CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
RESOLUTION NO. 6727-2026
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL OPPOSING FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION PROPOSED RULEMAKING 25-276
WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making 25-276 "Build America: Eliminating Barriers to Wireless Deployments”; and WHEREAS, the FCC states, “With this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), we advance the Commission's Build America Agenda by proposing reforms that would free towers and other wireless infrastructure from regulatory burdens imposed at the state and local level. This NPRM answers President Trump's call across the federal government to expedite, eliminate, and simplify permitting burdens that inhibit economic development, job creation, and energy production.”; and
WHEREAS, on November 24, 2025 Joint Comments were filed by the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) and the League of California Cities (Cal Cities), hereafter called Cal Cities et al; and WHEREAS, Cal Cities et al expressed concerns about FCC 25-276 and stated, “For years, our cities and counties have worked to welcome wireless infrastructure while protecting the people who live closest to it.”; and
WHEREAS, Cal Cities et al wrote, “Congress spoke very clearly when drafting Sections 253 and 332 of the Communications Act. Under 47 U.S.C. § 253 (b) and (c), state and local governments retain the authority (and responsibility) to protect public safety, preserve service quality, safeguard consumer rights, and manage the public rights-of-way on fair and competitively neutral terms.”; and
WHEREAS, the City of Sebastopol, like all local governments across the United States, would have its ability to regulate the siting of cell towers and wireless infrastructure severely constrained, if not eliminated, by the NPRM; and
WHEREAS, Cal Cities et al stated: "Local elected leaders must evaluate proposals not simply as abstract deployments, but as physical structures placed near homes, schools, fire access roads, evacuation corridors, and critical community assets.”; and WHEREAS, Cal Cities et al asked the FCC to withdraw FCC 25-276 stating "Congress preserved state and local authority for a reason, and communities cannot afford polices that place haste over safety, or uniformity over local judgement.”
Docusign Envelope ID: B9DBEEFF-5F1F-41C6-95AD-A5327819F0AE NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Sebastopol opposes FCC Proposed Rulemaking 25-276, and agrees with Cal Cities et al that the FCC should withdraw the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
IN COUNCIL DULY PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of January 2026.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, Zollman, Vice Mayor Maurer and Mayor McLewis Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
APPROVED: _______________________________________
Mayor Jill McLewis
ATTEST: _______________________________________________________________ Mary Gourley, Interim City Manager/City Clerk, MMC
APPROVED AS TO FORM: __________________________________________________ Alex Mog, City Attorney
Docusign Envelope ID: B9DBEEFF-5F1F-41C6-95AD-A5327819F0AE