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

A bill designed to streamline the implementation of 5G Internet infrastructure onto public poles and lights has been vetoed by California Governor Jerry Brown.

1 minute read

October 16, 2017, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Internet Infrastructure

Niyazz / Shutterstock

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.

Monday, October 16, 2017 in Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Small oundabout with plants on neighborhood street.

Chicago Has Quietly Built Hundreds of Neighborhood Traffic Circles

Thanks largely to one alderperson’s efforts, the city has made mini-roundabouts a key piece of its road safety strategy.

30 minutes ago - WBEZ

White May Mobility self-driving van with Lyft logo with Ponce Public Market sign in background in Atlanta, Georgia.

Atlanta, Dallas Area to Launch Robotaxi Rideshare Fleets

Lyft and Uber will begin including autonomous vehicles in their networks in Atlanta and Arlington, Texas starting later this year.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Tunnel for pedestrians, bikes, and buses in Lyon, France lit up with purple lights.

The French Solution to Congested Tunnels: Make Them Car-Free

Bay Area transportation officials keep expanding car capacity. Lyon’s Croix Rousse Tunnel offers a different way.

July 16 - Streetsblog San Francisco