TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

OPPOSING FEDERAL PREEMPTION OF LOCAL AUTHORITY RELATED TO CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE

WHEREAS, cellular communications operations in the United States are expanding through the addition of new towers and an increase in the frequencies available for commercial use; and

WHEREAS, cities throughout the United States are adversely affected by the infrastructure needed to support the increase in cellular communications; and

WHEREAS, the effects of cellular communications operations have an unknown long-term impact on the health, welfare, and safety of our citizens; and

WHEREAS, local jurisdictions do not seek to interfere with interstate commerce, but believe that cellular communication companies should be subject to the same federal, state, and local environmental laws under which all development must abide, said laws for providing opportunity for mitigation of negative impacts of new or enhanced facilities,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the United States Congress to hold hearings on existing federal law governing cellular communication companies and infrastructure and enact legislation clarifying that current federal law does not preempt state and local environmental and land use laws.