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STATEMENT BY COUNCILMEMBER HANS RIEMER ON WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE. Our thoughts in blue
Over the past two years I have worked closely with County Executive Ike Leggett ( have you also worked with the wireless industry lobbyists as well?) and several of my colleagues at the Council to support the future of wireless infrastructure in Montgomery County. Basically this is about whether your devices will be able to do what they are designed to do in the future ( no, it's about selling crap to us because we are addicted to phones, self driving cars, invading our privacy so they can gather our data to sell us more crap). The industry ( poor industry- having such a hard time with billions in profits :( so sad :( ) is running out of capacity on wireless networks in the County due to growing demand (i.e., us on our phones, and everyone having multiple devices) and they need to place antennas at the street level (in front of our homes and where our children play). The industry is also working on a new technology, 5g, that will be way faster that 4g (think 40g) (yes it is faster because the millimeter wave frequencies are so high, they are used as crown control weapon by our military. See it here), but also it requires antennas at the street level (in our front yards devaluing our homes), rather that up on tall towers.
We successfully established rules for these antennas in our commercial areas this year, which was a great step forward (increasing radiation to people in the city or in apartments who are unaware). We need to address them for residential areas as well. We had a bill before the Council, prepared by the County Executive, and championed by Councilmember Craig Rice and me (and well loved by industry lobbyists), to accomplish that goal (of giving love to crown castle and version and the companies.)
Unfortunately amendments were introduced that essentially sought to obstruct deployment of wireless infrastructure in the future (you mean the amendments that said people should be treated equally throughout the county?) . This was a real concern because many people want to have good wireless coverage in their neighborhoods, whether to use devices for entertainment and communication, or to call 911, or to work from home, you name it. (I call BS. The amendment was just asking that ALL residents get the same rights, public notice and a hearing.)
Not to mention that the industry is watching us (that's right they are and they are watching you to) and wants to take away our local control (you mean the "control" you were trying to implement that gave them the reins?)over how this infrastructure can be placed, with legislation at the state and federal level. Regulating deployment is one thing, but trying to obstruct it is something else. (Asking for a hearing is not "obstructing" OMG)
Rather than approve a bad bill (you mean a bill that had Hucker's Amendment that made it friendly to citizens? )that would set us back and invite State and Federal pre-emption, I pulled the legislation (Indeed thats cause industry told you so? ) I look forward to taking some additional time to work on it with the new County Council and I hope we’ll get it right next time around.
Wireless and fiber communications infrastructure is important to the future of the county, just like water, power, or transportation infrastructure. We need it all to grow and thrive (or get sick from the radiation and see home values drop due to an ugly tower in our front yards? ) Local government must rise to the challenge. (Yes it must and you should be accountable to citizens-- but not the industry.)
Stop with the rhetoric like you are caring for citizens when it seems you care more about industry needs.
Maybe what you should be doing is finding out WHY the Council was told FALSE information?
See it here .
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