We need to become aware of the dangers of 5G and act

To The Daily Sun,

I ask your help in addressing risks of 4G and 5G small cell towers. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules allow these wireless facilities 10-20 feet from homes on rights of way, neglect fire, falling, and other hazards while setting an absolute 60- to 90-day shot clock, regardless of application number. New FCC rules allow small cellular infrastructure to be installed essentially anywhere without local control or reasonable fees.

FCC rules are being challenged in the Ninth Circuit by many municipalities; the Massachusetts Municipal Association is also against these rules: and heads of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology have written to the FCC questioning collusion.

Congresswomen Eshoo and Speier have introduced HR-530 to block the FCC preemption of local authority. The National Resource Defense Council is also challenging new FCC rules that exempt small cells from historic and environmental considerations.

Wireless facilities have traditionally been kept from bird migration areas, as birds become disoriented by the signals. High power, proximity, and even new wireless frequencies from a deluge of small cells add up to a pervasive threat to the environment, including ourselves. Higher frequencies, such as above 6 GHz, will be used for 5G. Scientists in the field expect these higher frequencies to heighten skin cancer risks and be devastating to insects, including bees. Research by the US National Toxicological Program (NTP) found cardiac and tumor risks heightened just from 2G wireless exposures, and other researchers have confirmed the NTP findings at ambient power levels.

Burlington, Massachusetts, recently revised the town ordinances in a manner that caused the applications put forth by Verizon to be withdrawn. Petaluma County, California, recently revised town ordinances to require under-grounding of equipment and large setbacks from residences. Pittsfield, Massachusetts, recently revised city ordinances to limit the number of "small cells" placed on a structure.

We need to become aware of the dangers of 5G and act.

Kayla Lawson

Laconia