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Nat’l League of Cities (NLC) Opposes Federal STREAMLINE Bill Which Allows Small Cell Towers in Front of Homes, etc. Sample Letter Provided to Contact Legislators.
By B.N. Frank
Big Thanks to The EMF Safety Network for providing a sample letter to those wanting to oppose federal bill, STREAMLINE: Small Cell Deployment Act (S. 3157).
Since 2004, firefighters have been opposed to cell towers and antennas being installed on their property. Doctors, scientists, and more oppose small cell towers being installed everywhere – whether they are 4G or 5G. In addition to biological and environmental risks, installation will also reduce property value.
We have Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) to begrudge for this bill. It is similar to California Senate bill, SB 649, which would have eliminated local control over cell tower placement. CA Governor Jerry Brown vetoed this bill in October 2017. Other states are still discussing similar bills. Some have already passed them.
Elected officials and government employees who support these types of bills are completely disregarding The Precautionary Principle. Outdated laws – not science – have been protecting The Telecom Industry aka “Big Wireless” for over 20 years. New bills like S. 3157 give them even more power.
The National League of Cities (NLC) opposes S. 3157:
Despite urging from NLC and other local government advocates during the bill’s drafting phase, many preemptive provisions remain in the bill, including limiting the actions local governments can take on small cell wireless facility siting in an effort to make deployments cheaper, faster, and more consistent across jurisdictions.
The NLC will send a letter directly to your representatives in Congress for you or you may do this on your own.
Instead of using the NLC template (which still supports small cell towers – just not this bill), The EMF Safety Network and many others encourage you to use any or all information from the following template:
As a constituent, I am writing to express my opposition to the “Streamlining The Rapid Evolution And Modernization of Leading-edge Infrastructure Necessary to Enhance (STREAMLINE) Small Cell Deployment Act” (S. 3157).
- 3157 is similar to a California bill (SB 649) which would have created a state mandated system of cell towers and eliminated local review and safety oversight. SB 649 was opposed by 300 cities, 47 counties and over 100 community, planning, health, environment and justice organizations. SB 649 was vetoed SB 649 by Governor Brown on October 15, 2017.
The threat of public and environmental harm from wireless radiation is real and growing. Local control is needed to ensure community safety, welfare and compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
Peer-reviewed published science shows wireless radiation harms public health and nature. Health effects include: fatigue, headaches, sleep problems, anxiety, ringing in the ears, heart problems, learning and memory disorders, increased cancer risk, and more. Children, the ill, and the elderly are more vulnerable.
International independent scientists are calling for biologically-based public exposure standards and reducing wireless radiation.
- 3157 represents a direct affront to traditionally-held local authority. S. 3157 introduces an unnecessary, one-size-fits-all preemption of local jurisdiction. The bill also imposes unfair and inappropriate timelines on local governments.
Big Wireless is going to market their technology the way they always have – with complete disregard for everyone else except for sometimes their shareholders. Insurance companies aren’t even interested in doing business with them anymore.
Click here to submit a letter through the NLC. Visit The EMF Safety Network for more information about opposing any and all bills related to wireless radiation infrastructure expansion.
For more information, visit the following websites:
