On June 27, 2019, some of the leading Senators in Congress submitted a Bill – S. 2012 to restore local control over the deployment of 5G and abolish FCC regulations. 

The Bill S. 2012 – Restoring Local Control Over Public Infrastructure Act of 2019 was submitted by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and is cosponsored by some of the leading Democrat Senators in Congress: Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).

The Bill aims to abolish 3 the following regulatory actions adopted by the Federal Communication Commission and declares then as having “no force or effect”. Following a

1. The –  “Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment and Accelerating Wireless Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment’’ adopted by the Commission on August 2, 2018 (FCC 18–111). 
2. The ‘‘Declaratory Ruling and Third Report and Order in the matter of Accelerating Wireless Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment and Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment’’ adopted by the Commission on September 26, 2018 (FCC 18–133).
3. The rule adopted by the Commission titled ‘‘Accelerating Wireless and Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment’’ (83 Fed. Reg. 51867 (October 15, 2018)).

The Bill is The bill is supported by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, American Public Power Association, Communications Workers of America, National Association of Counties, League of California Cities and American Public Works Association.

Rep. Eshoo (D-CA) submitted on January 14, 2019 a House Bill – H.R.  530 Accelerating Broadband Development by Empowering Local Communities Act of 2019 which overturns the FCC’s ruling FCC 18–111 & 83 Fed. Reg. 51867 . Hence, the Senate Bill is wider and overturns also the Sept. 26 ruling FCC 18–133

While these bills are very much welcomed they still do not address the most important issue – the health effects of this technology. When will a Congressman will introduce a bill to overturn Section 704 of the Telecommunication Act of 1996 and or to amend it to clarify that ‘Environmental Considerations’ do not include ‘Health’ considerations. 

IMPORTANT – TO ANYONE WHO WORKS WITH MUNICIPALITIES ON ORDINANCES

Please be aware that according to Next Century Cities analysis of compliance with the Sept. 26 FCC Regulations, titled Summary of Final FCC Small Cell Order municipalities should insert a clause into their agreement with a carrier or infrastructure provider that voids the agreement or requiring  its modification, in the event of a regulatory change (including the overturning of the Order). 

Following is the exact text from the document: 

If a city enters into an agreement with a carrier and then the Order is overturned, is the city stuck with the agreement?
The answer in general is yes. No city is required to enter into any agreement with a
carrier or infrastructure provider. If a city does so voluntarily, it will almost certainly be
held to the terms of the agreement by a court. However, a city might be able to resolve
this problem by including in the agreement a clause voiding the agreement or requiring
its modification, in the event of a regulatory change (including the overturning of the
Order). Many types of telecommunications agreements contain such regulatory change
clauses because parties recognize that the wording or scope of specific provisions in the
agreement has been dictated by the then-existing telecommunications regulatory
scheme, and should be changed if the regulations change.

On June 13, Oregon Senate, in a unanimous vote passed SB 283, school wireless safety bill which directs Oregon’s Health Authority to Review INDEPENDENTLY FUNDED studies (ie – excluding wireless industry funded studies) on the health effects of wireless technology radiaiton and especially of Wi-Fi networks used in schools. The Bill is expected to pass the vote in the House. 

PRESS HERE to watch Sen. Laurie Monnes-Anderson’s speech before the vote (Instructions:click the link and either scroll down to SB 283 or advance the video to 1:45:00
.Senate Chamber Convenes 06/13/2019 04:00 PM – Jun 13th, 2019). 

The effort to pass the bill is led by David Morrison. David has been working to expose the absurdity of using of Wi-Fi in schools since 2011 when he submitted a lawsuit against Portland Public Schools for forcing involuntary exposure to radiation from powerful Wi-Fi in schools. The Press Release regarding the vote is Following. 

PRESS Here for an article “School Wireless Safety Bill Passes State Senate” published June 14. 

Wi-Fi in schools is also my personal soft spot and I was inspired by David’s lawsuit in 2011 and it pushed me to submit my lawsuit in Israel to remove Wi-Fi from schools and to install wired networks instead, a lawsuit that led to the first limitations on Wi-Fi in schools worldwide. I have submitted a testimony in support of the SB 283, Press Here to read the Testimony Submission of Dafna Tachover from We Are The Evidence to the Oregon’s Senate Health Committee in support of SB 283.

Recently, the Oregon Education Association – the union that represents 44,000 teachers across in  published a report about the crisis of out of control behavior of students. Oregon KGW8 followed with an article: Classrooms in Crisis: Verbal, physical, sometimes violent outbursts plaguing Oregon classrooms. Those of us who know the scientific evidence on the adverse effects of wireless have no doubt that the Wi-Fi in the classes and cell towers in/near schools are a major contributor to this problem if not the main cause. 

An  excellent article was published by the Epoch Times about the the adverse health effects of Wi-Fi in Schools  Wi-Fi in Schools: Experimenting With The Next Generation. 

The Press Release of David Morrison:

Written by: Martine Vriens, Director of International Legal Affairs for We Are The Evidence

On 30 January, 2019, an Italian Court in the city of Monza, Italy ruled that the Acoustic Neuroma brain tumor of an airport employee was caused by exposure to the radiation from a cell phone he used for over 10 years for his work. The court determined that the tumor has permanently incapacitated him, and ruled it to be an occupational disease. PRESS HERE for the Court’s Decision.

This is the fourth case in which the courts in Italy determined that an Acoustic Neuroma type brain tumor was caused by a cell phone, and the fifth court to make such ruling as in the first case the court decision was appealed and later confirmed by Italy’s Supreme Court. A Summary of the four cases is in the bottom of this article. 

The importance of the decision is not only that it’s another Italian Court decision that establishes the link between brain tumors and exposure to Radio-Frequency/Microwave Radiation that is emitted from cell phones, but also by recognizing that if the exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) was necessary for the purposes of work, the Acoustic Neuroma tumor may be considered an Occupational Disease.

Acoustic Neuroma, also known as Vestibular Schwannoma is a tumor which develops on the main nerve leading from the inner ear to the brain. This nerve influences balance and hearing, and pressure from an acoustic neuroma can cause hearing loss, ringing in the ear, and unsteadiness. Occasionally, it can interfere with brain functioning. It is a schwannoma type of tumor which means it develops on the Schwann cells covering the nerve.

It is important to mention that in the National Toxicology Program study of the US Federal government, the tumors that were found to be caused by exposure to cell phones’ radiation are schwannoma type tumors.tumor

The Case

From 1994 to 2010, an airport employee was exposed at his work to high levels of Radio-Frequency and Microwave radiation from a variety of antennas and high-frequency equipment: altitude signal repeaters, weather radars, satellite antennas, and airplane equipment.

In addition, for the purpose of the coordination of tasks which were part of his job in the office, he had to use a lot of Electromagnetic frequencies and radiation emitting devices such as mobile phones, two PCs that were always on, and signal repeaters (GSM and DECT).

Several times the employee and his colleagues reported to the employer that the levels of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and radiation were high and requested that the EMFs and radiation be measured, but they were ignored.

The employee used a Siemens DECT phone, a Nokia and later a Samsung cell phone for more than four hours a day, with phone sessions of up to 45 minutes consecutively and on the left side of his head. In 2010, he was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma.

In 2011, the employee was declared to be permanently unfit for work and his disability was determined to be 68%. In 2014, he applied to INAIL (the Italian Center for Occupational Diseases) asking that his tumor be recognized as an Occupational Disease. The employee claimed that there is a casual link between his exposure to radiation in his work and the acoustic neuroma tumor he suffered, and hence his disease should be recognized as an occupational disease.

The CTU, a collaboration of experts and technical advisers assigned to evaluate the case, conducted research into the disease and its risk factors. In reducing the criteria for the causal link assessment, the CTU stated that the worker had been exposed to high-frequency EMR for a considerable number of hours per day for over 10 years.

The CTU concluded that the development of the left auditory nerve neuroma is related to his work. They based their determination on the duration of exposure, the type of devices he used, the type of pathology, and the review of the literature. They determined that the evidence is sufficient for a causal link, even in the absence of clear conclusive scientific evidence.

The CTU also refereed to a similar decision by the Court of Brescia, in which several studies between 2005 and 2009 were quoted. In three of the studies that were quoted, the risk of Neuroma had increased considerably, while according to another study the risk was considered to be low but present.

The CTU concluded that the tumor caused a reduction in the employee’s psycho and physical integrity.

Summary of Previous Italian Court Decisions

First Decision: Brescia Court. December 10, 2009, affirmed by Italy’s Supreme Court on October 12, 2012

The Supreme Court of Italy has affirmed a ruling that granted worker’s compensation to a businessman who developed a tumor after using a cell phone for 12 years. Marcolini, a financial manager at an industrial plant in Brescia in northern Italy, used cell and cordless phones for five-to-six hours a day for 12 years. He was diagnosed as having a benign tumor on the trigeminal nerve, which controls facial muscles and sensations. The court ignored industry funded studies and declared them to be biased and preferred Prof. Lennart Hardel’s expert opinion.

Second Decision: Ivrea Court. March 30, 2017

The Court of Ivrea recognized a causal link between inappropriate use of a mobile phone and a brain tumor. Roberto Romeo, 57, used his mobile for three to four hours of each working day for 15 years. He was diagnosed in 2010. His Acoustic Nerve had to be removed.” A medical expert estimated the damage to Romeo at 23 per cent of his bodily function, prompting the judge to make a compensation award of 500 euros per month to be paid by INAIL, a national insurance program covering workplace accidents. Newsweek mistakenly reported this case as the first decision while it was already the second. 

Third Decision: Florence Court: April 2017

The court ordered Inail (National Institute for Accident Insurance at Work) to compensate a salesperson who developed Acoustic Neuroma. A worker used the phone for 2-3 hours a day for 10 years. The experts opinion was that there is a high probability of connection between cell phone use and malignant tumors. The Court of Florence recognized the connection between the use of the cell phone and the onset of an acute nerve disease.

Links:

PRESS HERE for the Italian Court’s Decision

PRESS HERE for the article in Italy that reported the decision.

PRESS HERE to read more about Acoustic Neuroma and the connection to exposure to wireless radiation on Dr. Joel Moskowitz’s website – SaferEMR.com

A report by the European Parliament titled: 5G Deployment – State of Play in Europe, USA and Asia, published in April 2019, addresses  health concerns. 

The report states: 

“Significant concern is emerging over the possible impact on health and safety arising from potentially much higher exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation arising from 5G. Increased exposure may result not only from the use of much higher frequencies in 5G but also from the potential for the aggregation of different signals, their dynamic nature, and the complex interference effects that may result, especially in dense urban areas.

The 5G radio emission fields are quite different to those of previous generations because of their complex beamformed transmissions in both directions – from base station to handset and for the return. Although fields are highly focused by beams, they vary rapidly with time and movement and so are unpredictable, as the signal levels and patterns interact as a closed loop system. This has yet to be mapped reliably for real situations, outside the laboratory.

While the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) issues guidelines for limiting exposure to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields (EMF), and EU member states are subject to Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC which follows ICNIRP guidelines, the problem is that currently it is not possible to accurately simulate or measure 5G emissions in the real world.”

This report is joined by other positive developments in Europe in regard to 5G including the announcement of the City of Brussels that it halts 5G deployment due to health concerns.  In Germany, the advocacy orgaanization Diagnose Funk was able to get over 54,000 signatures to its petition against 5G, exceeding the quorum required to force a hearing in Parliament. 

PRESS HERE to read more on Safer EMR page. 

In 2014, I wrote a sentiment “When Priests commit suicide” a year after the death of my German friend, pastor and Electro–Sensitivity advocate, Carsten Häublein. Carsten committed suicide by jumping into a freezing cold river, because he could no longer tolerate the pain of the “fire” 4G.  

My sadness was profound and on that same day I wrote a post but I did not publish it. His death was too overwhelming and I needed more time to digest it and understand what it meant for me, what impact should it have on my life and what his death says about the world and society when priests commit suicide.

This drawing is disturbing, but sadly it is an accurate perception of the wireless world by a 10 y/o child from Illinois. His mother developed Microwave Sickness / Electro-Sensitvity, from exposure to wireless radiation.  She has been suffering disabling symptoms from exposure to wireless devices and infrastructure. Her suffering has been having a tremendous impact on him and on the family’s life. Unfortunately, he has been experiencing how societal addiction makes people, like those in his own family, reluctant to see what is so clearly in front of their eyes – the harms of wireless technology. Not only are the social implications featured in his drawing, but the devastating health effects and people’s complete disregard to the suffering of others.

I asked this brilliant child to describe to me the drawing and he wrote:  

“My mom and me drew this while Daddy was at work. We are dealing with all this radiation, just trying to go anywhere is painful for my mom. It makes me feel so sad that no one knows! No one knows about what is happening to them! We tell our family and friends but many of them don’t believe us. We’ve been to a lot of doctors and the only thing that works is when she gets away from the radiation. My wish for the world is that people wake up to what is being done to them, and realize that this is a known carcinogen.”

On February 6, for the first time health effects of 5G and wireless were mentioned in Senate Commerce Committee Meeting on 5G. The Senate Commerce Committee is the Committee entrusted in overseeing the FCC. 

I was there with less than a handful of us on July 14, 2016 when the FCC announced 5G. The same week we started our efforts to educate Congress about 5G and wireless health effects. Whenever a 5G meeting/hearing was held, we were trying to get the members of the Committee to ask even just one question about the health effects. Yesterday, February 6, two and a half years later, it finally happened.

I got a call an advocates who attended the Senate Commerce Committee meeting and he was excited to tell me that Senator Blumenthal made a comment about the health effects.

In the hearing titled Winning the Race to 5G and the Next Era of Technology Innovation in the United States Senator Blumenthal  asked, “are there any health implications? Are there any safety implications?” to the millions of the small cells that are likely to be located “close to homes, schools work places and closer and closer to the ground” . 

He mentioned  the letter that he had sent to the FCC in December, 2018 asking Commissioner Carr from the FCC to cite him the research on which the FCC relied upon to guarantee the public that 5G is safe. While we still do not have a copy of the FCC’s response, apparently according to Blumenthal, Commissioner Carr “Essentially has failed to do so” and said he referred him to the FDA. In regard to the FDA website Blumenthal said: “if you go to the FDA website, pretty unsatisfactory, there is basically a cursory and superficial citations” and mocked the statement on its website saying that the FDA encourages industry to conduct research and it was on cell phones not 5G. Then he said: “I believe the American people deserve to know what the health effects are.”

Blumenthal also said: “We are flying blind here on health and safety”. That is though inaccurate.  We know that the harms of non-thermal levels of RF/Microwave radiation are proven. We have more than ample scientific evidence and unfortunately also the Human Evidence which is in epidemic scale as the 5G Appeal states. We are flying blind but, to a definite greater disaster. 

To watch the video of the hearing PRESS HERE. Blumenthal starts at 2:04:00

To watch ONLY the part where Blumenthal Speaks, PRESS HERE. 

Since the FCC and the FDA didn’t provide answers he followed the FDA recommendation and asked industry – panelists “how much money has the industry provided for independent research on biological effects? Shouldn’t we scientifically ascertain the health effects? ” One of the panelists replied, “we rely on the expert agencies. There are no industry backed studies underway.  This new infrastructure is designed to be low powered, low interference.”    

So the FDA relies on industry and industry relies on the FDA…how long will this mockery of the American people will continue?

Senator Wicker (R-MISS) who is the new Chairman of the Committee (replaced Sen. Thune (R-SD)) summarized the hearing by mentioning the need to protect privacy but in response to Blumenthal’s comments on health Wicker read a quote from the National Cancer Institute, saying the research shows there is no consistent evidence that non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation increases cancer risk. I wonder why he didn’t mention the Government’s own study, the NTP study the biggest and most expensive study on this issue which found CLEAR EVIDENCE of cancer and DNA damage. 

Interestingly, the FCC did not appear in front of the Committee only industry was there. It is unusual. Considering the bad media the FCC has been getting following the House Commerce Committee accusing the FCC of Colluding with Industry and considering the municipalities lawsuit could it be that the Senate Commerce Committee (or industry which likely was involved in arranging this hearing) thought the FCC presence will contaminate the efforts to push 5G? 

Now we will have to see who will be the next member of the Committee who will do the right thing and speak the truth

Additional Links:

Sen. Blumenthal Press Release

Sen. Bluementhal Letter to the FCC from Dec 3, 2018

FCC Commissioner Carr’s response letter to Sen. Blumenthal from Dec 17, 2018

A Full Transcript of Blumenthal’s Comeents:

KEEP WORKING, CHANGE IS HAPPENING.  

Dafna Tachover