The Hill: 5G Small Cells and A Cell Tower On Every Block To Line Telecom Pockets

Public health is littered with examples where economic interests trumped scientific advice

BY DEVRA DAVIS

5G IS THE TECHNOLOGY THAT PROMISES TO TIE TOGETHER THE INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT). SO, IF YOU'RE ONE OF THE MILLIONS WHO CRAVE FASTER INTERNET DOWNLOADS, OR IF YOU REQUIRE CONSTANT CONTACT BETWEEN YOUR MOBILE AND FRIDGE, THEN 5G IS THE “SOLUTION” AT HAND.


AROUND THE NATION, STATE LEGISLATURES ARE RAPIDLY FIRING OFF BILLS TO STREAMLINE THE MASSIVE DEPLOYMENT OF 5G WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE, PREEMPTING LOCAL AUTHORITY IN FAVOR OF THE TELECOM INDUSTRY’S FINANCIAL INTERESTS. BUT IS THIS ECONOMIC AND REGULATORY BATTLE THE WHOLE STORY?


Last week, California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) took a bold step in vetoing S.B. 649, 5G streamlining legislation that would have granted the telecom industry a green light to place a mini cell tower approximately every hundred yards throughout the state.


Had the bill been signed into law, localities would have lost the right to say where these so-called “small cells” are installed, also capping fees they could charge the telecom companies for erecting these structures in public rights-of-way.


And yet, almost two dozen states are moving forward with similar streamlining bills. While Missouri’s Small Cell Deployment Act failed, over a dozen states are swiftly passing legislation despite fierce opposition. In response, 21 Texas cities including Dallas and Austin have sued their state, as have 70 communities in Ohio.


In Montgomery County, Md., a local bill was tabled after residents expressed opposition, only to be replaced by a transparency plagueddraft zoning amendment. The county is pitching this rezoning as “protecting the character” of neighborhoods, because it ensures transmitters are camouflaged, yet it virtually eliminates public notice and hearings for antennas on streetlights and utility poles.


In 2016, the Federal Communications Commission approved Spectrum Frontiers, making the U.S. the first country in the world to open up higher-frequency millimeter wave spectrum to roll out 5G. Now, two federal 5G streaming bills, The MOBILE NOW Act and The DIGIT Act, have passed the Senate and are on the way to the House.


Read the full article at http://thehill.com/opinion/technology/357591-public-health-is-littered-with-examples-where-economic-interests-trumped