Cell Towers Everywhere, Near You? The Small Cell Mesh Network of Pre 5G

Update: Something amazing has happened in California!

As of October 15, 2017, Governor Jerry Brown VETOED CA Senate Bill 649!

We are very happy! This means no cell towers in every corner, and less EMF/RF energy contaminating the air as we walk around in public…We don’t need more toxins, right? Let’s keep being outside a GOOD thing for our bodies.

A big thank you to those who supported the veto of this bill. You helped us win this!

If you want to read our original piece to this story, read below.

Be Well!

– August

We are soon to be connected everywhere. Like, literally all over the place it seems. The California Senate Bill 649 has passed the House and the Senate and is about to land on the Governor's desk.  If he signs it into law, by January 1st, 2018, the State of California will allow  "small cell" transmitters to be placed on any publicly owned property, such as utility poles, stop signs, or public buildings, without the need of additional permits. At this rate, we’ll be getting WiFi installed in public bathrooms (!). If you want the details, check out Sean Everett, Tech Writer for Medium's, "The Mission").

Interestingly, the Fire Departments expressed their concerns and are now excluded from having any fire department be a location that could be used for these small cells. In addition, the bill didn't clear the House and Senate without other opposition.  The California Alliance For Safer Technology was formed to: "defeat SB 649 which is a giveaway of our local authority to control where Verizon, AT&T, and the other wireless companies locate their cell towers.  

In fact, according to BioInitiative 2012 "Researchers report headaches, concentration difficulties and behavioral problems in children and adolescents; and sleep disturbances, headaches and concentration problems in adults. Public safety standards are 1,000 – 10,000 or more times higher than levels now commonly reported in mobile phone base station studies to cause bioeffects."

Ellen Marks from The California Brain Tumor Association is leading the charge and created the website and Facebook page. 

Science and Public Policy expert Dr. George Carlo reminds us, particularly in regards to this important legislation,

We are not without experience as a society in addressing the safety of emerging technologies and their consequences. Clear air, clear water, cigarette smoke, hazardous waste sites -- all give us a potential roadmap. However, what's different about wireless is the rapidity with which it has worked itself into every aspect of life. The politics around the commercial impacts of any change in the status quo have created an inertia that unfortunately has made federal and state governments impotent in protecting consumers who use wireless. That aspect is unprecedented and that's what makes it essential to address the issue at the local government level."

Well said, Dr. Carlo. The main issue with this bill is that it removes the local government and local residents from having any control in the placement of, or the allowance of additional "small cell" towers. This is actually a pretty big deal that unfortunately, most people will never even hear about until its a fait accompli.   If you're concerned about  California Senate Bill 649 there are two things you can do: Share this post. Contact the office of Governor Jerry Brown

Additional Information

You can read the Rationale for Public Exposure Standards for Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF) here. Need to learn more about Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF's) so you can fully understand the potential impact this bill has, please read The Safertech Guide here Stay informed!

Be Well! 💙

Here's the research