Arkansas-Oklahoma Wireless Association

Non-Sanctioned Social Tuesday, September 23rd Starting at 7:00 p.m.

Texas Hold-Em Tournament

from 8:00-10:00 p.m.

A Silent Auction will also be held during this time.

3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be Wednesday, September 24th at Cherokee Hills Golf Club

Additional Fun for the Tournament...

There will be a Blind Calcutta Team Draw. Details to be announced at the social event.

Net proceeds of these events will Benefit the

Folds of Honor Foundation

SWAP News

BROOKFIELD, WI --- The Wisconsin Wireless Association (WiWA) has announced the formation of the latest state wireless industry association and held its inaugural meeting on July 9, 2008, at the Delafield Brewhaus in Delafield, Wisconsin. Keynote speakers included Mr. Michael Fitch, President and Chief Executive Officer of PCIA - The Wireless Infrastructure Association, and Ms. Nancy Chrisman, Director of the State Wireless Association Program (SWAP) and Membership for PCIA.

The Wisconsin Wireless Association is a non profit professional association dedicated to being the voice of the wireless industry in the Badger State. Its members represent the creative talent and energy of wireless carriers, tower companies, network developers, and their supporting vendors. Its mission is to promote positive awareness about the wireless industry through education; to form and cultivate strong relationships between the members of the wireless industry; and to enhance the communities it serves. 

Founding Board Members and Officers of WiWA include President Sarah Berry, Diamond Communications; Vice President Todd Anderson, Intelegra; Secretary Sharon Templeton, Terracon Consultants, Inc; Treasurer Ken Baumgardt, Edge Consulting Engineers; At-Large Member Jeff Roznowski; and Counsel Mike Long, Murn and Martin.

President Sarah Berry commented, “We are very excited to launch the Wisconsin Wireless Association and to promote the advancement of the wireless industry in Wisconsin.  We look forward to providing a collaborative platform for issues at the state and local level and invite our colleagues to join us in our initiatives”.

PCIA -The Wireless Infrastructure Association has taken a lead role in the establishment of state wireless associations through its State Wireless Association Program (SWAP) initiative. The Tennessee Wireless Association kicked off the initiative with its launch in 2001.  The Wisconsin Wireless Association is the 22^nd association to launch.

 For additional information or to become a member, go to the WiWA website at www.wisconsinwireless.org.

ADVOCACY

As advocates for the wireless industry, SWAP and PCIA have had a significant impact across the country

Alabama:                  Wireless pro-siting legislation

The Alabama Wireless Association, PCIA, and a broad coalition of carriers, is actively seeking to have pro-siting legislation enacted in Alabama.  Various municipal groups oppose the effort on grounds that such legislation unfairly removes local authority from municipalities to regulate wireless facilities within their jurisdiction, so the industry coalition is revising the bill to make clear that municipalities retain such rights and distills the legislation to its essential elements of collocation by right, limitations on fees, and limited RF review. The revised legislation will be submitted to the AL Legislature in late March, after it returns from spring recess, and will include a commitment to participate in an off-session Study Committee to review contentious points after the session concludes in summer 2008.  Andy Rotenstreich, President of the AWA, has coordinated and spearheaded this effort.

California:                Pasadena, Tower Zoning Ordinance and Opposition

The city of Pasadena is considering a revision to their ordinance.  CALWA and PCIA are working together to keep abreast of this initiative and the proposed revisions.

Florida:                     New Pt. Richey, Tower Zoning Ordinance Amendment

Amendment would add government sites and commercial sites to the possible places to site towers.  Currently towers can only be sited in areas zoned “Light Industrial”.  PCIA, in conjunction with the Florida Wireless Association, offered letter of support to the New Pt. Richey Council for their proposed adoptions. 

Florida:                     Manatee Co., Consideration of Tower Zoning Ordinance regarding real property.             

Manatee County introducing agenda item to: “Authorize publication of Notice of Public Hearing on proposed Ordinance 08-31providing standards and procedures for the disposition of real property for communications towers and communications equipment.”  PCIA is in contact with the County and has forwarded our model ordinance at their request.  PCIA will be involved in all future activities with the ordinance.

Indiana:  Michigan City, New Tower Zoning Ordinance

Michigan City is switching to a SmartCode zoning plan and will be introducing a new tower siting ordinance.  PCIA has offered our model ordinance for the City to consider adopting.

Maryland:                 Anti Siting Legislation

Since early February, the MD/DC Wireless Association, PCIA, and a coalition of carriers has been battling legislation in Maryland that would prohibit the siting of wireless facilities at Baltimore County schools.  David Yacoub, President of MDDCWA, and Mike Saperstein with PCIA have both testified extensively before the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee and the Baltimore County Senate Delegation, explaining that the bill improperly usurps local zoning power.  The testimonies also highlighted the public safety issues involved with providing inadequate residential wireless service (notably E-911)—a potential problem if school sites cannot be used in any circumstance.  At press time the bill is still in the Maryland Senate’s Baltimore County delegation and its future is uncertain.  For the latest information on the bill visit:

http://mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/billfile/sb0379.htm

New York:                Westport, Consideration of Tower Zoning Ordinance where none exists.

The Town of Westport is set to begin consideration of wireless ordinance proposals.  The New York State Wireless Association and PCIA are offering PCIA’s model ordinance to assist the town in developing their ordinance. 

South Carolina:      Wireless pro-siting legislation

Capitalizing on the recent legislative success in North Carolina, the Carolinas Wireless Association and PCIA are working with a broad coalition of carriers to advocate for similar legislation in South Carolina, which would provides for streamlined processing of local land use applications for wireless facilities.  HB 3302 also requires reasonable fees and review timelines, and limits the ability of municipal consultants to delay the process or charge unreasonable fees.  PCIA is scheduled to testify before the SC House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee on March 25,2008 to explain why the legislation is good public policy, providing a level playing field across SC jurisdictions and encouraging robust wireless deployment.  A copy of the bill is available at: http://www.scstatehouse.net/sess117_2007-2008/bills/3302.htm

South Carolina:      Aiken County rejects municipal consultant

After extensive outreach by the Carolinas Wireless Association and PCIA, Aiken County decided against engaging the services of the a municipal consultant known for encouraging municipalities to adopt wireless facilities ordinances that impose burdensome requirements and exorbitant fees on the applicant.

Tennessee:              Anti Siting Legislation

In early February, Hunter Stuart and Nathan Ridley of the Tennessee Wirleess Association, along with PCIA’s Jackie McCarthy, actively advocated against two bills that would threaten wireless site development.  House Bill 2474 and Senate Bill 3370 required vague and burdensome design and review requirements at the local zoning level, and violated existing Tennessee state legislation providing for streamlined regulation of many wireless site types.  TWA and PCIA explained to the respective sponsors why both bills are inappropriate for the review of wireless facilities applications.  As a result, both bills were deferred indefinitely. A copy of the House bill can be found at: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/HB2474.pdf

A copy of the Senate bill can be found at: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/bills/currentga/BILL/SB3370.pdf

Washington:            State of the Wireless Infrastructure Industry Report

At the request of carriers’ government affairs representatives, PCIA’s Jackie McCarthy testified before the WA House Technology, Energy and Communications Committee on the current state of wireless infrastructure technology, and on the trends of the industry.  Jackie emphasized that a full complement of site types (towers, collocations, and alternative technologies like DAS) is needed to deploy wireless infrastructure in WA, and throughout the nation and confirmed that existing WA law requiring fair access to poles in public rights of way are effective.  Jackie’s presentation also included a discussion of why additional facilities are needed to impvoe wirelss capacity and to meet the upcoming demands of new spectrum allocations.  To view the committee hearing in its entirety, visit the following web address.  Jackie’s testimony begins at the 28:41 mark.

http://www.tvw.org/media/mediaplayer.cfm?evid=2008021233&TYPE=V&CFID=3401421&CFTOKEN=771709c689c510e-768D5184-3048-349E-4E9E37CDE022150E&bhcp=1

UPCOMING EVENTS

 To learn more about SWAP, please visit www.swaprogram.net or contact Nancy Chrisman at chrisman@pcia.com