5G Coming to Your Front Yard … Did you know?

Guest Post by John Herron

Aesthetics and tech blight: Did you know data shows cell towers, poles and antennas significantly reduce property values? A pole nearby reduces home value about 20 percent.[1] For some, the property becomes unmarketable. Telecommunications representatives say 5G “small cell poles” need to be spaced every 250 to 750 feet, foretelling a tsunami of new cell poles.[2] A survey by the National Institute for Science, Law & Public Policy shows 94 percent of respondents would reduce the price they are willing to pay in a neighborhood with cell towers and antennas, and 79 percent would not purchase a property within a few blocks of a cell tower or antennas.[3]

A solution for local policy makers is to exercise the maximum degree of authority possible within the limitations of federal and state law, to minimize the aesthetic impacts of cell poles and additional macrocell towers. Policy makers should minimize home devaluations; facilitate high speed internet through fiber wired to homes; and encourage wireless service providers to deploy technology safely, effectively and efficiently.

Further, did you know Palm Beach was exempted from Florida’s Small Cell Statute? The Florida Legislature crafted a unique provision at F.S. 337.401(7)(b)6.b after intense lobbying by the mayor and town manager about an impending “aesthetic disaster”.[4]

Your hands are not tied. Do not buy into this false narrative promoted by the telecom industry.

“People don’t like living next to cell towers, for medical reasons or aesthetics … or they don’t want that eyesore sticking up in their backyards,” said a real estate broker a decade ago.[5] This concern is more acute with 5G because of higher operating frequencies and unprecedented densification. Some view this as a taking without just compensation because property values are demonstrably impacted after local municipalities grant 5G applications. These poles and antennas are installed in taxpayer-funded public rights-of-way, and oftentimes, in front yards.

Explosions, rushed workers and public safety: Did you know gas explosions during wireless installations resulted in significant property damage, serious injuries and loss of life? Wireless subcontractors install poles and underground cables near gas lines. Multi-tiered subcontracting, ‘turf vendors’, and out-of-state subcontractors are common; and this raises serious safety and accountability questions. Investigations revealed contractors are sometimes not listed on permits, and shoddy multi-tiered subcontracting practices were a causal factor in some explosions. A joint investigation by Frontline and ProPublica revealed multiple contracting layers in this industry are specifically designed to avoid liability.[6]

These and other labor issues are noteworthy because telecommunications workers are often rushed, overworked and underpaid.

A solution for local policy makers is to require all contractors and subcontractors are listed on wireless facility applications. Ensure accurate contact information is provided and that each is properly insured. This is a matter of public safety.

RF radiation: Did you know emerging science indicates too much RF radiation impacts health? Independent researchers from prestigious institutions like the University of Washington, Washington State University, Michigan Tech, Georgia Tech, and others, say there are dangers of chronic exposure to non-ionizing radiation. Some are finding biological markers as evidence. The National Toxicology Program Report by the NIH found clear evidence linking RF radiation to cancer and also DNA effects.[7] These results were confirmed by a similar study conducted at the Ramazzini Cancer Institute.[8] Now, oncologists are finding an increased risk of developing glioma brain tumors and acoustic neuroma head tumors from increased RF radiation exposure and are calling for RF radiation to be classified a Group 1 carcinogen.[9]

“Far more research and testing of potential 5G health effects under real-life conditions is required before further rollout can be justified,” said Georgia Tech professor Ronald Kostoff, earlier this month.[10]

Although invisible to the naked eye, the dramatic densification of RF radiation in our neighborhoods threatens to seriously devalue the places we call “home”. It exposes us to involuntary radiation, 24/7, 365 days a year. This is where we live. And while state and local governments look to an executive branch of the federal government, namely the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), for guidance, we see a federal agency that abdicates its responsibility to protect the health, safety and welfare of citizens. And the FCC is now headed by a former executive of Verizon.

Captured agency: Did you know the FCC is a “captured agency”? This agency is comprised of industry insiders and manipulated by industry lobbyists.[11] This is especially true with 5G, where serious safety concerns are dismissed and misleading information is disseminated. When health concerns are raised, the FCC’s response is to stiffen federal preemption over local zoning authority – precisely the opposite of what a regulating authority should do.[12] The FCC and Federal Drug Administration (FDA) can no longer be trusted to protect public health based on science and we can no longer assume 5G technology is safe.[13]

Emerging liability risk and insurance: Did you know large insurance companies view RF radiation as an emerging risk? The Swiss Reinsurance Company (Swiss Re) recognizes growing concerns about the health implications of 5G and deems liability claims from RF radiation exposure a “high impact” emerging risk. “To allow for functional network coverage and increased capacity overall, more antennas will be needed, including acceptance of higher levels of electromagnetic radiation,” a recent analysis explains.[14]

It is therefore incumbent upon cities and counties to review wireless vendor, site developer and subcontractor insurance policies for exclusions because RF radiation claims may not be covered by general liability policies. Don’t be deceived by those trying to circumvent the powers of local government. It becomes increasingly important to check insurance coverage to see if there is specific coverage for RF radiation claims through a “pollution insurance” policy, or a rider, and whether there is third-party insurance from wireless companies to protect the City against potential claims from other parties.

A published paper by Michigan Tech Professor Joshua Pearce recommends a 500-meter buffer between cell towers and homes to reduce future liability risks.[15] “I’m pro-tech and I’m pro-human, so I think there are ways for us to have our cell phones and minimize potential risk without waiting to find out that putting a cell tower on top of a school was a bad idea,” said Pearce.[16]

Moratoriums: Did you know some cities are enacting moratoriums until more is known about this new technology? Keene, New Hampshire instituted a temporary moratorium on processing 5G applications until a state panel releases a study on environmental and health impacts. Keene considered the risks of litigation from the telecom industry against the risks to public health.[17] Western Springs, Illinois enacted a temporary moratorium based on a provision of state law which authorizes local municipalities to toll “shot clocks” for delays caused by disasters such as the current Covid-19 epidemic.[18] Other cities are following these examples: Farragut, TN; Easton, CT; Sandy Springs, GA; and others.

5G and surveillance: Did you know 5G enables ‘smart city’ development and interconnects cameras and other surveillance equipment to analyze everything? 5G connects machines to machines and facilitates a goal to modify human behavior through algorithm-driven marketing. Silicon Valley entrepreneurs seek tele-everything. They lobby ferociously to profit from it, and even to profit from the Covid-19 pandemic.[19]

A new book, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, explains how data is harvested through new wireless technologies and sold to third parties for profit. Harvard Professor Shoshana Zuboff details how Verizon, AT&T and others are shifting their business models from fee-for-service to data harvesting for profit – similar to Google and Facebook before them.[20] Verizon installed a “zombie cookie” a few years ago that assigned hidden and undetectable tracking numbers to consumers to identify and monitor individual habits on smartphones that could neither be evaded or turned off. And when consumers tried to opt out or delete the tracking cookies, the Zombie Cookie immediately “respawned”. In 2016, Verizon reached a $1.35 Million settlement over the hidden ID privacy violations.[21]

As policy-makers, you have a fiduciary obligation to recognize our data and our privacy is at risk. Our data is often harvested without our permission and without our knowledge, and sometimes contrary to federal law.

‘Smart city’ a potential threat to democracy: Did you know Google subsidiary Sidewalk Labs abandoned a “city of the future” project in Toronto after citizens demanded accountability? Promoters of ‘smart city’ technology usually start conversations with law enforcement benefits. But the revenue generating capabilities through the collection and sale of our personal data are the financial incentive for ‘smart city’ vendors. There is an attraction to outsource (at significant cost) core city functions to private tech companies.[22]

Bianca Wylie – who has been called the Jane Jacobs of the smart cities age – rejects this technocratic vision of solving city problems … “it’s about our neighborhoods, our cities, how we want them to work, what problems should be solved, and which options should be looked at” she says. She has a plan to develop a democratic and just ‘smart city’, and it is critical for policy makers to realize ‘smart cities’ is a political issue, not a technology issue.[23] The price tag for all these shiny promises is a loss of self-autonomy and liberty.

China: Some say we are in a race to 5G, but did you know China used 5G and surveillance technology to imprison over two million people?[24] Classified Chinese government documents leaked to investigative journalists[25] and a special undercover investigation by Frontline inform us about the mass imprisonment of Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang … not with prisons, but with sophisticated surveillance technology. A recorded interview with engineers revealed cameras and sensors interconnected through a 5G network recorded and analyzed everything – facial recognition, behavioral data, and more. The cameras analyzed faces and categorized people as ‘normal’, ‘of concern’, or ‘dangerous’.[26]

A proposed solution is to plan for these potentially intrusive technologies beforehand. We should develop and implement policies with affirmative measures to address privacy concerns. There should be open and transparent procurement and contracting. There should be intense public education and consultation – we must encourage civic engagement and civic data governance to ensure responsibility and accountability. There’s simply too much at risk.

Conversations about data gathering and new technologies often begin with “you can opt out …” and “what will you do with my data?” But these are the wrong questions. The conversation, instead, should being with “why do you need my data at all?”

Fiber optic cable: Did you know underground fiber optic cable wired to homes is a safer, faster, more secure and more reliable technology for consumers? Underground fiber wired to the home preserves neighborhood aesthetics, protects community character, and attracts tech businesses. Underground fiber wired to the home is safer, faster, more secure and more reliable. It uses a small fraction of the energy required for wireless service, reduces the risk of hacking because fewer potential portals are available, and is less susceptible to damage from hurricanes and other weather events. Some cities, like Chattanooga, made a commitment to fiber infrastructure and offer residents the fastest and most reliable internet service in the nation and it’s inexpensive.

Local cities and counties have total authority with regard to fiber locations. Underground telecommunication utilities are in alignment with long-range city planning, historical preservation and aesthetic values. Fiber service wired to the premises fulfills consumer needs, supports tech development, and meets our deeper aesthetic, health and environmental values.

Conclusion

Pensacola residents are rightfully concerned about 5G because the increase of cell poles, antennas and cell towers impacts the aesthetics of our neighborhoods and depreciates home values. This is the primary investment for many residents. There are legitimate health concerns raised by respected scientists and researchers, and our federal agencies are captured by industry. Local governments are the last bastions of protection for our health, safety and welfare, and we all agree preemption of local government in this area is too restrictive. This is our public right-of-way. I urge you to strive to take back home rule powers and exercise the power available to you in analyzing 5G wireless facility applications in our neighborhoods and near our homes.