As we discussed in our last two meetings and as previously announced in this notice, we are holding our meetings at 2:30 so that Charles can attend the meetings.  Let's see how this time works for everyone - please let me know.

Here's the registration link for the Federal Bills meeting: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcldeuhrDItHtHSz4DbrVwAxaJeP--XwsU9

1) S.1764 Western Wildfire Support Act has not yet been voted on by the Senate

Directs federal land management agencies to expedite deployment and permitting of technology for wildfire detection. This technology includes "Sensors, cameras, and other relevant equipment," which will likely require wired and wireless connectivity and electricity. 

Call and email your U.S. Senator to: 

(a) amend S.1764 to expressly exclude wireless technologies from Sections 201 and 206 because of the risk of fires from wireless facilities and 

(b) ask for a Roll Call vote
 

(2)  HR 8790 Fix Our Forests Act -- Section 303 provides for a pilot study to test 5G to prevent wildfires.  This passed the House, so it is now in the Senate.  

Call and email your U.S. Senator to:

(a) amend HR 8790 Section 303 to exclude wireless because of the risk of fires from wireless facilities and

(b) ask for a Roll Call vote

Cell towers are electrical installations and have already caused fires. See Fact Sheet on Wildfire Risk and Cell Towers (above the fold). 

Scheduling Meetings

We are now scheduling meetings with federal Representatives and Senators for the week of September 30.  We are not scheduling meetings for the week of October 7th.  We will resume the following week. 

Please set up those meetings now with your Rep and 2 Senators.  Ask for the telecom staffer to discuss the federal telecom bills and bridging the digital divide.

Just contact your U.S. Representative and Senators.  At the meeting, Charles Frohman, lobbyist for the National Health Federation, and Odette will discuss the bills. You just bring yourself, other constituents and local officials (if possible) to the meeting, and talk about your experiences on the local level - protests, city council meetings, health impact, articles, etc.  

To find your federal electeds, call 202-225-3121 Capitol switchboard or go to: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials?iframe=1&iframe=1&iframe=1&iframe=1

Here are Charles and Odette's availability EDT, subject to change as we fill up the schedule (we'll let you know):

Combined Availability for Charles and Odette EDT (week of Oct 14):

M 10-10:45am; 12:15-4pm

Tu 2:30-4pm

W 10am-11am; 1:30-2pm; 3-4pm

Th 1:15-2:30pm

Fr ---

Combined Availability for Charles and Odette EDT (week of Oct 21):

M 10am - 4pm

Tu 2:30-3:30pm

W 10am-11am; 1:30-2pm; 3-4pm

Th 1:15-2:30pm

Fr 10am-12:45pm

To stay up to date on bills and our submissions to committees in Congress, please see:

https://ehtrust.org/congress/ 

https://thenationalcall.org/advocacy-and-action/ 

• HR 8467 - Farm Bill - streamline wireless deployment and eliminate environmental review for a large swath of towers
• HR 8082 - nullify the small cell order. SUPPORT. Need NJ-Smith Zoom call
• HR 8230 - NEPA exemptions in national forests. OPPOSE. Need SD-Johnson Zoom call
• HR 6492 - Federal lands omnibus bill, incorporates S 2018 to carpet 5G towers in forests, a serious fire risk - AMEND in Senate
• HR 4510 - NTIA Reauthorization Act, incorporates HR 1123 to study cybersecurity but expressly excludes 5G which is most insecure - AMEND
• HR 1513 creates an FCC 6G task force to create plans for 6G deployments. AMEND to require the task force also to study health and environmental impacts.

Here is a 1-1/2 pager to explain the issues - a Congressional briefing. https://thenationalcall.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Congressional-Briefing-5-19-24-FINAL.pdf 

Attached are fact sheets on the federal bills, bills passed in the House, and our comments to the FCC's then proposed Net Neutrality rule.   The final FCC Net Neutrality order mentions our comments ("Wired Broadband, Inc. et al") 19 times. Although the FCC disagreed with us, we are now being acknowledged. See order at https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-restores-net-neutrality-0.

It's important that we expand our efforts in reaching our electeds in Congress and the Senate.  Pro-telecom bills are already passing through Committees and the House, so we need to act quickly.  Many of our US Representatives and Senators are in favor of these bills. We need to change that.