Citation

Britton D. APWA Reporter 2005; 72(9): 66-68.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Public Works Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

When installing wireless networking facilities in the public right-of-way, it is important to keep both public and private factors in mind. This article uses the specific case of an extensive system built in Santa Monica, California, which combines both underground and overhead utilities. The city’s ordinance, which was drafted jointly by wireless providers, the public, and the city council, specifies that among other things, the installation of these sites must not interfere drastically with the public right-of-way and must maintain the aesthetic qualities of where it has been installed. Some of the guiding principles that went into the drafting of this ordinance included addressing the long-term right-of-way of the city, ensuring that the utility infrastructure was competitively neutral and non-discriminatory, assuring that all infrastructure would comply with federal, state, county, and city laws in allowing access to right-of-way, and addressing concerns that public works contractors digging in the right-of-way did not encounter potentially hazardous obstacles. The article concludes that because of this project, the City of Santa Monica is on the cutting edge of integrating wireless, WiFi, and WiMax technologies in the public right-of-way.