Contact Your Lawmakers to Stop HR 3557 Which Eliminates Local Gov’t Authority, Environmental Laws, and Won’t Fix “Digital Divide”

By B.N. Frank

High-speed broadband connections can be achieved more safely and securely with hardwired internet connections – not hazardous and less secure Wi-Fi and/or 5G via cell towers, antennas, and other wireless sources. In fact, a group of telecom experts who call themselves The Irregulators have proven that Americans have already paid for high speed broadband deployment via safer and more secure methods – copper landlines, coaxial cable, and fiber optics to the premises (FTTP) (see 1, 2) – rather than wireless and 5G! Nevertheless, the Biden Administration and various government agencies continue to allocate funds for broadband primarily via wireless connections.

Meanwhile, a growing number of Americans – including lawmakers – have been trying to stop cell towers and antennas of all sizes, 5G and 4G, from being installed near homes and schools (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26). HR 3557 was introduced to squash their efforts; however, Americans may take action online RIGHT NOW to stop this through a new Children’s Health Defense action alert.

Stop Big Government Takeover of Local Control

HR 3557 SUMMARY

This bill represents an unprecedented and dangerous infringement of local governments’ authority to manage public rights-of-way and land use; it strips local governments of property rights and monetary compensation in favor of cable, wireless and telecommunications providers. The bill also waives historic preservation (NHPA) and environmental (NEPA) rules. Yet in return for these gifts, the bill imposes no obligations on these companies to provide broadband to “unserved” and “underserved” Americans.

WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE IS A LOCAL ISSUE

In the 1996 Telecommunications Act, Congress wisely granted local authorities control over how wireless technology is deployed in their communities. HR 3557 takes that control away and gives it to the federal government instead. This is an unprecedented federal takeover of local control.

HR 3557 IS UNNECESSARY

Wireless companies and site developers don’t like local zoning laws. They claim local authorities are getting in the way of progress. But In most communities, antenna applications are being routinely approved and antennas are being installed. Local authorities are only trying to prevent the reckless and uncontrolled deployment of wireless antennas in their communities.

HR 3557 FORCES QUICK DECISIONS

Antenna applications are complex documents, filled with propagation maps, engineering drawings, electrical diagrams, equipment descriptions, simulation photos, traffic flow plans, insurance certificates and other items required by local codes.

Each application and antenna location is unique, and proper analysis requires time and expertise.

HR 3557 forces local communities to quickly approve antenna applications; if time runs out, pending applications will be “deemed approved” and can be built, even without a permit.

HR 3557 WILL NOT HELP CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

Let’s be very clear about this: transmitting data wirelessly is an inferior technology not capable of providing the speed, security, low-cost and reliability required for full participation in the digital economy. Wireless is no substitute for high-quality fiber-optic, wired broadband connections.

Fast-tracking wireless connections will not necessarily deliver services to underserved and unserved communities and will not close the digital divide. In fact, will perpetuate it. We don’t need a second digital divide between those with access to high-speed internet and those stuck with wireless.

HR 3557 GUTS ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS

Critical environmental and historic protections currently in place to protect our natural environment and historic areas from reckless and unwarranted placement of antennas will be eliminated.

STOP THE BIG-GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER

HR 3557 is the worst kind of federal legislation – a giant giveaway to the rich and powerful wireless industry with no benefit to taxpayers. It shreds the concept of home rule in favor of top-down federal control.

We strongly urge the defeat of HR3557.

Please call your federal representatives today and ask them to stop HR 3557!

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is supposed to protect Americans from the telecom industry. Instead it has catered to the industry for decades (see 1, 2). It also continues to endorse (and sometimes fund) wireless connections too – on land and from space – despite a federal court ruling in favor of petitioners who sued the agency for NOT updating wireless radiation guidelines (including 5G) since 1996. Despite the 2021 court order, the agency has still not addressed this or that Electromagnetic Sensitivity (ES) is a federally recognized disability.

Activist Post reports regularly about broadband, wireless, and unsafe technologies. For more information, visit our archives and the following websites:

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