City Council approves Verizon 5G contract

The Sioux Falls City Council unanimously approved a contract between the City of Sioux Falls and CommNet Cellular, Inc.,Tuesday night, doing business as Verizon Wireless, related to locating small cell technology throughout the City.

With the passage of this contract, Verizon will be permitted to install small cell technology on City-owned light and utility poles in the public right-of-way and in City parks. The contract sets in place application review fees, application approval and denial timelines, and dictates annual colocation fees and utility payments. Existing city ordinance dictates the proximity of small cell towers to property and other towers. Contracts with other carriers will follow a similar framework.

Thanks to the Council’s approval of the contract, Sioux Falls is well-prepared to facilitate the next wave of internet and mobile connectivity with the fifth generation of mobile technology, known as 5G. The next generation of internet will be a quality-of-life enhancement for residents and visitors, and an economic development advancement for the area.

“Preparing Sioux Falls to rollout 5G technology has been a priority for my administration since taking office,” says Mayor Paul TenHaken. “As a City that embraces innovation and technology, 5G is key driver in the future of Sioux Falls. It will help drive the growth of local businesses, create new industries, help the City rollout smart city initiatives, and position Sioux Falls as a technological leader in the Midwest.

Preparing South Dakota for 5G has also been a priority of U.S. Senator John Thune through his leadership on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

“I’ve been fighting for years to help lay the groundwork that would help bring the world’s fastest internet to South Dakota, so I’m excited to see this digital revolution start to take shape right here in Sioux Falls,” says Senator Thune. “Winning and maintaining global leadership in the race to 5G is a race the United States can and should win, which would mean more jobs, more investment, and more opportunities in communities around the country. I want to thank Mayor TenHaken for recognizing the importance of having rules and policies that encourage 5G deployment, and I look forward to expanding 5G’s reach to every corner of the state.”

Verizon is expected to begin installing a small number of small cells in Sioux Falls early in 2019 to add capacity to its existing 4G network while it prepares to launch 5G networks across the United States.