City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing, Second Reading, and Final Passage of an Ordinance Soliciting Franchise Proposals for a Telecommunications Facility Franchise Agreement for the design, construction, installation, upgrade, repair, removal and operation of Specified Small Cell Facilities and Related Infrastructure in the public rights-of-ways in the City of Alexandria, Virginia.
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ISSUE: Consideration of an Ordinance Soliciting Franchise Proposals for a Telecommunications Facility Franchise Agreement for the design, construction, installation, upgrade, repair, removal and operation of Specified Small Cell Facilities and Related Infrastructure in the public rights-of-ways in the City of Alexandria, Virginia.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council consider the proposed ordinance on first reading and schedule it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on Saturday, October 17, 2020.
BACKGROUND: Since the introduction of 2G digital wireless technology in the 1990's, there have been two successive generations of wireless technology (3G and 4G) where each new generation was faster and had more capabilities than prior generations. Up to this point with 4G and earlier technologies, the transmission of digital signals, because of longer radio wavelength, could occur using cell towers and roof-top equipment which were spaced fairly far apart. With the latest 5G technology, with its shorter radio wavelength, transmission sites need to be much closer together and closer to the ground. 5G is becoming the new world standard given its promise of much faster speeds (some claim up to 600 times faster than 4G), and ability to handle more simultaneous users and devices. In addition, 5G will improve the wireless servic...
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