Cities in California and Illinois Challenge FCC’s Preemptive Reforms

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2025 - California and Illinois local governments urged the Federal Communications Commission to withdraw a proposed rule that would preempt state and municipal safety requirements for wireless networks, warning the change would favor rapid deployment at the expense of public protection in wildfire-prone regions.

The Rural County Representatives of California, California State Association of Counties, and League of California Cities filed joint comments saying the FCC lacked grounds to override state authority preserved under Section 253(b) of the Communications Act, a provision that allows states to still adopt rules if they are necessary to protect public safety and ensure service quality.

The groups said the agency’s plan would limit California’s ability to enforce safeguards in communities that have endured repeated catastrophic wildfires.