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S 3103 107th Congress Senate

Local Control of Cellular Towers Act

Official title: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify and reaffirm State and local authority to regulate the placement, construction, and modification of p… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to clarify and reaffirm State and local authority to regulate the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless services facilities, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 10, 2002 See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Administrative procedureAirspace (Law)AntennasAviation safety
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Civil actions and liabilityCongressCongressional reporting requirementsEconomics and Public FinanceElectromagnetic wavesEnvironmental ProtectionEnvironmental assessmentEnvironmental healthEnvironmental researchEvidence (Law)Federal Communications CommissionFederal aid to medical researchFederal preemptionGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkHealthIndependent regulatory commissionsLand useLawLicensesLocal lawsMicrowavesPublic Lands and Natural ResourcesRadiationRadiation safetyState lawsTransportation and Public WorksUrban affairsWireless communicationZoning and zoning law
This bill died when the 107th Congress ended
It never became law before the 107th Congress (2001–2002) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 10, 2002
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10382)
Oct 10, 2002
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10380)
Oct 10, 2002
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action October 10, 2002

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10382)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Local Control of Cellular Towers Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to repeal the prohibition against a State or local government regulating the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions to the extent that such facilities comply with emission regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Requires, in any action in which a person is seeking to place, construct, or modify such a facility, that person to bear the burden of proof, regardless of who commences the action.

Prohibits the FCC from adopting a final rule or otherwise implementing any portion of a proposed FCC rule regarding relief from State and local regulation of such facilities.

Allows a State or local government to deny an application to place, construct, or modify such facilities on the basis that alternative technologies, systems, or structures are capable of delivering such services in a manner less intrusive to the local community. Requires the burden of proving the appropriateness of proposed facilities to be the applicant's.

Allows a State or local government to regulate the location, height, or modification of such facilities in order to address the effects of radio frequency interference on local communities and the public.

Prohibits the Act from being interpreted to prohibit a State or local government from requiring environmental or other studies, reports, or documentation concerning the placement, construction, or modification of such facilities.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 3103: Local Control of Cellular Towers Act. 107th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/107-S-3103/
MLA
"S. 3103: Local Control of Cellular Towers Act." 107th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/107-S-3103/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 3103, 107th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/107-S-3103/.
Markdown link
[S. 3103: Local Control of Cellular Towers Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/107-S-3103/)
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