Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Denver news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Des Moines news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Minneapolis-St. Paul news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Tampa Bay news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Charlotte news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Photo: Miquel Benitez / Getty Images
The Federal Communications Commission took steps to revamp processes for installing the hundreds of thousands of wireless antennas needed for 5G technology.
Why it matters: Several countries are racing to roll out the next generation of wireless technologies that will help power the "internet of things," smart cities and autonomous vehicles. Regulators are trying to speed up that process for U.S. companies angling to take the lead.
The details: The FCC voted to exempt the antennas, or small cell sites, from certain federal review processes to speed up deployment.
- Current rules were drafted for the large cell towers used by current wireless networks, not smaller infrastructure components that are needed for 5G.
- The wireless industry says streamlining that process will decrease the cost of building out the small cells by almost a third.
- More than 800,000 small cells will be deployed by 2026, according to an industry-commissioned report by Accenture.