Marin County announced on Wednesday that it will join a coalition of public entities suing the Federal Communications Commission in an effort to appeal its new rules governing the deployment of 5G cell service. During a closed-session meeting on Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors decided to join the suit in response to a Sept. 26 order that accelerates the buildout and installation of 5G and limits local control over deployment. In a press release, the county said it is “taking the legal step to protest the federal government’s seizing of local control on the deployment of 5G and how implementation costs can be recovered.” County counsel said it expects oral arguments and a final ruling next year. So far, Fairfax is the only municipality in Marin that has filed a similar action.  San Jose and Piedmont, along with over 20 cities and counties across the country, have also filed actions against the order, which the county press release said “handcuffs traditional areas of local regulation with new time limits and constraints.” Under the rule, the commission both restricted the amount local authorities can charge companies for installing 5G equipment—processing fees are capped at $500 and annual rights-of-way fees at $270—and established windows for approving applications. Projects that attach nodes to existing structures must be reviewed within 60 days and new builds have a 90-day window. Supervisor Dennis Rodoni has noted that tightening the window of review time is especially difficult in Marin County, given the amount of environmental restrictions in the region. The September order is only the latest in a string of existing F.C.C. regulations that weaken local control. Others prevent local governments from discriminating against different kinds of technology or from blocking telecom companies because of health concerns. Marin residents have voiced concerns in particular about the health risks resulting from exposure to electromagnetic fields, but the F.F.C. prohibits the restriction of technological deployment made purely for health reasons as long as a wireless carrier meets current federal EMF standards. Due to public pushback, San Anselmo, Ross, Mill Valley and Petaluma have adopted ordinances aimed at regulating small-cell towers. In Mill Valley, an ordinance approved in September restricts wireless telecommunications facilities in residential zones and requires annual readings by an advocacy group. Still, it is unclear how these ordinances will interact with the federal ruling.