Hi ,
Here is the follow up email for the Friday, June 3rd National Call for Safe Technology.
Last week's call began with intros of a few new attendees (we're so excited to have more people are joining us each week!) and a big thank you to those who responded to sign onto the CEQ and WHEJAC submissions.
Total there were 61 individuals and groups who signed onto these submissions with less than a day's notice!
We'd like to attach the final submissions to this email in addition to documents shared during the call, however the file sizes are too big. We are figuring out a solution and send them when we do. Please
And now...get ready for our longest email yet!...
Odette then went over ALL of the updates on hearings, comments, and news listed in the agenda (attached in our last email) however there are a few specifically that are upcoming:
- June 9, 2022: FCC’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC) meeting on “6G, artificial intelligence, advanced spectrum sharing technologies, and emerging wireless technologies, including new tools to restore Internet access during shutdowns and other disruptions.” Catherine Dodd noted on the call that "we need comments that Wired Fiber Optic To and Through the Premises has better security, is faster and is EASIER to upgrade. FCC should prioritize wired FTTP." See
here for more info: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-456A1.pdf and https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-455A1.pdf
- Comments for Disability Council - forthcoming
- FCC: https://www.fcc.gov/equity
- Equity Action Plan - Executive Order 13985 – Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
This was not mentioned during the call, but is relevant because we have other opportunities to provide comments to NEJAC and to the EPA, both of whom want to hear comments by environmental justice advocates.
It's important that we show up in large numbers to give our public comments and follow up with written comments.
We will be preparing another group submission to NEJAC, but adding individual comments would underscore our points!
Here is the information in a recent email sent out by the EPA regarding a hearing on June 21st National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call:
EPA invites Environmental Justice (EJ) advocates to participate in the next National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call taking place on June 21, 2022 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time). These calls are free and open to the public.
Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/epa-natl-environmental-justice-community-engagement-call-june-21-2022-registration-325152619237
Agenda:
The purpose of these calls is to inform the community and other stakeholders about EPA's EJ work and enhance opportunities to maintain an open dialogue with EJ advocates.
Please email Motilall.Christina@epa.gov by June 17, 2022 to request reasonable accommodation for a disability or interpreter services in a language other than English, so that you can participate in the call and/or to request a translation of any of the event documents into a language other than English.
For more information about the National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Calls, please email Garza.Johnathan@epa.gov or Motilall.Christina@epa.gov.
Recordings and meeting materials for all calls are posted here: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/national-environmental-justice-community-engagement-calls.
For up-to-date information about Environmental Justice funding opportunities, events, and webinars, subscribe to EPA's Environmental Justice listserv by sending a blank email to: join-epa-ej@lists.epa.gov. Follow us on Twitter: @EPAEnvJustice
Odette also reminded us to call our Senators regarding Gigi Sohn FCC Commissioner nomination.
Odette reported that she spoke with Chuck Schumer's telecom staff who said Senator Schumer is interested in Gigi Sohn as a nominee but has other "global priorities." We talked about how to let him know this is a priority. Additionally, it was clarified that Gigi doesn't want campaigning for her nomination to be about stopping or banning wireless.
When you call, please remind your Senator that Gigi is not affiliated with the telecommunications industry that the FCC is charged with regulating, and that she will take consumer interests into consideration and seek bi-partisan support for real solutions.
And just in case you haven't seen this yet, we are including it here as well:
**Fiber is great, but it should be noted that Wired Fiber Optic To and Through the Premises should be the priority on future projects!
CECE DOUCETTE & KATE KHEEL (respectively) were unable to attend the call, but shared many informative links with us to send to you which we are including here:
Cece's Links
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Kate's Links
The UN, Technology Addiction, and The Eruption of Deep-Sea Mining - Sean Carney for Safe Tech International: Sean Carney takes a deep dive into deep-sea mining, "rebranded capitalism,” volcanos, and SDGs that "greenwash their continued pillage and profiteering operations, callously disregarding the broadening trail of environmental devastation in their wake.” Sean weaves so much together with artistry, care, and wisdom.
Digitalising Wilmslow: 5G Assault on Health and Environment without Informed Consent - Guest Blog by Brian McGavin for Safe Tech International: Brian McGavin shares his response to the Wilmslow Town Council upon their announcement of an initiative to digitalize Wilmslow. Brian clearly and concisely enumerates the many and multi-faceted harms such an “upgrade” would pose. Brian's letter is offered as a template for others similarly trying to
awaken their often uninformed town officials.
Electromagnetic Fields Largely Ignored in Insect Decline Research, a guest blog by Camilla Scaramanga for Safe Tech International. Camilla gives an overview of the impacts of wireless on insects, concluding: On assessing the evidence, it is vital to look at the funding source of studies. Measures advocated by mainstream science to stem the tide of extinction do not address what may be the principal cause of insect decline. While a
tiny fraction profit from wireless radiation, all pay for ignoring its impact on our fragile, finely tuned ecosystem. The cast of progress needs revision if it bequeaths erasure. The only real solution is the immediate withdrawal of 4-5G cell towers and mobile phones worldwide, as a matter of urgency.
If you would like to submit a guest blog on 5G/EMF or a closely related topic, please contact team@safetechinternational.org to discuss.
Sidnee Cox asked if there is real data out there showing real estate values are impacted and who might be willing to do some digging in their areas to get an idea of what is really going on with real estate values and 5G nodes and/or towers. She also mentioned a "Dear Neighbor Flyer" she created, which can be found on her website: https://safetech4santarosa.org/
A real estate story was shared: https://www.nationalbusinesspost.com/cell-towers-impact-home-values/
Courtney Gilardi shared antennasearch.com as a resource to look up locations of these before you buy a house or go on vacation.
Courtney Gilardi in Pittsfield, Massachusetts gave an update (please see Courtney's most recent update below): They were blindsided by what happened at the June 1st Board of Health meeting. The Board of Health came out of the closed session and announced they decided to revoke the Cease and Desist. The BOH said they do not have the money. Apparently the city council wouldn't provide the funds necessary to hire lawyers. When they came out and made that
announcement they also talked about re-looking at "community based solutions." It is unclear what is meant by that.
Here is a June 1st article from iBerkshires regarding Pittsfield’s BoH rescinding the C&D: https://www.iberkshires.com/story/68417/Pittsfield-Health-Board-Rescinds-Verizon-Cease-Desist-Order.html
HERE IS COURTNEY'S MOST RECENT PITTSFIELD UPDATE - SENT OUT TODAY:
Dear Friends,
It is with an undeterred heart that I share the Berkshire Eagle story on Verizon dropping the suit in response to the Board of Health recusing the cell tower cease and desist order after their investigation and finding of harm.
After two nearly two years of doctors and experts weighing in, an 18 month long investigation, two commercial land owners coming forward with alternative sites for the tower, multiple conversations between the board of health and Verizon, six months of legal legwork to understand the rights of the Board under Massachusetts General law, state sanitary code, environmental law, hazard, nuisance law, the plenary powers of the Board of Health and discussions with the
mayor and the city solicitor who acknowledge the board's authority and due diligence- please tell me- if pursuing this legally is not the solution, what is?
We've reached out to our legislators, spoken and written on behalf of passing safe tech bills both here an in NH, pursued this with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, contacted and engaged with Verizon and Farley White Corporation, and when all that failed to provide relief, we asked the President for help.
Attorneys recently intervened on our behalf to show our commitment to defending the order in partnership with the city and continuing to provide expertise and legal council. Help was here.
The board was forced to recuse the order based on having been starved of funding for legal council. It should have gone to a council vote. It never did.
For those local, please join us on June 14 at 5:30 pm outside Pittsfield City Hall to either hold a sign and stand with us and then for 6 pm open comments to stand with Amelia and all of those still fighting to live or return safely to their homes.
With gratitude for your steadfast support and care,
Courtney & crew
Following Courtney, Long Beach California residents Moira Hahn and Mark Hotchkiss gave an update: They recently argued, in their appeal of an AT&T cell tower, that the city of Long Beach improperly claimed a ‘Categorical Exemption’ in order to avoid an environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
CEQA states that the requirements for a categorical exemption are replacing a ‘structure with a like structure’ that performs the same function. Replacing a street light with a cell tower adds a function that would cause environmental impacts.
While Hahn/Hotchkiss’ appeal was denied, their attorney informed the city that the CEQA aspect of their case must be heard, by law, by the city’s ‘lead agency’, which in this case will be the Long Beach City Council. They are waiting for their public hearing date.
Another interesting note was the hearing officer acknowledged it was dangerous in his response, but denied it based on the fact there was nothing he could do about these issues because he didn't have the authority to go against what the city ordinances say.
Watch Moira and Mark's latest video and make sure to like and subscribe! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e0tkLVJHpu8&feature=youtu.be
You can read more here: https://ehtrust.org/california-artist-to-lose-home-after-5g-cell-tower-planned-for-front-yard/
Next we heard from Andy Hinson in North Carolina regarding his incredible battle against a Verizon tower sited too close to their home. If you'd like to hear Andy's story for yourself, you can go to the following time stamps on the call replay:
https://youtu.be/3B52BMhuYkQ - Andy begins at 1:14:10 and goes until 1:34:58
Here is the GoFundMe page, https://gofund.me/30639497. Please donate and share this page!
And here is the update sent by Susan Foster which we shared last week: Even a small donation could help Andy Hinson reach their fundraising goal. And if you can't make a donation, it would be great if you could share the fundraiser to help spread the word.
Susan has been working on this case with Andy Hinson in North Carolina for months. They set it up so an attorney can go for an injunction against Verizon to stop the tower from being activated by June 6. They had to put Verizon on legal notice and then gave them 30 days. The response, rather than relocating the tower, which is indeed going to take Andy's mother's life due to her fragile health (supported by physicians letters), was to come in and start cutting
down trees to build a road and pour concrete for the platform for this 199-foot tower 800 feet from the Hinson home.
Andy is a 43-year-old factory worker who has galvanized more support from around the globe than any individual Susan has ever seen. He deserves our help. What is happening is going to be happening to every single one of us in the form of one tower or another unless we collectively speak up and fight back. Mrs. Hinson is refusing to leave a property that has been in the Hinson family going back to the Civil War because she promised her husband and her
father-in-law she would maintain the property for her sons – the 6th generation of Hinson's. Her husband's ashes are scattered on this property and she will die before she leaves. Let's change the conversation, shall we? Every $5 dollars will help. Thank you so much! Please share widely. Andy needs your help.
After the call, the following reminder was shared with us by Jill McManus of New York, and we wanted to pass it on:
"About Verizon being a bully – it is a bully with impunity, because it is in charge of a large part US military telecommunications and thus backed by the full force and power of the U of S. They rule the law, not vice versa? Why local levels are being squelched everywhere. Some of these are extensions of previous contracts with the branches.
And how about this little billing problem to a press pool whose equipment belongs to the Pentagon!
Jesus Mendoza in Mission, Texas mentioned he is still requesting letters of support for his cases!
They can be a short as a paragraph, but the courts need to know he's not the only one suffering from EMS. Please include your personal experiences in your request if possible to help them understand EHS/EMS is an emergency.
Jesus asks that if you have personal stories of EMS to please include those in your letter.
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR SUPPORT LETTERS FOR JESUS MENDOZA TO:
2315jeanne@gmail.com
If you'd like to see Jesus's blog you can go here: https://www.wirelesswatchblog.org/
And finally, another bit of news shared, T Mobile just launched a marketing campaign against Verizon:
Whew - that was a lot right? Ok, we will be back in a day or two with a letter-writing campaign that was mentioned on this call, as well as an NIST Request for Public Comment notice!
Sincerely,
Jenny DeMarco
Virginians for Safe Technology
VirginiansforSafeTech@protonmail.com
Odette Wilkens
Wired Broadband, Inc.
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