Trees Will Be Cut For the ZTA 5G Small Cells in Montgomery County

Q: Will trees be cut if Montgomery County approves this egregious ZTA 18-11?
A: Yes we expect trees to be cut down and the digging in the ground will of course harm tree roots. Remember Pepco's tree trimming? Be ready. It is already happening in Cities around the world.

Read it here "Property owner can be forced to cut trees if they interfere with a neighbour's Wi-Fi, judge says"

We  also have scientific reports in peer reviewed journals showing this radiation harms trees. 

Breunig, Helmut. “Tree Damage Caused By Mobile Phone Base Stations An Observation Guide.” (2017). 

You can also download the Observation Guide at: Competence Initiative for the Protection of Humanity, the Environment and Democracy

Halgamuge, M.N. “Weak radiofrequency radiation exposure from mobile phone radiation on plants.”Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine 36.2 (2017): 213-235.

• “Our analysis demonstrates that the data from a substantial amount of the studies on RF-EMFs from mobile phones show physiological and/or morphological effects (89.9%, p < 0.001). Additionally, our analysis of the results from these reported studies demonstrates that the maize, roselle, pea, fenugreek, duckweeds, tomato, onions and mungbean plants seem to be very sensitive to RF-EMFs. Our findings also suggest that plants seem to be more responsive to certain frequencies…”

Shikha Chandel, et al. “Exposure to 2100 MHz electromagnetic field radiations induces reactive oxygen species generation in Allium cepa roots.” Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure 5.4 (2017): 225-229. 

• “The present study investigated the role of cell phone EMF-r in inciting oxidative damage in onion (Allium cepa) roots at a frequency of 2100 MHz. Onion roots were exposed to continuous wave homogenous EMF-r for 1, 2 and 4 h for single day. The results showed that EMF-r exposure enhanced the content of MDA, H2O2 and O2−. Also, there was an upregulation in the activity of antioxidant enzymes− SOD and CAT− in onion roots. The study concluded that 2100 MHz cell phone EMF-r incite oxidative damage in onion roots by altering the oxidative metabolism.”

Gustavino, B., et al. “Exposure to 915 MHz radiation induces micronuclei in Vicia faba root tips.”Mutagenesis 31.2 (2016): 187-92.

• The increasing use of mobile phones and wireless networks raised a great debate about the real carcinogenic potential of radiofrequency-electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure associated with these devices. Conflicting results are reported by the great majority of in vivo and in vitro studies on the capability of RF-EMF exposure to induce DNA damage and mutations in mammalian systems. Aimed at understanding whether less ambiguous responses to RF-EMF exposure might be evidenced in plant systems with respect to mammalian ones, in the present work the mutagenic effect of RF-EMF has been studied through the micronucleus (MN) test in secondary roots of Vicia faba seedlings exposed to mobile phone transmission in controlled conditions, inside a transverse electro magnetic (TEM) cell.
• Results of three independent experiments show the induction of a significant increase of MN frequency after exposure, ranging from a 2.3-fold increase above the sham value, at the lowest SAR level, up to a 7-fold increase at the highest SAR. These findings are in agreement with the limited number of data on cytogenetic effects detected in other plant systems exposed to mobile phone RF-EMF frequencies and clearly show the capability of radiofrequency exposure to induce DNA damage in this eukaryotic cell system.
• It is worth noticing that this range of SAR values is well below the international limits for localised exposure (head, trunk), according to the ICNIRP guidelines (35) and IEEE std C95.1 (38), which are 10 (8.0) W/kg for occupational exposure and 2.0 (1.6) W/kg for general public exposure respectively.

Waldmann-Selsam, C., et al. “Radiofrequency radiation injures trees around mobile phone base stations.” Science of the Total Environment 572 (2016): 554-69.

• “In the last two decades, the deployment of phone masts around the world has taken place and, for many years, there has been a discussion in the scientific community about the possible environmental impact from mobile phone base stations. Trees have several advantages over animals as experimental subjects and the aim of this study was to verify whether there is a connection between unusual (generally unilateral) tree damage and radiofrequency exposure. 
• To achieve this, a detailed long-term (2006-2015) field monitoring study was performed in the cities of Bamberg and Hallstadt (Germany). 
• The measurements of all trees revealed significant differences between the damaged side facing a phone mast and the opposite side, as well as differences between the exposed side of damaged trees and all other groups of trees in both sides. Thus, we found that side differences in measured values of power flux density corresponded to side differences in damage. The 30 selected trees in low radiation areas (no visual contact to any phone mast and power flux density under 50μW/m(2)) showed no damage. Statistical analysis demonstrated that electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone masts is harmful for trees. These results are consistent with the fact that damage afflicted on trees by mobile phone towers usually start on one side, extending to the whole tree over time.”

Martin Pall. “Electromagnetic Fields Act Similarly in Plants as in Animals: Probable Activation of Calcium Channels via Their Voltage Sensor” Current Chemical Biology, Volume 10 , Issue 1 , 2016

• It has been shown that low intensity microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) act in animals via activation of voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in the plasma membrane, producing excessive intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i, with excessive [Ca2+]i leading to both pathophysiological and also in some cases therapeutic effects. The pathophysiological effects are produced largely through excessive [Ca2+]i signaling including excessive nitric oxide (NO), superoxide, peroxynitrite, free radical formation and consequent oxidative stress. The activation of the VGCCs is thought to be produced via EMF impact on the VGCC voltage sensor, with the physical properties of that voltage sensor predicting that it is extraordinarily sensitive to these EMFs. 
• It is shown here that the action of EMFs in terrestrial, multicellular (embryophyte) plants is probably similar to the action in animals in most but not all respects, with calcium channel activation in the plasma membrane leading to excessive [Ca2+]i, leading in turn to most if not all of the biological effects. A number of studies in plants are briefly reviewed which are consistent with and supportive of such a mechanism. Plant channels most plausibly to be involved, are the so-called two pore channels (TPCs), which have a voltage sensor similar to those found in the animal VGCCs.

Halgamuge, Malka N., See Kye Yak and Jacob L. Eberhardt. “Reduced growth of soybean seedlings after exposure to weak microwave radiation from GSM 900 mobile phone and base station.”Bioelectromagnetics 36.2 (2015): 87-95.

• The aim of this work was to study possible effects of environmental radiation pollution on plants. The association between cellular telephone (short duration, higher amplitude) and base station (long duration, very low amplitude) radiation exposure and the growth rate of soybean (Glycine max) seedlings was investigated.
• The exposure to higher amplitude (41 V m−1) GSM radiation resulted in diminished outgrowth of the epicotyl. The exposure to lower amplitude (5.7 V m−1) GSM radiation did not influence outgrowth of epicotyl, hypocotyls, or roots. The exposure to higher amplitude CW radiation resulted in reduced outgrowth of the roots whereas lower CW exposure resulted in a reduced outgrowth of the hypocotyl. Soybean seedlings were also exposed for 5 days to an extremely low level of radiation (GSM 900 MHz, 0.56 V m−1) and outgrowth was studied 2 days later. Growth of epicotyl and hypocotyl was found to be reduced, whereas the outgrowth of roots was stimulated.
• Our findings indicate that the observed effects were significantly dependent on field strength as well as amplitude modulation of the applied field.

Senavirathna, M.D., et al. “Nanometer-scale elongation rate fluctuations in the Myriophyllum aquaticum (Parrot feather) stem were altered by radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation.” Plant Signal Behav 9.3 (2014).

• Statistically significant changes to this plant from a non thermal effect.

Soran, M.L., et al. “Influence of microwave frequency electromagnetic radiation on terpene emission and content in aromatic plants.” Journal of Plant Physiology 171.15 (2014): 1436-43.

• Microwave irradiation resulted in thinner cell walls, smaller chloroplasts and mitochondria, and enhanced emissions of volatile compounds, in particular, monoterpenes and green leaf volatiles (GLV). These data collectively demonstrate that human-generated microwave pollution can potentially constitute a stress to the plants.
• The above is only a small sampling of the research showing biological effects at non thermal levels on living organisms.

Waldmann-Selsam, Cornelia, and Horst Eger. “Tree damages in the vicinity of mobile phone base stations.”  Baumschäden im Umkreis von Mobilfunksendeanlagen, umwelt-medizin-gesellschaft, 26 (2013): 198-208.

• “Since 2005, on the occasion of medical examinations of sick residents living near mobile phone base stations, changes in nearby trees (crown, leaves, trunk, branches, growth) were observed at the same time as clinical symptoms in humans occurred. Both deciduous and coniferous trees as well as shrub species were affected. The assessment of tree diseases is neither impeded by psychological impacts nor by change of location. Impacts of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) from radar, radio and TV on plant life have been scientifically demonstrated over the past 80 years. Since 2005, the influence of modulated RF-EMF – that are used in mobile phone telephony – has been investigated in lab experiments. Several research groups reported about the impacts on germination, growth and cell metabolism. Only a few scientific papers have been published to date on research concerning the health conditions of trees in the vicinity of mobile phone base stations. These papers are indicating harmful impacts. For this reason, between 2007 and 2013, the status of trees standing in the neighbourhood of 620 mobile phone base stations was documented. In the radio shadow of buildings or that one of other trees, the trees stayed healthy. However, within the radiation field, damages were observed on exposed trees. Additionally, unilateral crown damage, beginning on the side facing the antenna, strongly indicates a causal relationship with RF-EMF. In the following, examples of crown damages and of premature colouring of leaves are presented. The authors believe, that scientific research is urgently needed to examine these observations.”

Haggerty, Katie. “Adverse Influence of Radio Frequency Background on Trembling Aspen Seedlings.”International Journal of Forestry Research 2010.836278 (2010).

• “This study suggests that the RF background may have strong adverse effects on growth rate and fall anthocyanin production in aspen, and may be an underlying factor in aspen decline.”

Kouzmanova, M., et al. “Alterations in enzyme activities in leaves after exposure of Plectranthus sp. plants to 900 MHz electromagnetic field.” Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment 23.sup1 (2009): 611-615.

• “The purpose of our study was to investigate the alterations in enzyme activities in leaves after exposure of plants Plectranthus sp. to 900 MHz EMF and their dependence on the time elapsed after exposure.
• Alterations in activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in leaves were registered immediately after the end of the exposure and 1, 2 and 24 hours later. Irradiation of plants induced different alterations in enzyme activities depending on the time elapsed after irradiation. Immediately after exposure the activity of the three investigated enzymes decreased, but increased at 24th hour.
• In conclusion, the data provide evidence that plants perceive and respond to electromagnetic fields and are a good model to study the effects of mobile phone radiation.”

Trebbi, Grazia, et al. “Extremely low frequency weak magnetic fields enhance resistance of NN tobacco plants to tobacco mosaic virus and elicit stress‐related biochemical activities.”Bioelectromagnetics 28.3 (2007): 214-223.

• “Increasing evidence has accumulated concerning the biological effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) in different plant models. 
• Following ELF-MFs exposure, an increased resistance was detected, particularly after an 8-h treatment, as shown by the decrease in lesion area and number. Moreover, two enzyme activities involved in resistance mechanisms were analyzed: ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). Uninoculated leaves previously exposed to ELF-MFs in general showed a significant increase relative to controls in ODC and PAL activities, in particular for 13 microT static MF plus 28.9 microT, 10 Hz sinusoidal MF (24 h) treatment.
• In conclusion, ELF-MFs seem to influence the HR of tobacco to TMV, as shown by the increased resistance and changes in ODC and PAL activities, indicating the reliability of the present plant model in the study of bioelectromagnetic interactions.” 

Watch this conference on EMF tree impacts.

Statement by MC4T for Council Work Session on ZTA 18-11

 

Statement by MC4T for Council Work Session on ZTA 18-11

October 9, 2018

Montgomery County residents want the best protections for neighborhoods to minimize the adverse impacts of obtrusive cell towers.

And, MC4T is particularly appreciative of the efforts by Council members to improve ZTA 18-11 by amendment.

In reviewing drafts of possible amendments, we urge the Council to fully prioritize the core concerns and best interests of residents. Specifically, any solution adopted by the Council must:

·      Establish appropriate setbacks that are no less than the current 60 feet from allresidences. Other communities have successfully established even greater setbacks in residential neighborhoods – and the Council has requested, but not been provided with guidance by Executive on setbacks in other jurisdictions.

·      Fix chronic causes of non-conformance of cell poles already installed in public rights of way in Montgomery County. Specifically, this non-conformance has been abetted because there has been no cross verification between Tower Committee recommendations and the provisions of wireless facility permits issued by DPS, no zoning reviews and technical inspections of wireless facilities by DPS and, ultimately, no enforcement.

·      Set minimum design standards, proscribe size limitations, and mandate concealment requirements - regardless of whether utilities are above ground or underground. ZTA 18-11 completely lacks design guidelines and size limitations and has very weak concealment provisions that will allow applicants to “opt out” in most cases.

·      Provide adequate public notice and require acceptance and full consideration of public input regarding all applications, but particularly for wireless facilities proposed in the public rights of way. County agencies along with the Tower Committee have ignored requirements for consideration of public input for years!

·      Allow full discretion and authority of OZAH examiners in all conditional use proceedings regarding wireless facility applications.  ZTA 18-11 contains highly inappropriate provisions that stack the deck against residents and in favor of applicants in OZAH reviews.

MC4T remains opposed to ZTA 18-11because it fails to address the many dysfunctional interdependencies and lack of accountability and transparency in zoning ordinances, permitting regulations and applications processing.   This has created a severe crisis of confidence regarding the County’s inability to fairly manage and enforce wireless facilities deployment.  ZTA 18-11 would accelerate this dysfunction in residential neighborhoods as hundreds of new cell towers are installed in close proximity to residences.

We remind the Council that wireless providers and neutral host operators are NOT utilities. They are NOT automatically granted same privileges as other utilities, because they are NOT subject to rules requiring universal service, nor subject to rate or operational regulation by the Public Service Commission. 

Further, in absence of written briefs to the contrary by competent legal counsel, County Council is in NO imminent threatof Federal preemption. Nor is the current zoning ordinance for towers in residential zones a “de facto denial of service.” Nor will a hastily written ZTA that reduces protections for residents somehow achieve “grand fathering” for County, and magically prevent pre-emptions by the FCC at some future point.

Montgomery County must have a comprehensive solution. A solution that establishes equitable application fees to reimburse the County’s full costs of engineering reviews and evaluations, and rewrites franchise agreements to obtain full and fair reimbursement for the true value of our public rights of way.

The Council has time to do this right. Mobile 5G is still being tested and actual 5G mobile service is years awayfrom commercial availability in Montgomery County.  The necessary equipment and chipsets for 5G compatible cellphones are NOT even being manufactured, yet, and won’t be for some time! 

We can and must establish fair, transparent and consistent tower and antenna zoning and administrative rules that reliably protect all residents without denying service.

MC4T urges the County Council to “Work with us!”  Together we can do this.

From http://www.mc4t.org

Reimer: Please see the facts about 5G: the 30 foot setback should be increased !

Reimer says the ZTA is reasonable and has forced a 30 foot setback on the ZTA based on no logic whatsoever (Please send documentation if he has ever presented a logical reason). We do NOT NEED towers with a 60 foot setback because Wireless companies have clarified that their towers can travel over 2,000 feet. 

Cell phone companies have confirmed that 5G “small” cell towers do not need to be placed every hundred feet (despite industry statements that densely placed small cells are needed in close vicinity to homes). 

Verizon’s CEO, Lowell McAdam stated on camera that 4G and 5G antennas will work from 3,000 feet away on Macro Towers. This statement proves that Verizon DOES NOT need to place 5G small cells in residential areas every 500 to 1,000 feet.

Watch it here. 

“When [Verizon] went out in these 11 [5G test] markets, we tested for well over a year, so we could see every part of foliage and every storm that went through. We have now busted the myth that [5G frequencies] have to be line-of-sight — they do not. We busted the myth that foliage will shut [5G] down . . . that does not happen. And the 200 feet from a home? We are now designing the network for over 2,000 feet from transmitter to receiver, which has a huge impact on our capital need going forward. Those myths have disappeared.”

-Lowell McAdam, CEO of Verizon 

“[Verizon 5G] is really high frequency [28,000 MHz and 39,000 MHz], so everybody thinks it doesn’t go very far, but it’s a really big pipe and so that’s what allows you to gain the super fast speeds . . We’re 3,000 feet away from our radio node. the cool thing about this is that we did not move the radio node. . . here even 3,000 feet away, we’re still getting 1,000 [Megabits per second] speeds . . . So now we’ve driven about 1/3 of a mile away [1,760 feet] from the radio node. we are still getting very good speeds even though we have foliage in between [800 Megabits per second].” 

-Jason L., Verizon Field Engineer 

The image below is from the European Union Project that looked at radiation absorption from a far field antenna onto the bodies of a man, woman and child. 
The yellow is the highest absorption rate and the blue is the lowest. Child absorb this radiation at a higher rate over more of their body. 
Why is anyone placing this involuntary radiation exposure onto our children! 
Children play in front yards! 

Montgomery Council PHED ZTA 18-11Changes are NON protective

ZTA will allow Monster poles in your neighborhood! 

The Current ZTA With PHED updates is as follows

Proposed ZTA 18-11 After October 1 PHED Meeting:

There will be a pole at about every other house and each pole can have up to 3 providers on it, each with their own antenna, power supply etc. Utility poles can go up ten feet higher and street lights can go up 6 feet higher.

In addition there will be electronic cabinets on each pole that can be up to 20 cubic feet if on they are on the ground or 12 cubic feet if mounted on the pole.   

pretty huh..
Are we being sold out Are council folks looking to get a new job at the FCC? What is going on?

For neighborhoods with below ground utilities: 

• For new or replacement streetlight poles less than 22 feet in neighborhoods with below ground utilities: Retain conditional use with a sham  60 foot setback because the hearing examiner may reduce setback to 30 feet based on a determination by the TTFC. 
• Thus  the stated 60 foot setback is a total sham and it really is just a 30 foot setback- as the hearing process is a total sham sending authority back to the TTFC (Telecommunications Transmission Facilities Facility Coordinating Group) which has been rubber stamping applications for years! 
• In neighborhoods with underground wires the wireless companies are considering “cobra poles” like you would see in a parking lot or on a major highway.  These poles could have a base of up to 3 foot square.
• Yes, the street light will be replaced with a wider, stronger pole and go up higher by 6 feet. 

For neighborhoods with above ground utilities:  

• 30 foot setback. 
• no hearing no notice. 
• The utity poles can go up 10 feet higher. 

Sorry for all the folks with a utility pole or streetlight  at 31 feet from your house. 

-----------------------------

The history of the ZTA 18

Prior to May 2018:

• In all detached.residential zones: 60 foot setback for small cells. 300 foot setback for macro towers.  
• All new  towers required public notice and conditional use hearing with hearing examiner.
• In townhouse residential zones: no towers permitted at all
• In all commercial mixed use zones: no  towers permitted.  

After May 2018:  

• Council approved ZTA 18-02 in May,  changing commercial mixed use and industrial mixed use zones.  Where before the towers were not permitted at all, they changed to allow small cells as a limited use (no public notice or hearing) and made the setback 10 feet.  
• Other residential zones unchanged.  
• It was suggested by Councilmember Leventhal that they wait to see how loosening the standards in the mixed use zones works out before changing anything in the other residential zones. (This was voted on before the primary election in June)  There haven't been any applications in the mixed use zones yet so there is no way they've had time to evaluate that.

So the Current Law is:

• All commercial and industrial mixed use zones:  10 foot setback, limited use, no public notice or hearing
• All detached residential zones: 60  foot setback, public notice and conditional use hearing

Hans Riemer is claiming we need to adopt an ordinance so that we can join the fight in court against FCC preemption.  But this is an incorrect argument because we already have an ordinance that has been changed twice in the last 4 years, most recently in May with the addition of antennas in the mixed use zones as a limited use with a 10 foot setback. It is already more permissive than many jurisdictions. 

Proposed ZTA 18-11 Prior to October 1 PHED Meeting:

• Proposed change all detached residential zones to limited use with 30 foot setback.  No public notice or conditional use hearing unless it's a new pole in residential neighborhoods with below ground utilities.  If it has a public hearing because new pole, hearing examiner could reduce setback to 10 feet.
• In neighborhoods with above ground utilities, antennas attached to utility poles are considered replacement poles and no public notice or hearing will be required (making it limited use ).  Setback is proposed reduced to 30 feet.

Proposed ZTA 18-11 After October 1 PHED Meeting:

• For new or replacement streetlight poles less than 22 feet in neighborhoods with below ground utilities: Retain conditional use and 60 foot setback.  Hearing examiner may reduce setback to 30 feet (instead of 10 feet).
• For communities with above ground utilities: 30 foot setback, no hearing no notice.

The ZTA does not distinguish between neighborhoods with above ground v. below ground utilities. In a residential zone, the PHED recommendation would allow a wireless company to replace an existing utility pole with a slightly taller pole (6 additional feet for streetlights and 10 additional feet for utility poles) as a limited use as long as the original pole was 22’ or taller and 30’ or more from a residential structure. If the proposed pole is new or replacing a pole that is less than 22’ tall, it would be a conditional use subject to a 60’ setback which the Hearing Examiner can reduce to 30’ if appropriate.

Westleigh Homeowners Association Opposes ZTA 18-11

"Reject ZTA 18-11" 5G Microwave Tower Zoning

Position of Westleigh Homeowners Association ZTA 18-11 that will allow cell towers in front of homes  - 337 Home Owners targeted for new towers

I am taking time from enjoying the beauty of a vacation at Massanutten to write to you about a situation which you all can EASILY fix. And, it must be SOON, as in RIGHT NOW.

Our neighborhood is targeted as ground zero for installation of 5G towers, under the Zoning Text amendment ZTA 18-11. The County Council is RUSHING, and it should immediately stop trying to cram in a “legacy” decision in the next week.

We are NOT LUDDITES. We want all those things that 5G can bring to our neighborhood: faster data, lower latency (so that self-driving cars don’t decide “too late”), telemedicine for aging in place, “telepresence” so we can bring realistic comfort and companionship to relatives and friends. And, we want to “keep up with China”. We totally understand that the U.S MUST keep/gain a leadership position in 5G, so that we reap the benefit of unleashing developers world-wide to develop applications and techniques to improve our lives.

BUT, the particular 5G towers envisioned under ZTA 18-11 are OBSOLETE.  They belong in the “DUSTBIN OF HISTORY”. There is no requirement for 5G antennas to be 30 ft from homes, and placed in line-of-site configurations, ruining the carefully designed and well-loved beauty of our neighborhood. Almost nobody wants these INTRUSIVE, UNSAFE, and OBSOLETE towers in our Westleigh neighborhood. Instead, 5G can be delivered from small 5G antennas on existing cell towers, or with 5G antennas on poles on streets outside residential neighborhoods. And we can state this clearly without going into the unresolved puzzle of whether the microwaves from each tower destroy our bodies.

Please take the time RIGHT NOW to watch the CEO of Verizon tell you 5G TOWERS CAN BE 3,000 FEET FROM YOUR HOME. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwAsr1pC13Q  

We implore the Council to take the time to get this right. Work with us. The downside of failing to STOP ZTA 18-11 are IMMEDIATE AND REAL. We are counting on the Council to take the time to hear the County's expert residents on this issue, with up-to-date data, before a permanent mistake is made.  

REJECT ZTA 18-11 as OVERTAKEN BY EVENTS in its current form, and work to develop a better ZTA, based on the new information, and rapidly-improving technology that will make the road forward come into focus, and deserving the enthusiastic support of the County’s citizens.

This decision to REJECT ZTA 18-11 is EASY. Fortunately, as reported in the Washington Post on October 1, Verizon is delivering 5G service to four cities TODAY.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/10/01/verizon-customers-four-cities-are-officially-getting-g-based-internet-service-today/?utm_term=.f7eebad43d88    The path is clear. This is NOT "EITHER/OR".    WE ALL WANT MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO BE WITH THE LEADERS, not OBSOLETE.

For us, this is personal.  We voted with our feet when we bought property here. We have counted on the County Council, and other government agencies, to do the right thing relative to safety, and preservation of health and quality of life, just as the Council has led to County to very high education standards and results in the past decades.  We cannot easily just move away if things go awry.  

But, we can and will VOTE. Any Council member that refuses to take the time to get this right, who pollutes our neighborhood with OBSOLETE, UGLY towers for decades, can expect a deserved backlash on November 6.   I ask this with all due respect: Do you want one of your last actions this term to be a mistake?  REJECT ZTA 18-11.

Sincerely,

 

 President of Westleigh Homeowners Association Inc.  c/o ABS, 847-I Quince Orchard Blvd.   Gaithersburg, MD 20878  www.westleighhoa.org     westleighhoa@gmail.com

Fairfax to study fiber-optic broadband amid protest against 5G

Fairfax to study fiber-optic broadband amid protest against 5G

Amid a countywide public outcry, Fairfax officials have vowed to explore broadband options that do not include the installation of “small cell” antennas, which protesters say are a health and safety hazard.

On Wednesday, the Town Council unanimously appointed an ad-hoc committee to study the viability of a town-wide fiber-optic cable network as an alternative to 5G antennas. The move comes a week after the council voted 5-0 at a special meeting to adopt an urgency ordinance that prohibits small cell antennas in residential zones and requires 1,500 feet of separation between the devices.

“Most residents feel that they are being poorly served by the cable and DSL service that is available now,” said Mayor Peter Lacques. “And yes, many are concerned about the health and other risks associated with 5G. Fiber optic is far superior. It’s much faster, much more reliable. So if we can get fiber optic in as an alternative, we can avoid that potential impact on health and other risks.”

Large groups of people also have turned out recently at the county Board of Supervisors’ meetings and city council meetings in San Rafael, Mill Valley and San Anselmo to call for stricter regulation of the new technology. Opponents of 5G say there are adverse health and environmental effects that may be caused by exposure to microwave radiation emitted by the 4G and 5G devices.

Last month, the Mill Valley City Council adopted an urgency ordinance that prohibits new wireless telecommunications facilities in residential zones and requires annual EMF readings to ensure that wireless facilities are complying with federal and state laws. Fairfax modeled its ordinance after Mill Valley’s, and Ross adopted similar rules.

After receiving increasing pressure from residents, the San Anselmo Town Council last week beefed up its ordinance on a 5-0 vote. In San Anselmo, people within 300 feet of a proposed 5G antenna will be notified. If the applicant requests exceptions, the town is also entitled to employ an independent consultant at the expense of the applicant to evaluate exceptions.

“I would support the changes, and I would encourage us to go as far as we possibly can — even if it means defying federal law,” San Anselmo Councilman Matt Brown said at the Sept. 25 meeting. He explained that Californians defied federal law in legalizing cannabis, and he sees this as a similar fight against the administration.

“I don’t know what the safety gap is to avoid full-on war, but this is the beginning of a revolution and I wouldn’t mind taking the leadership role to defy the industry,” he said.

In an email to the county, Leland Kim, a spokesman for AT&T, wrote, “We maintain power levels at our antenna sites that are at or below, and most of the time far below, the limits established by government regulations. Expert scientists and government agencies responsible for health and safety have stated repeatedly that wireless antennas in compliance with FCC regulations do not pose health concerns.”

Read it here https://www.marinij.com/2018/10/04/fairfax-to-study-fiber-optic-broadband-amid-protest-against-5g/

Heidi Flato, a spokeswoman for Verizon, wrote, “We ensure that all applicable federal, state and local regulations are followed. Emissions from small cells, which are low power, run at a small fraction of FCC-permitted levels.”

On Sept. 26, the Federal Communications Commission adopted new rules designed to speed deployment of small wireless facilities. The rules limit the review of new installations by local jurisdictions to 60 days for existing structures and 90 days for entirely new facilities.

In a report on the proposed rules, FCC staff stated “5G can enable increased competition for a range of services — including broadband — support new health care and Internet of Things applications, speed the transition to life-saving connected car technologies, and create jobs.”

The report estimates that wireless providers will invest $275 billion over the next decade in next-generation wireless infrastructure deployments, which “should generate an expected three million new jobs and boost our nation’s GDP by half a trillion dollars.”

The report notes, “Over the last few years, providers have been increasingly looking to densify their networks with new small cell deployments that have antennas often no larger than a small backpack.”

And it adds, “To support advanced 4G and 5G offerings, providers must build out small cells at a faster pace and at a far greater density of deployment than before.”

Because of that, Lacques said that the ad-hoc committee is on a fast-track to hopefully make a recommendation within six months. He along with Councilman Bruce Ackerman were appointed to the committee. He said they will likely explore a partnership with a company called Sonic, which would install the fiber-optic network. He said they would consider funding options for the project, including a possible utility tax for Fairfax residents.

Jess Lerner said she and several Fairfax residents have formed a task force to campaign against 5G installations. She is happy to see the Town Council take action, but she said more can be done.

“There are some outstanding issues,” she said, such as adopting rules for setback protections, or adding buffer requirements for mixed-use zones, among other issues. “There are the health concerns with the EMF output, fire hazard safety, seismic hazards, overusing utility poles, aesthetics. They made some progress, but we have a lot to do.”

Tribes argue FCC order will "desecrate" historic sites.

Last March, the FCC removed NEPA and NHPA requirements for “small cells.” In July, a coalition of tribes and organizations challenged the FCC Ruling:

"A host of tribes has urged the D.C. Circuit to halt an order from the Federal Communications Commission exempting small-cell fixtures for next-generation, or 5G, networks from certain regulatory reviews, arguing that the order would allow for the 'desecration of historic sites.’”

https://www.usetinc.org/news/law-360-article-tribes-seek-to-stop-desecration-from-fccs-5g-exemptions-7-19-2018/