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A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld the 2018 decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to cap fees for wireless carriers to deploy "small cells" essential to the adoption of next-generation 5G networks.
FILE PHOTO: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) logo is seen before the FCC Net Neutrality hearing in Washington February 26, 2015. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas
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WASHINGTON: A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld a 2018 decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to cap fees for wireless carriers to deploy "small cells" essential to the adoption of next-generation 5G networks.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco largely upheld the three orders the FCC adopted in 2018 to speed 5G deployments, despite objections from dozens of U.S. cities.
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The decision is a win for wireless carriers like AT&T Inc , Verizon Communications Inc and T-Mobile US Inc . AT&T said in 2018 that excessive fees sought by Portland, Oregon, were preventing it from deploying 5G small cells in the city.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai called the ruling a "major victory" for the commission "and for American consumers."
FCC commissioners have said the United States over a decade will need to install as many 800,000 small cells for 5G networks. The FCC has said some 5G services will provide data speeds 100 times faster than current service and almost instantaneous response time. 5G networks could eventually lead to capabilities such as remote surgical procedures.
