5G In Franklin Lakes

 The next generation of wireless technology, 5G, is already upon us. Enabled by dramatic improvements to bandwidth and latency, it is anticipated to bring about a revolution in the way society lives, works, plays and travels. Advances we did not think possible will become possible, such as self driving cars and remotely performed surgical procedures.

These benefits and advantages will come along with a transformation to the physical landscape. For the most part, previous cellular technologies such as 3G and 4G utilized towers and rooftops to deploy widely spaced antennas for cellular networks. 5G will be the first generation of wireless technology to make extensive use of the public rights-of-way for the placement of antennas and facilities. Eventually, 5G antennas will be installed on new and existing utility poles, street lights, and traffic lights along virtually every road and highway in the country including, of course, Franklin Lakes. These sites are typically called small cells.

In a few short years, they will be everywhere and will become part of the background of every landscape. It is estimated that upwards of 1 million new utility poles and small cell antenna sites will be installed throughout the country.

An important concern of Franklin Lakes in regard to 5G is to preserve the streetscape and natural scenic beauty as much as possible and to prevent the unnecessary proliferation of poles and other mounting structures on public roads and sidewalks. Federal law and the Federal Communications Commission limit just what the borough can and cannot do in that regard. Local government cannot prohibit the deployment of 5G networks in Franklin Lakes. What local government can do is establish in the form of a 5G small cell ordinance a reasonable framework that governs 5G rollouts. The ordinance may specify that carriers must utilize existing utility poles when technically feasible. This will reduce the number of new poles in the streetscape by placing the onus on carriers to only use new poles when existing infrastructure is unavailable or cannot be utilized. The borough can also require that stealth and decorative poles be utilized in areas that already have existing decorative poles.

An example of something the borough cannot do is require decorative poles along a street where there are only wooden utility poles in place. This is not necesarily a bad thing since decorative poles frequently sound pleasing in principle. However, in practice, when customized for wireless facilities, they often end up visually obtrusive and stand out to a great degree in the streetscape, unlike utility poles with 5G antennas which are barely noticeable once installed.

Taken as a whole, the design and anti-proliferation provisions of a reasonably crafted 5G small cell ordinance will reduce the visual impact on the community.

In addition to visual impact, 5G deployments will also present several safety challenges that can be mitigated with sensible planning and coordination. For example, RF frequency levels need to meet FCC emissions standards. The borough cannot specify what RF levels are permissible. That is solely an FCC prerogative. But it can require that wireless carriers submit a report for each site and for the borough as a whole confirming that its proposed 5G site meets FCC RF emissions standards. Deployments will also require lane and sidewalk closures for bucket trucks and other vehicles and equipment needed for 5G installations. The 5G small cell ordinance and its effective utilization will ensure safe rollouts via coordination between borough traffic personnel and police during construction, as well as requiring carriers to adhere to best industry standards for construction.

The borough has taken onboard Hoplite Communications, an expert consultant with the experience to tie this all together and administer the terms of a 5G ordinance and ensure safe and compliant rollouts throughout the municipality. Hoplite possesses the expertise and know how to navigate Franklin Lakes through the entire 5G deployment life cycle.