Author: cindyleerussell

On June 27, 2019 Senator Dianne Feinstein introduced SB 2012, ‘‘Restoring Local Control Over Public Infrastructure Act of 2019’’, a senate companion bill to Congresswoman Anna Eshoo’s HR530, which would similarly repeal FCC rules that limit state and local government control over telecom infrastructure. The bill is cosponsored by Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Michael Bennet (Colo.), Kamala D. Harris (Calif.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Ben Cardin (Md.) and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.). The bill is supported by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, American Public Power Association, Communications Workers of America, National Association of Counties, League of California Cities and American Public Works Association. Feinstein press release here,  Restoring Local Control Over Public Infrastructure Act of 2019’’

The City of Berkeley won another round, but not the last, against Big Telecom in the 5 year battle to provide simple safety warnings at cell phone point of purchase, informing consumers of potential harms from carrying these devices against the body. It is the same FCC mandated warning buried deep in the manufacturers cell phone manual. On July 1, 2019,  after many appeals, the Ninth Circuit Federal Appeals Court upheld Berkeley’s 2015 cell phone “right to know” law, requiring cell phone retailers to post or hand out a warning to consumers at the point of sale. The original 2015 lawsuit has yet to be heard, however, as industry continues to work the appeals court.

 

The First Major Medical Conference in U.S. for Healthcare Professionals

The first major medical scientific conference for health care providers discussing the health effects of electromagnetic radiation will be held in a retreat center in Scotts Valley, California September 6-8, 2019.  Experts from around the world will focus on different aspects of wireless radiofrequency radiation (RFR) from a variety of sources, including cell phones, cell towers, Wi-Fi Routers. The mechanisms of harm will be presented as well as basic science and epidemiologic studies related to adverse health effects of RFR, including cancer, reproductive harm, neurologic harm and electrosensitivity.  This will be particularly useful to physicians and other health professionals who have not yet had the opportunity to hear directly from experts who have witnessed the health impacts of wireless technology and treated patients for these conditions. Speakers will present their perspectives based on scientific evidence.

The conference was originally initiated and inspired by William J. Rea MD (1935-2018), a pioneer in the evaluation and treatment of electrosensitivity. After Dr. Rea’s passing in August of 2018, a commitment was made to produce the conference in partnership with the leading practitioners and organizations that have been working globally to provide credible research, education and awareness in the area of exposure to cell phone and other wireless radiation.

 CME Credit- 16 Units Category 1

Continuing Medical Education Credits(CME credits)  will be given to physicians and physician assistants through the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) for a maximum of 16 Category 1 CME units.

The 5G technology rollout, like a runaway train, is being pushed onto US cities and counties who are loosing even more local control over small cell tower placement with higher untested frequencies. This is happening internationally as well. There continues to be no consideration for health effects, environmental effects, radiation monitoring or privacy concerns. The new U.S. FCC 5G Fast Plan forces cities to use only an administrative permit with multiple antennas being approved at once.  Local control is being crushed.  Despite shiny promises of faster internet and seamless instantaneous connection to support so called  “Smart Cities”, there are glaring downsides not discussed by industry.  While the current U.S. President is vocally supporting the rollout of 5G and then 6G, offering for  a brief time to nationalize the 5G network, some experts think 5G may be unrealistic in the near future. In addition, no 5G safety testing has been done.  People around the United States mobilized on May 15, 2019 to protest this overreach of the FCC, now regarded as another corporate captured agency.  After the first successful International 5G  protest January 25, 2020, the STOP 5G International Organization has planned the next Worldwide STOP 5G  Protest April 25, 2020.

After 4 students and 3 teachers were diagnosed with cancer within a 3-year period, Sprint finally removed a cell tower at a Ripon, California school. While it is exceedingly difficult to identify the cause of a cancer cluster, parents and students in the San Joaquin County school are convinced there is one and it is caused by the campus cell tower. They are not only protesting but several have abandoned the small school which now features 4 rare cancers in students -2 brain tumors, one kidney cancer and one liver cancer. Investigations of not only cell tower radiation but also water quality have been initiated. After 200 parents stormed the school board meeting, school officials were prompted to ask for the cell tower to be removed at the K-8 school. Sprint has agreed to do so.

Since 2016, American diplomats, CIA agents and NSA agents working overseas have been targeted by a mysterious weapon causing brain injury that “leaves no trace”, according to a CBS report. So far there have been 25 Americans who worked in the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, 15 American officials in China and several others since the 1990’s who suffered symptoms of severe unusual sounds accompanied by headaches, impaired vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and memory loss among other symptoms from a unknown source. These symptoms are similar to those with microwave illness found in military radar workers, described by NASA and other agencies. It is believed these recent attacks were perpetrated by foreign governments.

At a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Hearing Feb 6, 2019, Connecticut Senator Blumenthal finally got the answer to a question that he and Congresswoman Eshoo directed to Federal Communications Commissioner Carr in a letter December 3, 2018. They asked, “We respectfully request you provide to our offices the 5G safety determination from FCC and relevant health agencies that you referred to during the field hearing.”  Although Blumenthal and Eshoo did receive a letter  from the FCC Dec 17, 2018, it had no mention of 5G safety testing,

 Winning the Race To 5G But Flying Blind on Health and Safety

Later, at a Senate Commerce Committee meeting,  “Winning the Race to 5G and the Next Era of Technology Innovation in the United States”, Senator Blumenthal brought up the question of scientific evidence of the safety of 5G.

Updated 11/10/19

In a courageous move to preserve local government control, Federal bill HR 530 was introduced January 14, 2019 in the House of Representatives by California Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, to invalidate the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) September 26, 2018 ruling to accelerate the deployment of 5G small cells throughout the U.S.  Congresswoman Jackie Speier was the first to co-sponsored the bill and now there are now   52 Co-Sponsors  and the list keeps going, beginning with Jackie Speier (CA), then- Bonamici (OR), McGovern (MA), Swalwell (CA), Suozzi (NY), Grijalva (AZ), Blumenauer (OR), DeSaulnier (CA), Huffman (CA), Thompson (CA), Pingree (ME), McNerney (CA), McCollum (MN, Cohen (TN), Ryan (OH), Doggett (TX), Bass (CA), Khanna (CA), Cisneros (CA), Engel (NY), Panette (CA), Omar (MN), Lofgren (CA), Levin (MI), Carbajal (CA), Lee (CA), Schakowsky (IL), DeFazio (OR), Neguse (CO), Rice (NY), Brindisi (NY), Cox (CA), Aguilar (CA), Crow (CO), Hill (CA), Lieu (CA), Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Craig (MN), Royal-Allard (CA), Gonzales (TX), Casten (IL), Velasquez (NY),  Deutch (FL), Garcia (IL), Espaillat (NY),Norton (DC), Pappas (NH), Moore (WI), Brownly (CA), Chu (CA), Trone, MD), Rouda (CA)

In addition congressional members, the bill is supported by the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, the League of California Cities, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors and hundreds of municipalities and public utilities.

Representative Eshoo stated the FCC had ‘failed to listen to reasonable input from communities across the country, cowered to industry interests, and failed to put the public interests first.’” In a January 15, 2019 press statement Eshoo added,  “Having served in local government for a decade on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, I understand and respect the important role that state and local governments play in protecting the welfare of their residents,”

Package of Industry-Backed Legislation Removes Local Control and is Poised to Remove Industry Liability for Communications

A storm of local, state and now Federal legislation has been passed since 2016, removing the rights of municipalities and giving incentives to the telecom industry in order to speed deployment of 5G.  Section 704 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, followed by the Spectrum Act of 2013, removed most of the control of local governments to approve or deny placement of cell towers nor to consider health or environmental effects for placement.

Connecticut Senator Blumenthal and California Assemblywoman Eshoo have formally asked the FCC to provide scientific documentation about the safety of 5^th Generation Internet connectivity, as the roll out of this new technology begins.  Their December 3, 2018 letter  refers to a Senate Commerce Committee field hearing, held in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, titled “Race to 5G, A View from the Field” on October 12, 2018.