And the laughs keep coming. I’m afraid to ask what happened at the Minnehaha County Commission meeting this morning.
City Hall reassures us there are NO dangers in 5G, then this;
But, according to federal rules, health concerns about radiation and radio frequency emissions aren’t a valid reason for local governments to stand in the way of the expansion of 5G technology.
The Federal Communications Commission, though, says early indications are the technology poses no risk to the public, though there are no definitive studies due to 5G being in its infancy.
It’s kind of like we don’t know if the mushrooms are poisonous until the royal food tester eats one. Is this City Hall or an episode of Monty Python?
Oh, but the lack of transparency excuses are even funnier than the health affects;
And while claims that 5G technology is unsafe don’t ring true for TenHaken, his deputy chief of staff T.J. Nelson said even if they did the city couldn’t prohibit 5G expansion if it wanted.
“Part of 1996 Telecommunications Act … preempts local government from regulating wireless communications on the basis of environmental effects of radio frequency emissions,” he said.
So if that is true old wise one TJ, what does this mean;
That’s why City Hall is moving ahead with an ordinance proposal to establish licensing and fee requirements for companies like Verizon Wireless that want to install 5G towers in public right of ways that are in line with FCC guidelines.
How can City Hall move forward with ordinances if #1) they have to follow the FCC’s rules and #2) Had no public input and #3) No input from the city council and #4) No public meetings?
Oh, and BTW, only 3 city councilors reached out to me about my email. Two by phone and one by email. All three of them told me they feel like they are bound by the Feds rules, and I get that. So if that is true, how can you have local regulations on the books if the FCC overrides them?
No sure if this is some kind of a sick joke, but it’s not funny, even if the messenger has a bad combover.
UPDATE: Here are some things we can expect,Â
http://www.govtech.com/network/Sacramento-Calif-Partners-with-Verizon-on-Free-Park-Wi-Fi.html
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/city-beat/article154728374.html
http://www.govtech.com/network/Sacramento-Verizon-Push-Pause-on-Kiosk-Deal.html?utm_term=READ%20MORE&utm_campaign=Sacramento%2C%20Verizon%20Push%20Pause%20on%20Kiosk%20Deal%2C%20ProudCity%20Builds%20Recovery%20Website%20for%20Paradise%2C%20Calif.&utm_content=email&utm_source=Act-On+Software&utm_medium=email
In addition to 5G, the city’s contract with Verizon calls for the company to provide free Wi-Fi in 27 of Sacramento’s parks; provide internship and career opportunity programs for area STEM students; utilize technology to improve public safety and improve traffic congestion at city intersections; and build multipurpose digital kiosks.
What’s in it for Verizon? As The Bee reported then, a memo in 2017 regarding the partnership said Verizon would get free use of 101 small cell towers for 10 years and low-cost rates for 5G cell locations when the technology goes commercial — as it will, officially, starting Monday.
http://www.govtech.com/network/Verizon-5G-Goes-Live-in-Parts-of-Sacramento-Calif.html
l3wis