Il Governatore della California stoppa una bozza di legge locale che avrebbe inibito i Comuni per le autorizzazione alle 'piccole antenne' 5G

 

Il Governatore scrive

"Questo disegno di legge limiterebbe la capacità dei governi locali e delle aziende elettriche di proprietà pubblica di regolare il posizionamento di impianti wireless a piccole celle su infrastrutture pubbliche e limiterebbe la compensazione che può essere raccolta per l'uso di questi beni pubblici".

Il disegno di legge avrebbe permesso alle compagnie di comunicazione di usare i pali comunali per le loro infrastrutture wireline e wireless. Il disegno di legge avrebbe interessato più di 500 comuni e servizi elettrici comunali permettendo all'industria wireless di installare antenne "small cell" sui pali della luce e sui pali dei segnali stradali. Il disegno di legge prevaricava l'autorità locale e sosteneva di aiutare l'industria wireless ad espandere l'accesso alla banda larga; tuttavia, non richiedeva all'industria di espandere le strutture a banda larga o di colmare il divario digitale.

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Electromagnetic Radiation Safety, October 4, 2021

Today California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed SB 556, an industry-sponsored "small cell" bill.

The bill would have allowed communications companies to use municipal utility poles for their wireline and wireless infrastructure. The bill would have affected more than 500 municipalities and municipal electric utilities by letting the wireless industry install "small cell" antennas on light poles and traffic signal poles. The bill preempted local authority and claimed to help the wireless industry expand broadband access; yet, it did not require the industry to expand broadband facilities or close the digital divide.

The Governor's veto letter stated: "This bill would restrict the ability of local governments and publicly-owned electric utilities to regulate the placement of small cell wireless facilities on public infrastructure and limit the compensation that may be collected for use of these public assets."

According to the Senate Floor Analyses (09/01/2021):

"Opponents raise a variety of concerns associated with this bill. Opponents claim that this bill could have negative consequences for public health, safety, and cybersecurity due to the technologies deployed. Opponents also argue that this bill conflicts with the FCC’s regulations, creates ambiguities about local fees for utility attachments, and limits local governments’ ability to regulate access to public rights of way without enabling local governments to effectively enforce consumer protections. In opposition, the League of California Cities states, “SB 556 directly conflicts with the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) adopted regulations on wireless services deployment, which cities and counties across the nation are actively implementing. This measure requires local governments to make space available to telecommunications providers without recognizing local authority to manage the public right of way preserved in federal law. FCC regulations explicitly enable local governments to ensure that such installations meet appearance and design standards, maintain traffic safety, protect historical resources' integrity, and safeguard citizens' quality of life. To protect the public's investment, the control of the public rights of way must remain local.”

Opponents to the bill included the following organizations and municipalities (as of 8/31/2021):

5G Free California
5G Free Marin
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
American Public Works Association – California Chapter
Americans for Responsible Technology
Bay Area Educators for Safe Technology
California Contract Cities Association
California Institute for Biodiversity
California Municipal Utilities Association
California Special Districts Association
California State Association of Counties
California Street Light Association
Californian for Energy Choice
Californians for Safe Technology
Center for Democratic and Environmental Rights
Center for Environmental Health
Cities of Agoura Hills, Arcata, Bellflower, Belmont, Beverly Hills, Brea, Calabasas, Camarillo, Campbell, Carlsbad, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Chino, Chino Hills, Clearlake, Clovis, Colton, Corona, Costa Mesa, Culver City, Cupertino, Del Mar, Downey, Eastvale, El Centro, El Segundo, Elk Grove, Encinitas, Fairfield, Fortuna, Foster City, Fountain Valley, Hesperia, Huntington Beach, Inglewood, La Cañada Flintridge, La Habra, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Lakewood, Lakeport, Lathrop, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Altos, Madera, Maywood, Menifee, Mission Viejo, Monterey, Newport Beach, Norwalk, Novato, Oakdale, Oceanside, Pacifica, Palmdale, Palo Alto, Petaluma, Placentia, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Cucamonga, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redding, Redondo Beach, Redwood City, Ripon, Riverbank, San Buenaventura, San Carlos, San Diego, San Fernando, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita, Santa Monica, Sebastopol, Signal Hill, Simi Valley, Solano Beach, South Lake Tahoe, Stockton, Sunnyvale, Tehachapi, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Tracy, Tulare, Ukiah, Union City, Vacaville, Ventura, Vista, Wasco, West Hollywood, and Whittier
Communications Workers of America, District 9
Community Planet Foundation
Community Union, Inc.
Consumers for Safe Cell Phones
East Bay Neighborhoods for Responsible Technology
Ecological Option Network
EMF Safety Network
Environmental Health Trust
Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles
FACTS: Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxins Safety
Fusion Message of Santa Barbara
GMO Science
Grassroots Environmental Education
Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce
Keep Baldy Wild
Keep Cell Antennas Away
League of California Cities
League of California Cities-Los Angeles County
Modesto Chamber of Commerce
Moms Across America
Monterey Vista Neighborhood Association
Napa County Progressive Alliance
Napa Neighborhood Association for Safe Technology
Nevada City Telecommunications Ordinance Public Working Group
Non Toxic Neighborhoods
Our City SF
Rural County Representatives of California
Sacramento County Board of Supervisors
Safe Tech 4 Santa Rosa
Salmon Protection and Watershed Network

Santa Barbara Body Therapy Institute
Santa Barbara Green Sisters
Save North Petaluma River and Wetlands
South Bay Cities Council of Government
Stop Smart Meters!
Sustainable TamAlmonte
The Balanced Runner
The Brain Tumor Association
The Utility Reform Network
Topanga Peace Alliance
Towards an Internet of Living Beings
Towns of Fairfax, Los Altos Hills, Mammoth Lake, Ross, and Truckee
Two Heads Tutoring
Urban Counties of California
Wire California
Wireless Radiation Alert Network
Wireless Radiation Education & Defense
320+ Individuals

--

Bill text for SB 556: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB537

Governor Newsom's veto message: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SB-556-Message-Scan.pdf

Governor Newsom's press release: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2021/10/04/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-to-protect-older-californians/

Analysis of SB 556 by Best, Best, & Krieger, Attorneys at Law: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/california-small-cell-bill-to-severely-2977039/

--

Related Posts:

"Regulators Steamroll Health Concerns as the Global Economy Embraces 5G" (The Washington Spectator)

"We Have No Reason to Believe 5G is Safe" (Scientific American)

Scientific American Created Confusion about 5G's Safety: Will They Clear It Up?

Cell Tower Health Effects

--

Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D., Director
Center for Family and Community Health
School of Public Health
University of California, Berkeley