local government officials as appropriate.

• SPONSOR: Senator Valencia Seay (GA)
• Committee of Jurisdiction: Telecommunications, Science, and Technology Policy Committee
• Certified by Committee Co-Chair: Senator Anastasia Pittman (OK)
• Ratified in Plenary Session: Ratification Date is December 3, 2016
• Ratification is certified by: Senator Catherine Pugh (MD), President