(Cuyahoga County) - Dozens of Ohio municipalities are challenging a law that allows four telecommunications companies to place wireless antennas on municipal buildings within city limits.
Lawsuits filed in Cleveland, Columbus and elsewhere Monday say the new law prohibits cities from effectively managing where wireless facilities are placed in local communities.
Pepper Pike Mayor Richard Bain says this violates home rule rights guaranteed to municipalities in the Ohio constitution.
He also argues that the law was improperly tucked into an unrelated bill that dealt with pet store regulation in Ohio, and seems to be designed to allow telecommunications companies erect small rely antennas, to save money not having to lease the large antennas you currently see.
Other cities challenging the law include Cleveland, Independence, Columbus, several central Ohio suburbs, and numerous northeastern Ohio municipalities.
The Ohio Attorney General's Office is reviewing the claim.
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