My experience in the South West Bedfordshire constituency has been that landowners are still coming forward with sites for masts. This also includes very small landowners in some cases.
It is also important to note that the Electronic Communications Code (ECC) was recently reformed as part of the Digital Economy Act 2017. These reforms were intended to reduce the costs of providing communications infrastructure and make it easier for operators to deploy such infrastructure. The new code came into force on 28 December 2017.
The Regulatory Impact Assessment published by the Government estimated that the ECC reforms could lead to a reduction in average market rents (as compared to rents agreed before reforms to the ECC). Some constituents have been in touch with me about the impact of these changes and I have made Ministers aware of their views as further reforms are considered.
Based on discussions with stakeholders, the Government identified three main challenges associated with the 2017 reforms. These are issues relating to obtaining and using Code agreements, rights to upgrade and share, and difficulties specifically relating to the renewal of expired agreements. I'm told that if the Government decides that changes to the code are needed, these will be focused on supporting the UK's digital networks and ensuring the aims of the 2017 reforms are realised. You might be interested to learn more about the consultation, which did not set out detailed proposals for legislative reform but instead set out a range of policy options, at this address:
Finally, I recognise the concerns raised with possible exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), and the potential impact of that exposure to your health. As you might be aware, Ofcom, the UK’s independent communications regulator, regulates the use of radio frequencies by mobile networks. Furthermore, official public health advice states that EMF levels should comply with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection’s (ICNIRP) Guidelines. The ICNIRP is formally recognised by the World Health Organisation. When measuring EMF levels from mobile base stations, Ofcom has found that they have consistently shown that EMF levels are well within the internationally agreed levels published in the INCIRP Guidelines.
Should you still have concerns, Ofcom has a page on its website explaining how to request a site survey. This can be found by searching:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/information/mobile-operational-enquiries/audit-info