EHT Submits Expert Comments to 31 States on the Need For Safe Wired Connections regarding the $42 Billion Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Grant Funds
EHT started with California’s $1.86 BEAD grant and submitted testimony in 31 states including California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii, and Nevada.
Environmental Health Trust (EHT) is urging states to ensure the $42.45 billion federal broadband grant funds (Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment) are only used for wired communications all the way to homes and businesses instead of being diverted to wireless infrastructure due to the accumulated scientific evidence showing harmful impacts to health and environment from wireless radiation.
In California, EHT submitted written testimony and also presented in a November 8, 2023 CPUC hearing of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
EHT’s California testimony makes the following points:
- Only fiber will meet the speed, latency, reliability, cybersecurity, and privacy demands of future networks.
- Fiber is 50 times more energy efficient than wireless and has the potential to reduce our carbon footprint, unlike wireless infrastructure which will significantly increase energy consumption.
- Massive regulatory gaps exist regarding the health effects of the radiofrequency radiation emissions from wireless infrastructure, putting public health and the environment at risk.
- The FCC’s refusal to update its 1996 limits for wireless radiation was recently ruled as arbitrary and capricious by the U.S. Court of Appeals, DC Circuit in Environmental Health Trust v. FCC. The Court found the FCC ignored studies associating wireless to health effects such as impacts to the neurological, immune, and reproductive systems. The Court found the FCC had ignored evidence on children’s unique vulnerability to long-term exposure and impacts on the environment (wildlife, especially pollinators).
- Allowing wireless infrastructure near homes and schools will put the government at increased liability for health and environmental impacts.
Rola Masri, Director of Government Outreach, Environmental Health Trust stated, “We urge the Commission to ensure BEAD funding is only used for fiber all the way to homes and businesses and do not give in to corporate entities that wish to divert this funding to wireless infrastructure.”
“The science is clear that wireless radiation is not safe for wildlife. We ensured these states had the scientific evidence on supporting deployment of safer wired communications networks instead of wireless,” stated Theodora Scarato, Executive Director of Environmental Health Trust.
EHT also received Party Status in California in order to actively participate in the decision making process. EHT prepared extensive testimony referencing numerous scientific studies on health and environmental impacts. EHT also gave public comment during a community hearing held in downtown Los Angeles.
Several other Californians testified on the health and environmental impacts (17:55) of wireless technology.
About the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program
The BEAD program was established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021 and provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed broadband internet access. These funds would be used by all states and territories for planning, infrastructure deployment, and adoption programs. The funding is being administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
NTIA has stated clearly in their Notice of Funding Opportunity that “Eligible Entity should prioritize projects designed to provide fiber connectivity directly to the end user.”
EHT’s Testimony to the California CPUC
Link to Video of Testimony to CPUC (EHT Statement at 17:55)
