Hi ,
HR 6492 Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE Act) is an Omnibus national parks bill that incorporates Connect Our Parks Act (HR 5919 / S 2018) and authorizes the installation of broadband internet in forests and on federal recreational lands. Because it is “technologically neutral,” it would
expand cell towers in national parks, unless “wireless” is expressly excluded.
The ask is to amend Sections 141 and 142 to expressly exclude wireless facilities, including without limitation, cell towers.
It needs to be amended before it goes to the House floor for a vote, which can happen at any time.
Congressional
activity:
HR 6492 was passed unanimously out of the Natural Resources Committee on a bipartisan basis about Jan 17, 2024. It has been referred to the House Agriculture Committee, Subcommittee on Forestry. Veterans Affairs Committee also has jurisdiction over this bill.
What can you do? MOVE QUICKLY!
- See if your legislator is on any of these committees:
- Natural Resources https://naturalresources.house.gov/about/members.htm
- Agriculture https://agriculture.house.gov/about/committee_members.htm
- Forestry https://agriculture.house.gov/issues/issue/?IssueID=14911
- Veteran Affairs https://veterans.house.gov/about/members.htm
- Call that office and ask to speak with the staffer dealing with that bill (probably telecom)
- Arrange for a meeting no later than week of Feb 5, 2024 for 30-45 mins
- Invite constituents to the meeting
- Invite Odette who will also invite Charles Frohman to discuss the bills
Other problems:
- National parks are havens from over-digitalization (also prescribed by doctors)
- Emergency communication devices and services for accidents are
already available to visitors; iPhones are enabled to use satellite network to call 911
- A cell tower fire will interrupt cell service, and visitors will need to escape the fire. In that instance, the cell tower would cause the very emergency that it is supposed to prevent, i.e., no access to cell service because of a cell tower fire from which they now have to escape. 5G is known to run “hot,” thereby increasing the risk of
fire.
The problem is that wireless and wired connections are viewed as “technologically neutral.”
- They are not equivalent technologies; wired connections such as fiber or coaxial cable, with greater capacity, more security, more privacy.
- Cell towers are electrical installations and have already caused major
fires, e.g., CA had several fires caused by faulty telecom equipment, the worst in CA history being the Woolsey Fire in 2018: destroyed more than 100,000 acres of forest, 3 deaths, evacuation of more than 295,000 residents, cost $6 billion in damages.
We'll be back with other federal bills as they gain traction.
