The City of Fishers must work through the issues involved in rolling out the next generation of wireless technology – the 5G network.  Most cell phones now use 4G technology.

The Indianapolis metropolitan area has been chosen by the industry as a place where 5G will be installed first.  The question before the City of Fishers is this – does the city encourage wireless companies to move into neighborhoods, and how should concerns from individual subdivisions be considered as the new technology is installed around the city?

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness presided over a work session Monday afternoon with the Board of Public Works and Safety, all about 5G.  The board consists of the mayor and his two appointees, Jeff Lantz and Jason Meyer.

City Attorney Chris Greisl gave the board a rundown on the machinations leading up to the legal landscape of today.  Bottom line, as the law stands now, requests to install 5G towers in Fishers neighborhoods will be decided by the Board of Works.

Mayor Scott Fadness says the board could soon see 15-20 individual proposals from commercial providers at every meeting in the near future.  The question board members must decide is how to balance encouraging Fishers as a place where the new technology is welcomed and the aesthetic concerns neighborhoods may have with the look and placement of 5G towers.

For example, if a resident has a nice picture window that is blocked by the placement of a new 5G tower in the neighborhood, would that resident be able to ask the city to move the tower a few feet to preserve the view?

One major difference between 4G and 5G wireless technology is the need for more towers with 5G.  A 5G tower has a range of only 500-1,000 feet, meaning more towers are required.  4G towers cover a much wider geographical area.

Fadness expects Verizon to have the most interest in installing 5G wireless networks in Fishers residential areas.  AT&T has already built a fiber optic network in most Fishers neighborhoods, but Verizon has not.  A residential 5G network would allow Verizon to offer residential high-speed Internet and television service through a 5G network.

The mayor said he has received comments from Fishers residents about the possible health risks attached to 5G wireless technology, but referred at a May 12th New York Times story that points out a Russian disinformation campaign on 5G health risks.  The mayor also talked about that subject in a recent podcast interview with me.

The wireless firms expect this new 5G network to be the technology of the future that should last for decades, so it is not expected to by usurped by new technological advances in the foreseeable future, Fadness told fellow board members.

The board reached no decision at the Monday discussion.  The mayor plans to invite technical experts to talk with board members at a future board work session, possibly in August.