Bill > H0751

This bill repeals the existing process for obtaining a "certificate of public good" for communications facilities and instead requires telecommunications facilities, including "small cell antennas" (which are compact, low-powered radio nodes that supplement large cellular networks, often mounted on existing infrastructure for 5G and other wireless services), to obtain a permit from District Commissions. The bill amends definitions to include telecommunication facilities and small cell antennas as "development" requiring a permit, and it establishes specific conditions for permits issued for these facilities, such as minimum distances from residences and other sensitive locations, strict limits on radiation signal strength (measured in decibel-milliwatts or dBm and effective radiated power or ERP), mandatory labeling of antennas in public rights-of-way, annual monitoring of RF emissions by an independent engineer at the permittee's expense, and adherence to RF-radiation safety limits protective of wildlife. Additionally, the bill tasks the Department of Public Service with providing technical assistance to the Land Use Review Board for investigating radiation signal strength and requires the Commissioner to adopt rules establishing radio frequency limits to protect wildlife health, with the entire act taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.751