Lavonia City Council Passes First Reading of a Wireless Facilities and Antenna Ordinance

The Lavonia City Council has voted to approve the first reading of a new ordinance designed to strengthen a new state law that regulates small cellular network transmitters.

In April, Governor Brian Kemp signed into law the Streamlining Wireless Facilities and Antennas Act, which takes effect October 1.

The law allows smaller cellular companies to install wireless broadband antennas on utility poles on public rights-of-way.

Supporters of the bill say it ensures high-speed internet access to rural Georgia.  However, the companies must first receive approval from municipalities.

At their meeting Monday afternoon, City Manager Charles Cawthon told Mayor Ralph Owens and the City Council the proposed ordinance is recommended by the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission.

“This may not come to bear in the coming years, but you have that ordinance in place then going forward as technology changes, you will already have the groundwork to regulate that,” Cawthon said. “There’s been some examples where it’s gotten out of hand in larger cities. So, they (GMRC) recommend as kind of a stop-gap measure to give you a little more control over that.”

The Act signed by Kemp is designed to prepare for the future implementation of 5G wireless communications.

However, for that to happen, more smaller wireless antennas must be installed.

After hearing from Cawthon, the Council voted unanimously to approve the first reading of the City ordinance.