WIRELESS Leadership Act

Key Points

• The bill sets strict deadlines for local governments to approve or deny wireless facility permits. For standard cell towers on existing structures, cities get 90 days. For new tower construction, they get 150 days. Small wireless facilities get even shorter windows of 60 and 90 days respectively.
• If a local government misses the deadline, the permit is automatically approved with no further action required. This "deemed granted" provision means companies can proceed with construction even if local officials never formally respond.
• Local governments can still charge fees for permit reviews and right-of-way use, but all fees must be based on actual, direct, objectively reasonable costs. This prevents cities from using inflated fees to discourage wireless construction in their areas.
• Cities and towns keep the power to set aesthetic, safety, and structural engineering standards for wireless facilities, as long as those rules do not effectively block installation. Local rules also cannot discriminate among wireless providers or give exclusive access to any one company.
• Local governments are barred from regulating wireless facilities based on health concerns about radio frequency emissions, so long as the equipment meets FCC safety standards. Any denial must be in writing, supported by substantial evidence, and publicly released the same day.