Camrose County council has authorized a letter to the federal government raising concerns that proposed changes to cell tower consultations could leave residents and municipalities with less opportunity to respond.

Council took the step at its Sept. 8 meeting, according to highlights the county published Sept. 15. The county said its letter will stress the need for meaningful local input when a new communications tower is proposed.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada is reviewing the rules tower developers must follow before building or modifying certain antenna systems. The department says a simpler process could help expand wireless coverage, including in rural areas.

Under the proposal, developers would post tower information on a federal online portal and put a sign near the proposed site. Those measures would replace paper notification packages and notices in local newspapers. People unable to use the portal could request a paper copy by telephone.

Residents would have 30 days after notification to raise questions or concerns with the developer. Information on the portal would be available to everyone, but the developer would be required to address concerns only from people living within a distance of three times the proposed tower’s height.

The proposal would also give a municipality 45 calendar days to register its agreement or disagreement after the developer says it has addressed relevant concerns. If the municipality did not respond within that period, the federal department would consider the tower approved. A municipality seeking to maintain an objection would have to bring the dispute to the department within the allotted time.

Those provisions have not taken effect. The federal government retains final authority over tower sites, while municipalities currently have a role in bringing local land-use concerns into the review.

Rural Municipalities of Alberta has said better wireless coverage is important, but warned in May that the proposed process could affect municipal planning, local decision-making and rural landowners.

The initial federal deadline for comments was July 16. The department has since extended its deadline for replies to comments already submitted to Oct. 6.