Small Cell | City of Loveland

Stay up-to-date about small cell information in Loveland, including meetings and events, federal and state resources, frequently asked questions (FAQs) and more.

Upcoming and Recent Events

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Applications

The City of Loveland requires all wireless providers to have a Master License Agreement with the City and apply for a site supplement license (“license”) to install a small cell facility in the Rights-of-Way.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to your frequently asked questions below.

Small Cells and Wireless Infrastructure

What are small cells?

Why is a small cell being installed in my neighborhood?

How many small cells will there be?

This depends on where providers plan to provide 5G coverage. Providers typically begin deployment in denser populated areas like downtowns, higher density population areas, and other commercial areas. In these areas, small cell is needed about every one to two blocks to meet desired coverage for wireless customers. The City is asking that companies utilize or replace existing utility and light poles in order to minimize their impact.

Where will small cells be located?

Small cells will primarily be located either on private property or within the public right-of-way on existing or new poles. This is because Colorado State Statues state that telecommunications providers have the right to locate small cell facilities on light poles, traffic signals, or utility poles in the public right-of-way. Small cell infrastructure requires three key components: a fiber connection, a power source, and an elevated mounting location such as tall building, streetlight, or pole.

What will small cells look like?

While there will be variations, the City has implemented policies and ordinances within the parameters of Federal and State law for standardizing aesthetics. The City has implemented design standards to make the style as consistent as possible and match the character of existing neighborhoods and infrastructure. The City’s top priorities are maximizing aesthetics and minimizing congestion of the public right-of-way. Providers are required to:

Standardize pole design elements, color, location, etc. to meet intent and character of existing infrastructure in the public right-of-way.
Limit pole heights to match existing streetlights and other poles in the public right-of-way.
Generally avoid placing poles adjacent to regional parks and historical places.
Enclose equipment to minimize visual impact.
Co-locate equipment onto existing infrastructure wherever feasible.

Installations on private property must meet all aesthetics and design requirements in accordance with the City of Chapter 14.40 of the Loveland Municipal Code.

The City of Loveland requires that all new wire, cable, and fiber infrastructure be installed underground.

Wireless Infrastructure Authority and Regulation

Effective April 14, 2019, the City of Loveland adopted The Wireless Communications Facilities Development Standards and new application process for small cell facilities in the public right-of-way. This new process is in accordance with Colorado House Bill 17‐1193, effective July 1, 2017.

What authority does the City have to regulate telecommunications equipment?

Federal and state laws limit the City’s legal authority over the placement of telecommunications equipment. Beyond the design standards, the City can regulate based on the aesthetic values of public places, compatibility with the City’s traffic and utility infrastructure, pedestrian and vehicle safety, quality of life for nearby residences, preservation of historic areas, and preservation of views from residences and other sensitive sites. The City can do its best to minimize potentially adverse impacts, but cannot prevent cellular companies from installing small cells in the public right-of way or on private property.

What is the City doing about concerns about the health effects of radiofrequency (RF) emissions from wireless technology?

Radio frequency emissions are a common concern and are regulated by the Federal Government, not the City. There is a federal statute found in the 1996 Telecommunications Act, which prevents states and localities from regulating wireless facilities on the basis of the health or environmental effects of RF emissions. The statute and the case law interpreting it gives sole authority for regulating in this area to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Local governments can do little more than require wireless companies to certify that they will comply with the federal regulations for RF emissions.

What steps has the City taken regarding small cell development?

The City has developed a Master License Agreement (MLA) for telecom companies installing small cells. The MLA establishes the process by which small cell permit applications will be approved by the City, sets the terms and conditions for the operation and maintenance of the small cell installations, and sets general aesthetic requirements for the small cells. The MLA is available on the City’s webpage at www.CityOfLoveland.org/SmallCell.

In addition, the City has published our small cell design standards which requires all small cell equipment to be housed within the small cell pole with very limited exceptions. Installations must meet all aesthetic and design requirements in accordance with Chapter 14.40 of the Loveland Municipal Code. These standards include requirements that poles are to resemble the adjacent poles within the right of way, meaning the height, diameter, finish, and style will be as close as technologically feasible to the surrounding poles.

Larimer County requires a setback of 250 ft when adjacent to residential properties. Could Loveland implement a similar setback requirement?

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 makes it unlawful for local governments to prohibit, or have the effect of prohibiting, the “provision of personal wireless service.” While rural communities with fewer residential structures and greater distances between homes may be able to adopt large setback standards, more urban communities with denser neighborhoods and smaller distances between homes cannot do so without running the risk of prohibiting small cell deployment in most of the community. Such an outcome is prohibited under current Federal law. Consequently, Loveland cannot necessarily adopt the same setback standards as neighboring jurisdictions because of the urban character and associated density of the City. However, the Loveland City Council had requested that staff review this particular setback provision and return to them with a recommendation.

Could the City of Loveland prohibit small cell on residential structures?

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 makes it unlawful for local governments to prohibit, or have the effect of prohibiting, the “provision of personal wireless service.” While rural communities may be able to adopt restrictions on residential structures, more urban communities with larger, denser neighborhoods may not be able to do so without running the risk of prohibiting small cell deployment in most of the community. Such an outcome is prohibited under current Federal law. Consequently, Loveland cannot necessarily adopt the same restrictions or standards as neighboring jurisdictions because of the urban character and associated density of the City. However, the Loveland City Council had requested that staff review this particular setback provision and return to them with a recommendation.

I don't want a small cell near my house. What can the City do about it?

Telecommunications companies are considered a public utility according to state law, and just like utilities in the City of Loveland, these companies have the right to install their equipment in the public right of way. The City has very limited legal authority to deny a small cell installation, and where we have the most authority is on the basis of aesthetics. Therefore, the City is working with the telecoms to ensure small cells are collocated on existing streetlights and traffic signals – meaning installation of new poles will be minimized as much as technologically feasible. In areas where this collocation is not possible, the City will work with the telecoms to ensure small cells resemble existing poles in the right of way as much as technologically feasible. The United States Congress has delegated the regulation of radio frequency emissions strictly to the FCC, and small cells must meet the RF emissions standards that the FCC has in place. The City cannot deny permit applications based on RF emissions.

5G

What is 5G?

What are the benefits of 5G?

The main benefits of 5G over previous generations of wireless networks are higher speed and lower latency – faster connectivity on the go! Higher speed means 5G connected devices will be able to download data from the internet much faster than 4G LTE connected devices. Lower latency means data can be transferred between 5G connected devices almost instantly, increasing capabilities of autonomous vehicles and telehealth services. Another benefit is that 5G has a greater capacity for connected devices, meaning more devices will be able to be connected to the network at the same time.

When is 5G coming to Loveland?

Radio-Frequency (RF) Emissions & Health Concerns

I have a question/concerns regarding radio-frequency (RF)?

Health Concerns

As stated on the FCC website, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to evaluate the effect of FCC-regulated transmitters on human health. The FCC relies on outside non-governmental research (e.g. the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP)) on human exposure to radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields.

On August 1, 1996, the FCC adopted the NCRP’s recommended limits for field strength and power density for transmitters operating at frequencies of 300 kHz to 100 GHz. In addition, specific absorption rate (SAR) limits for devices operating within close proximity were also adopted in FCC-96-326. However, the purpose of this order was to address the use of cellular telephones and exposure to large cellular towers. Long-term research on small cell RF exposure is currently underway by outside agencies and organizations.

Contact the FCC’s RF Safety Program at rfsafety@fcc.govor 1-888-225-5322 for more information.

Contact

City of Loveland - Small Cell Committee

Phone: 970-962-3511
Email: SmallCell@CityOfLoveland.org

Who can I contact regarding current and upcoming legislature regarding Small Cell facilities?
Contact your representatives about current and upcoming legislature regarding Small Cell facilities.

State & Federal Government Contacts
	Name	Contact Information
U.S. House	Representative Ken Buck Congressional District 4	Buck.House.Gov970-702-2136
U.S. Senate	Senator Michael Bennet	Bennet.Senate.Gov 303-455-7600
U.S. Senate	Senator John Hickenlooper	Hickenlooper.Senate.Gov 303-244-1628
Federal Communications Commission	Federal Communications Commission (FCC)	1-888-225-5322
	Jessica Rosenworcel Chairwoman	Jessica.Rosenworcel@fcc.gov
	Brendan Carr Commissioner	Brendan.Carr@fcc.gov
	Geoffrey Starks Commissioner	Geoffrey.Starks@fcc.gov
	Nathan Simington Commissioner	Nathan.Simington@fcc.gov
	Anna Gomez Commissioner	Anna.Gomez@fcc.gov