Hi - 

 

Here is the follow up email for the May 20th National Call for Safe Technology. NOTE: We will be back tomorrow with two submissions for you to review and hopefully sign onto!

 

Before you read on, please know two things:

 

1) Not everything from the calls is captured in these follow up emails. We try to include as many of the updates as possible, but it can get difficult to sum these up without knowing more of the details. In addition to a to-the-point overview, our focus is sharing any immediate information and calls to action which transpire. 

 

2) A LOT of the information (links, letters, statements, etc.) are in the comprehensive agenda we've attached to this email. It is so much information to try to fit into an email, so in the spirit of keeping this to the point, please reference the agenda for any additional information.

 

 

We began the call with a statement regarding Pittsfield, MA and Long Beach, CA. Both statements are in the attached agenda.

 

Next Odette asked about how many people are interested in a more in-depth call with Professor Witte to go over the approach they're using in Tucson and elsewhere.

 

If you're interested, please let us know, as we are working on setting up extra calls on topics that people are interested in delving into more than time allows on the National Call.

 

Then Mary Bauer gave a brief overview of how Virginians for Safe Technology is approaching the rapid deployment of Smart Meters. VA4ST just filed a complaint with the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation regarding the qualifications of electric company employees installing the meters and the fact that homeowners are witnessing electric companies not following basic electrical codes by installing these meters hot.

 

VA4ST will also soon be filing with the state corporation commission for a reconsideration or false premise claim on their decision to approve an order to deploy smart meters. 

 

After Mary, we heard from Donna, head of Pennsylvanians for Safe Technology on work she is doing regarding the US Access Board's program on autonomous vehicles. Donna explained that they're trying to push autonomous vehicles through in California so she drafted something quickly expressing concerns. She hopes the future we can all sign onto her letters regarding the issues with autonomous vehicles. They're dangerous, and Donna is delving in more on how they're going to run these vehicles because some are apparently pushing to use 5G.

 

Then, Odette updated us on the hearings and news going on right now at the federal level (there are a lot). Please see the attached agenda for all the links and information mentioned by Odette.

 

***Most immediately, there is a hearing on FIVE upcoming bills in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Tuesday, May 24th starting at 11am EST***: 

 

https://energycommerce.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/hearing-on-strengthening-our-communications-networks-legislation-to

 

Here is another link you can use to find out more information on these bills and the hearing, which is named “Strengthening our Communications Networks: Legislation to Connect and Protect”:

 

Odette also talked about the need for us to take action to back Gigi Sohn on the FCC as a commissioner.

 

Here is some Background story: https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/senate-may-soon-vote-gigi-sohn-nomination-fcc and we've attached Scott McCollough's official endorsement of Gigi to this email.

 

Odette shared she also corresponded with Tom Wheeler who said Gigi deserves to be on the FCC and the negative flack she is receiving is undeserved. He said Chuck Schumer needs to start the nomination process.

 

Meanwhile, those in the following states need to make contact with their congressmen:

Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, Montana, Colorado, Maine and West Virginia.

 

The US Senators to focus on include:

1) Schumer - NY- Senate majority leader

2) Senator Cortez Masto (D) Nevada (in a tough race) Chief of Staff: Reynaldo_Benitez@CortezMasto.senate.gov  (702) 388-5020

3) Senator Mark Kelly (D) Arizona (Gabby Gifford's husband, former astronaut and in a tough race) (602)-671-7901  Chief of Staff: Luis_Heredia@Kelly.senate.gov

4) Kamala Harris Vice President Kamala Harris (202) 456-1111 - New Chief of Staff: Lorraine Voles?  whitehouse.gov/contact

5) Senator Murkowski (R) - Alaska - (907) 271-3735  Chief of Staff: Kaleb_Froelich@Murkowski.senate.gov

6) Senator Collins (R) Maine (207) 780-3575  Chief of Staff: Steve_Abbott@Collins.Senate.gov

 

 

If you call, you can include this in your script:

She is: "highly qualified, capable, female attorney well versed on the issues and most important independent/not affiliated with the industry the commission is charged with regulating"

 

 

Here is an example letter you can send to your Senator (this was sent May 6th from Odette to Senator Schumer):

 

Dear Senator _______,

 

We would like to lend our strong support for President Biden's nomination of Gigi Sohn as an FCC Commissioner.

 

We need her to be added as the third Democrat on the FCC so that things can get accomplished at the FCC with a Democratic majority.  Also, she is very capable, an attorney, and well versed on the issues. Most importantly, she is not affiliated with the telecommunications industry that the FCC is charged with regulating.

 

I have been in communication with former FCC Commissioner Tom Wheeler who agrees that Gigi Sohn needs to be on the FCC.

 

Please let me know what we can do to advance her nomination and give the process floor time in the U.S. Senate.  Also, please let me know what we can do to provide a solid Democratic majority for her confirmation.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Name

Title

Group

 

Finally, here are are some great links and a call to action shared during the call that we wanted to pass along!

 

Robert Janku shared that Theodora Scarato with The Environmental Health Trust is looking for constituents to set up meetings with Richard Blumenthal CT, Carolyn B. Maloney NY 12th, and Frank Pallone, NJ 6th. If you can help, please email Robert at robert_janku@verizon.net

 

Hank in Idaho was able to defeat a cell antenna permit application: https://idahoansforsafetechnology.org/202103048-cu-100-foot-cell-tower-in-star-id/

 

Jenny Liu shared that Dr. Susan Payrovi (https://stanfordhealthcare.org/events/functional-medicine-approach-to-creating-health.html) was the one who taught her to remove electronics from direct body contact and turn off wireless whenever not needed (e.g,. bedtime). Another doctor who is in the know!