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             California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 5301            San Francisco, CA 94102
        CONTACT: Dianne Dienstein    November 14, 1996  CPUC - 86
                 415-703-2423

     CPUC ROUNDTABLE ON CELL SITING/ LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUES

    The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has
scheduled a Roundtable to discuss cellular facilities siting
issues with representatives from local government, the wireless
industry, and the public. The Roundtable will be held on Monday,
December 2, 1996 from 1:30 - 5 p.m. in the Auditorium of the
State Building, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco.
    Commissioners convene Roundtables to obtain information and
explore concerns about important current regulatory issues.  Cell
siting is one that has proved troublesome to local communities,
individuals, businesses, wireless carriers and community and
other organizations.
    Among the topics to be discussed at the Roundtable are:
O  local government site permitting processes.
O  wireless carriers' problems with local government site
   permitting processes, procedures to identify such problems,
   and possible statewide remedial measures.
O  Commission involvement at the local government level.
O  General Order 159A, which contains Commission regulations
   relating to cellular facilities siting.
O  General Order 159A compliance problems and possible solutions.
    A half hour at the end of the session will be reserved for
the general public also to speak to these issues.
    Demand for wireless and cellular service is skyrocketing and
will continue to do so as new technologies and lower prices draw
more consumers into the market.  As companies try to meet demand,
they seek to site facilities in urban and suburban areas.  While
                            - more -
businesses and individuals may appreciate the service,
communities are finding citizen concern about placement of
facilities.
    CPUC cell siting regulations are in General Order 159A.  The
Commission generally defers to local governments: regulation of
cell site location and design of cell sites and switching offices
including issuance of land use approvals and notices, and lead
agency status to satisfy California Environmental Quality Act
requirements and notices.  However, the Commission can preempt
local government if there is a clear conflict between a local
government's action and Commission policy or statewide interests.
    Personal Communications Services (PCS) companies increasingly
come to the Commission complaining about local government
roadblocks and lengthy permitting processes.  Some communities
also are seeking to establish moratoriums on site permitting.
    The Governor, Legislature and the Commission see considerable
need for and benefit to the public, business and the state's
economy from upgrading California's telecommunications
infrastructure and encouraging deployment of wireless and other
new telecommunications technologies throughout the state.
    The Roundtable will help the Commission identify cell siting
issues and explore potential solutions with the industry, local
government, and the public.


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