Wireless Facility Regulations

Town Considering New Wireless Regulations


  1. June 12 Wireless Ordinance Staff Report
  2. Draft Ordinance
  3. Draft Wireless Facility Policy
  4. Draft Application Checklist
  5. Information on Wireless Facilities
  6. March 2018 Staff Report - Includes Summary of Changes

Map of Wireless Facilities in Town

Map of Wirelss Facilities in Town

Upcoming and Past Meetings

Upcoming and Past Meetings on Wireless Facility Regulations
Date Hearing Body Action (click for link to video and documents)
July 10 or 24, 2018 Town Council To consider adoption of ordinance
June 12, 2018 Town Council To consider introduction of ordinance 
May 22, 2018 Town Council To consider introduction of ordinance - Item not heard/continued
March 13, 2018 Town Council, Item 8 "Wireless 101" presentation and consideration of ordinance
October 16, 2017 Planning Commission Considered draft regulations / recommended Town Council approve
May 9, 2017 Town Council Town Council opposes SB 649 related to small cells
May 1, 2017 Planning Commission Consideration and discussion of draft wireless regulations

Information on Radiofrequency (RF) Emissions

For information regarding RF emissions safety and compliance, please see the following resources from various federal, state and independent sources. Please note that these links are provided for information purposes only and the views expressed in them should be attributed to the original source.

Helpful Information Local Government Official’s Guide to Transmitting Antenna RF Emission Safety: Rules Procedures and Practical Guidance

FCC Website on RF Safety

FDA Website on RF Safety

California Department of Public Health Advisory on Cell Phones

Environmental Health Trust

Radiofrequency "RF" Emissions

Under the federal Telecommunications Act, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) completely occupies the field with respect to radiofrequency (“RF”) emissions regulation. The FCC established comprehensive rules for human exposure to RF emissions (the “FCC Guidelines”). Although the FCC requires all new and modified facilities to demonstrate compliance with the FCC Guidelines prior to construction, the FCC does not require compliance testing at regular intervals thereafter. The FCC requires all applications to include a written statement that the proposed emissions will be compliant, may require that the applicant provide a theoretical model and technical data to support the certification and, in some cases, may requirethe applicant to perform on-site field tests.

The Town cannot regulate wireless facilities based on environmental effects from RF emissions to the extent that the emissions comply with the FCC Guidelines. We may require applicants to demonstrate compliance with the FCC Guidelines, but we cannot establish compliance requirements that differ from the FCC Guidelines. Accordingly, the Town’s RF compliance review process is modeled after the FCC’s review process—all applicants are required to submit an RF compliance report with technical data to prove that the emissions will be incompliance, and the Town retains the option to require on-site testing if the technical data suggests that additional analysis is warranted.

Questions regarding potential RF hazards from FCC-regulated transmitters can be directed to the Federal Communications Commission, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554; phone: 1-888-225-5322 (1-888-CALL-FCC); e-mail: rfsafety@fcc.gov. 

If you have concerns that a facility is not in compliance with the FCC Guidelines, you should report your concerns to the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, 445 12th Street, SW, 3rd floor, Washington, DC 20554; phone: (202) 418-7450.