Hello Everyone,

Round-up on Committee on Technology Hearing,

April 29, 2025

"Disgraceful" 

says Council Member Lincoln Restler, of OTI's "complete lack of community engagement."  Restler represents Greenpoint, parts of Vinegar Hill, Williamsburg, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo.

Restler expressed the frustration from his district: 

"On private property in front of people’s homes."  

"No communication with property owners whatsoever."  He pointed out that there was no communication from OTI other than letters to the community board, borough president and himself.   

"Never have I encountered a process that is so inconsiderate."  He said that even DOT talks to every property owner before installing CityBike lanes.

OTI's Brett Sikoff countered that OTI had spent many hours attending community board meetings.  Restler corrected OTI

that "instead of OTI taking responsibility to notify the stakeholders, it’s the responsibility of the community boards?  I don’t understand how an agency can be so inconsiderate without meaningful community engagement." 

He said that today, he was going to write legislation that would delineate the process that OTI should take "to talk to every stakeholder."

Agenda:

1. ALERT!  Submit your testimony to oppose the 5G Tpwers due by 10am Thurs, May 1st.  Go online, at council.nyc.gov/testify.  Select: Committee on Technology, April 29.  
2. Federal: FCC's Public Notice seeking public comment on what FCC rules and regulations to "delete," the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the CTIA (Cellular Telephone Industry Association) have asked to exempt telecom infrastructure from much of the NEPA and NHPA review, the very review that CityBridge is doing in NYC.  See the submission by Wired Broadband, Inc.(attached) which are the reply comments filed on Monday, April 28, 2025.
3. QCB6 - Forest Hills concerned residents and parents (15-20 people) held a rally against 5G Tower at PS 144 on Tues, April 1, 2025 at 2pm, citing biological hazards especially for children, nuisance hazards and attracting an unsavory element into a residential community, an eyesore.   
   1. Video footage of the speeches https://vimeo.com/1072648308?share=copy#t=0
   2. Support Forest Hills and sign the petition https://forms.gle/6aZSMzLK4tZ4sYzk6.
   3. Press release and post rally press release are attached.
   4. Assembly Member Hevesi wrote to Matt Fraser, NYC CTO, and to SHPO to move the 5G Tower away from the school. 
   5. See Environmental Health Trust's summary of cell tower effects on children at https://ehtrust.org/letter-from-dr-magda-havas-to-city-of-pittsfield-ma-on-cell-tower-radiation/
   6. See also the biological summary attached.
4. BkCB1 - 5G "small cells" installation update
5. BxCB12 - status update
6. MCB1 - complaint filed with the FCC on environmental impact of 5G Towers.  See article: Link Stink https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Link-Stink.html?soid=1101992539878&aid=99a6PME2DHQ
7. Sec 106 Review - NYC Historic Preservation
   1. ALERT! Notices are being posted in the New York Post by Crown Castle and Boldyn (CityBridge) to put 4G/5G antennas on utlity poles.  You must respond within 30 days after the posting to state any adverse aesthetic effects under federal law, otherwise, you will lose your chance to oppose them. 
   2. The 30 day time clock starts when Crown Castle files applications with SHPO; but since we don't have transparency on when the filings have been done, it may be safer to calculate from the posting date of the relevant ad in the NY Post.  
   3. BECOME A CONSULTING PARTY!  THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN ALSO COMMENT.  See attached document entitled "Section 106 Review ... " for instructions. Deadlines to file comments on many 5G Towers have already passed and others are fast approaching.  YOU NEED TO ACT NOW!
   4. The NYS Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has not objected to Towers in many locations. Those are missed opportunities.

7.  Congress / Senate.  Please schedule meetings with federal, state and local lawmakers to talk about the federal telecom bills and bridging the digital divide.  New telecom bills are being introduced in this new Congress.  We'll keep you posted,.  Charles Frohman and I will present on the bills.  Please schedule around our availability: Contact me at hello@thenationalcall.org or reply to this email.

Hello Everyone,

Round-up on Committee on Technology Hearing,

April 29, 2025

"Disgraceful" 

says Council Member Lincoln Restler, representing Greenpoint, parts of Vinegar Hill, Williamsburg, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo.

Agenda:

1. ALERT!  Sign up to testify on Tues April 29 10am at City Hall, in person or online, at council.nyc.gov/testify.  Select: Committee on Technology, April 29.  Written testimony is also accepted online at this link.  Let us know if you would like to speak at the press conference and what organization you would be representing.
2. Federal: FCC's Public Notice seeking public comment on what FCC rules and regulations to "delete," the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the CTIA (Cellular Telephone Industry Association) have asked to exempt telecom infrastructure from much of the NEPA and NHPA review, the very review that CityBridge is doing in NYC.  See the submission by Wired Broadband, Inc.(attached).  Reply comments are due on Monday, April 28, 2025.
3. QCB6 - Forest Hills concerned residents and parents (15-20 people) held a rally against 5G Tower at PS 144 on Tues, April 1, 2025 at 2pm, citing biological hazards especially for children, nuisance hazards and attracting an unsavory element into a residential community, an eyesore.   
   1. Video footage of the speeches https://vimeo.com/1072648308?share=copy#t=0
   2. Support Forest Hills and sign the petition https://forms.gle/6aZSMzLK4tZ4sYzk6.
   3. Press release and post rally press release are attached.
   4. Assembly Member Hevesi wrote to Matt Fraser, NYC CTO, and to SHPO to move the 5G Tower away from the school. 
   5. See Environmental Health Trust's summary of cell tower effects on children at https://ehtrust.org/letter-from-dr-magda-havas-to-city-of-pittsfield-ma-on-cell-tower-radiation/
   6. See also the biological summary attached.
4. BkCB1 - 5G "small cells" installation update
5. BxCB12 - status update
6. MCB1 - complaint filed with the FCC on environmental impact of 5G Towers.  See article: Link Stink https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Link-Stink.html?soid=1101992539878&aid=99a6PME2DHQ
7. Sec 106 Review - NYC Historic Preservation
   1. ALERT! Notices are being posted in the New York Post by Crown Castle and Boldyn (CityBridge) to put 4G/5G antennas on utlity poles.  You must respond within 30 days after the posting to state any adverse aesthetic effects under federal law, otherwise, you will lose your chance to oppose them. 
   2. The 30 day time clock starts when Crown Castle files applications with SHPO; but since we don't have transparency on when the filings have been done, it may be safer to calculate from the posting date of the relevant ad in the NY Post.  
   3. BECOME A CONSULTING PARTY!  THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN ALSO COMMENT.  See attached document entitled "Section 106 Review ... " for instructions. Deadlines to file comments on many 5G Towers have already passed and others are fast approaching.  YOU NEED TO ACT NOW!
   4. The NYS Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has not objected to Towers in many locations. Those are missed opportunities.

7.  Congress / Senate.  Please schedule meetings with federal, state and local lawmakers to talk about the federal telecom bills and bridging the digital divide.  New telecom bills are being introduced in this new Congress.  We'll keep you posted,.  Charles Frohman and I will present on the bills.  Please schedule around our availability: Contact me at hello@thenationalcall.org or reply to this email.