Environmental Health Trust 2024 Updates

EHT Submitted Expert Comments to 31 States on the $42.45 Billion Federal Broadband Grants

$42.45 billion federal dollars will be invested into broadband in every state and US territory as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. EHT urged states to use the funding for fiber optics and not to give in to corporate entities wanting to divert this funding to wireless infrastructure.

Fiber Optics to the Premises is the best practice technology as outlined by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. Yet, many states are allowed to defer to cheaper wireless infrastructure if the cost of running fiber in hard to reach areas exceeds the grant money allotted. States are caught in a debate with the wireless industry lobbyists demanding that grant allocations remain technology neutral so that inferior wireless infrastructure can receive part of the grant funding.

Environmental Health Trust filed comments in 31 states regarding the $42.45 billion BEAD federal grants that will bring high speed broadband to every home, business and public facility. EHT has Party Status in California after Numerous Comments
Download EHT’s BEAD comments to California
Learn more about the Bead Submissions here.

“Wireless will not meet future connectivity needs and would create serious risks to the environment and health of California residents.”

– EHT Comment before the California Public Utilities Commission on November 28, 2023

EHT Submitted Expert Comments to several States on the Digital Equity Plan

EHT Submitted to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on the National Spectrum Strategy Proposing to Reallocate 2790 MHz of Spectrum for Commercial Use.

EHT submitted comprehensive comments to the NTIA on the human health and environmental impacts of wireless radiation as the NTIA plans to release 2790 Megahertz of wireless spectrum from federal usage to commercial wireless use, as required by the Presidential Memorandum titled Modernizing United States Spectrum Policy and Establishing a National Spectrum Strategy. This action will further saturate the environment with electromagnetic fields and without proper health and environmental regulations in place.

EHT met with Scott Harris, John Alden, Scott Patrick, Paul Ransom and Jonathan Stefanick of the NTIA Office of Spectrum Management and submitted comprehensive comments outlining the gross regulatory gaps that have led to dangerous radiofrequency exposures to people and the environment. We are urging the federal government to cure these gaps prior to releasing more spectrum and building more wireless infrastructure close to homes, schools, businesses, and parks.

“The FCC has consistently abrogated its responsibilities under NEPA. Therefore, it is likely that once NTIA makes a spectrum utilization decision, FCC will not prepare an environmental impact statement” – EHT Statement on the NTIA National Spectrum Strategy

Holding Federal Agencies Accountable

Getting science on the FCC record

EHT submitted 375 documents, including scientific studies, policy papers, and letters to the FCC record in 2023. These regular submissions are critical to the success of our upcoming legal action.

EHT Submitted Testimony to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and Created Fact Sheets on the 44 Congressional Bills Fast Tracking Wireless

There are 44 federal bills pending in Congress, primarily aimed at facilitating the widespread proliferation of wireless antennas both on Earth and in space. In the U.S. alone, the FCC has received 70,000 applications since 2016 and granted approximately 10,000 licenses. EHT met with the staff of several federal officials and submitted extensive scientific testimony about the importance of environmental review, the regulatory gap regarding wireless and wildlife, and the need for more federal accountability regarding wireless networks.

EHT did extensive research on the federal bills and developed the following resources for policymakers:

EHT also created several resources on the science on wildlife impacts.

State Policy action

New Hampshire Introduces a Bill on the Health Effects of 5G Technology

HB Bill 1487 “An ACT relative to the health effects of 5G technology” calls for educating the public on the health risks of wireless radiofrequency (RF) radiation, ensuring cell towers and 500 meters from homes and schools and replacing Wi-Fi with safer technology in schools.

Tell New Hampshire Lawmakers: We Support HB 1487 To Protect The Public From 5G Health Effects

Massachusetts Has Several Wireless Safety Bills

Several Bills are before the Massachusetts legislature, aiming to protect residents against wireless health and environmental risks.

For example, S.316 requires the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish best technology practices that protect the health and safety of public school students and staff. Resolve S.155 requires an investigation by a special commission to research the impact of wireless radiation. New Hampshire has already done this and issued a Final Report in 2020.

Tell Massachusetts Lawmakers To Support Wireless Safety Bills

If you live in other US states, please join our other important campaigns

For US and International residents please join our campaign to protect wildlife.

Petition to the United Nations Environment Programme to Address Wildlife Impacts From Wireless

Please check out EHT’s new websites on children and wildlife!

Please ensure you have signed up for EHT’s newsletter here.

Safer Technology in 2024: Policy Updates & Advocacy Efforts