WASHINGTON-Thomas Wheeler, president of the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, sent letters to President Clinton and General Services Administration Administrator Roger Johnson protesting delays in implementing an August 1995 presidential memorandum to facilitate access to federal property for antenna siting.
The memorandum directed the GSA to develop procedures to facilitate access within 90 days. A statutory obligation to provide procedures by Aug. 6 was codified in the new Telecommunications Act of 1996. Wheeler is concerned that the statutory deadline may be used as an excuse to delay implementing the original memorandum.
Wheeler told the president, “Over six months have passed, and the GSA has not issued any procedures in response to your directive*…*the GSA’s failure to act in a timely manner has created a disconcerting situation.”
Initial efforts by the GSA do not impose a firm obligation upon federal agencies to provide speedy response to antenna site requests or uniform treatment by local, regional and national offices within federal agencies, Wheeler said.
“The absence of procedures has provided Federal agencies with yet another dilatory tactic in responding to antenna site requests from wireless carriers,” he said.
