By Elizabeth A. Kelley,
Executive Director, Electromagnetic Safety Alliance, and Director, EMFScientist.org.
The 5th Generation wireless communication infrastructure is being deployed at breakneck speed across the nation, with promises of faster speed, lower latency, greater connectivity and seamless coverage guaranteed with low-Earth orbit satellites. The Federal Communications Commission and 22 U.S. states have issued regulations and enacted laws that preempt local control over planning and zoning authorities, reduce fees, and that prohibit environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act and historic reviews under the National Historic Preservation Act. A 1996 federal law prohibited states and localities from taking health concerns into account when denying a permit as long as the exposure conditions are compliant with the FCC’s inadequate radiofrequency radiation exposure guidelines.
These policy changes are designed to streamline the installation of millions of small cell 5G antennas on rights-of-way close to buildings. Multiple antennas will transmit signals using pulsed ultra-high frequency millimeter waves (MMW) that are comparable to wireless transmissions that the military uses for weaponry and surveillance. Limited available science on MMW exposures point to harmful health effects, such as painful burning sensations, heart changes, and damage to soft tissues, such as eyes and testes. More people are already experiencing electromagnetic hypersensitivity symptoms due to the proliferation of hazardous electrical and wireless sources. With 5G being deployed, there may be no place to go to avoid harmful exposures.
The U.S. Congress is working with private sector corporations to win the “Race to 5G’ while ignoring the impact on health and the environment. There are no U.S. safety standards to protect workers or the public from overexposure to electricity. The FCC’s radiofrequency human exposure standards set safety limits based on studies that only protect against heating effects and short-term exposure. These standards ignore credible scientific evidence showing biological and health effects at low intensities that occur far below the FCC’s so-called safety threshold. These standards do not begin to address the multi-frequency pulsed electromagnetic polluted environments we now live in every day. Standards are non-existent when it comes to protecting birds, bees, trees and soils.
On February 5, 2019, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) questioned the Telecom industry representatives who testified before a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on “The Race to 5G” about the health and safety implications: “How much money has the industry committed to supporting additional independent research—I stress independent—research? The industry representatives answered “none.” At the end of the exchange, Blumenthal concluded, “So there is really no research ongoing. We’re kind of flying blind here, as far as health and safety is concerned.” See Blumenthal’s remarks at this hearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The International EMF Scientist Appeal, that calls for greater health protection from all electrical and wireless sources, is directed to the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the UN Environment Program and all UN Member States. It was submitted in 2015 and is currently signed by 247 concerned scientists in 42 nations. The signatories have published peer reviewed papers reporting that non-ionizing radiation sources used for electricity and wireless technologies are capable of posing serious risks to humankind and nature. The appeal calls for biologically-based exposure standards, especially to protect children and fetal development. The advisors to the appeal are calling for 5G to not be deployed until it has been safety tested. This appeal has been disseminated world-wide and is often referred to as an authoritative and credible statement.
This historic and vast wireless deployment of 5G technology would likely be even more vulnerable to hacking with consequences more far-reaching than the limited connectivity we enjoy today. Consumer purchasing behaviors, physical location, and other personal characteristics will be profiled and stored in large data banks. Personal freedoms could be jeopardized by opportunistic and anti-democratic forces that impose and exploit new technology that connects everyone and everything.
5G deployment is being challenged by the U. S. Conference of Mayors and cities and counties across America. There are safer alternatives, such as installing fiber optic networks to the premises. It’s not too late for citizens to act!