Governor's Veto Gives Locals Control Over 5G Infrastructure in California

California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have implemented statewide mandates for the installation of high-speed "small cell" equipment that will usher in a new era of 5G internet service.

Senate Bill 649 "would have downsized the role played by city and county officials in setting limits on where the equipment for new 5G cellular service would be placed," reports John Myers. "Local governments would have had less power to unilaterally block the installation of the devices, which Brown said in his veto message was a problem."

As explained in a July post that picked up on the emerging controversy over 5G infrastructure, small cell networking gear would be placed on public poles and streetlights—potentially creating more clutter and visual blight in the public realm.

Governor Brown's veto of the project effectively sides with local governments on a matter of local vs. state control as this new generation of Internet technology is built into the infrastructure systems of cities and communities in California.