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Help Prevent Potentially Harmful 5G Microwave Radiation In Your Neighborhood

Posted by: Sharon Rushton - February 1, 2019 - 5:23 PM PST

Please attend the Marin County Workshop on 5G Technology on Tuesday, February 5th at 5:30 PM and send letters/ emails to the Marin County Board of Supervisors & the Marin County Community Development Agency (via Senior Planner Immanuel Bereket). Urge the Supervisors and the Community Development Agency to act swiftly to amend the County's telecommunications regulations and prevent the placement of potentially harmful 5G Small Cell Towers in Unincorporated Marin's residential areas. In addition, please spread the news!

**Scroll down for “TAKE ACTION” suggestions.

ISSUE

Fifth-generation cellular wireless technology, commonly called 5G, is on the cusp of implementation in many areas of the world, including Marin County. Telecommunications companies hope to mount 5G antennae every 2 to 5 telephone poles. The cities of Mill Valley, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Ross and Fairfax have adopted Urgency Ordinances for Wireless Telecommunications Facilities to protect residents from the potentially harmful microwave radiation emitted by 5G Small Cell Wireless Facilities. Mill Valley's ordinance prohibits telecommunications wireless facilities from being installed in residential zones and requires 1500 feet of separation between the facilities. It is now time for Unincorporated Marin to adopt similar protective regulations.

Currently, the Marin County Telecommunications Facilities Policy Plan (TFPP) allows Small Cell Facilities in residential areas if no other suitable location is available. Potential amendments discussed in the Workshop's Staff Report are not protective enough. For instance, the Staff Report suggests a separation between small cell wireless facilities of only 500 feet.

We need your help to convince the Marin County Supervisors and the Marin County Community Development Agency to adopt the most protective wireless telecommunications regulations possible.

CONSEQUENCES

Cancer & Health Effects: Serious adverse health effects may result from the round-the-clock millimeter microwave radiation of these small cell antennae. Such millimeter microwave radiation is far more potent than anything previously experienced from the electromagnetic spectrum.

Numerous peer-reviewed scientific studies show that radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF), generated by wireless devices, affect living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelines. Effects may include increased risk of cancer, DNA damages, neurological disorders, learning and memory deficits, sleeping disorders, headaches, and impaired fertility.

The World Health Organization classified microwave radiation from wireless devices as a possible human carcinogen in 2011. In 2016, the US National Toxicology Program released results of the world’s largest study on wireless health risks, finding a significant increase in the incidence of brain and heart cancer in animals exposed to EMF.

In a manifesto entitled “5G Appeal”, 180 esteemed scientists and doctors from 35 countries appeal to the European Union and recommend a moratorium on the roll-out of the fifth generation (5G) for telecommunication until potential hazards for human health and the environment have been fully investigated by scientists independent from industry.

For more detailed information:

Degradation Of The Traditional Residential Character Of Marin Neighborhoods: Wireless carriers have the right, under Section 6409(a) of the “Middle-Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act”, to expand their equipment and expand it an unlimited number of times, thereby potentially creating a huge unattractive industrial mess.

Decreased Property Values: A peer-reviewed study published in the 2005 Appraisal Journal, found that homes near cell towers were devalued by 20% to 25%.

Increased Fire Risk: The heavy and bulky “Small Cell Facilities” could overload telephone poles, leading to increased fire hazards. For example, Edison and four telecommunication companies were fined for overloading utility poles with antennas and equipment, which caused the poles to collapse and spark the 2007 Malibu Canyon wildfire.

FIBER OPTIC CABLE IS A BETTER OPTION

Wired networks, both optical fiber and copper, are a much better option than the potentially harmful 5G wireless networks. A report by the National Institute for Science, Law, and Public Policy in Washington D.C. titled; “Re-Inventing Wires; The Future of Landlines and Networks” noted that “Corporations invariably seek the cheapest, quickest, and most profitable path, which has led to the current emphasis on wireless.

However, the mistaken upcoming 5G frenzy, with its millions of small cell antennas destined to clutter all neighborhoods and public right-of-ways, is dangerous, wasteful, and unnecessary.” Fiber optic cable is faster, more secure, more reliable, more energy efficient, more cost effective, healthier and safer than wireless networks

TAKE ACTION: Please do the following...

1. Send letters/ emails to Senior Planner Immanuel Bereket with the Marin County Community Development Agency and the Marin County Board of Supervisors (If you have the time, write to each Supervisor individually and copy their Aides and Brian Crawford, Director of Marin County Community Development Agency) -

Express concerns about the potentially harmful 5G Small Cell Wireless Facilities and urge them to amend the County's telecommunications ordinance to include regulations that prohibit the installation of small cell wireless facilities in Unincorporated Marin's residential zoning districts, establish a protective setback between small cell wireless facilities and residences, and limit the placement of the wireless facilities in other zoning districts to the greatest degree possible.

Cc: Brian Crawford (Director of Marin County Community Development Agency): bcrawford@marincounty.org

Suggested Message:

"Dear Marin County Board of Supervisors and Marin County Community Development Agency,

We are very concerned about the serious adverse health and environmental effects that may be caused by the microwave radiation emitted from 5G Small Cell Wireless Facilities. We are also concerned that the Small Cell Wireless Facilities could increase fire risks, decrease property values and degrade the traditional residential character of Marin County.

We urge you to amend the Marin County Telecommunications Facilities Policy Plan to include regulations for Small Cell Wireless Facilities, which would prohibit the installation of Small Cell Wireless Facilities in Unincorporated Marin's residential zoning districts, establish a protective setback between Small Cell Wireless Facilities and residences, and limit the placement of the wireless facilities in other zoning districts to the greatest degree possible.

Sincerely,

Your Name"

2. Attend the upcoming Marin County Workshop on 5G Technology -

WHAT: Marin County Workshop on 5G Technology - Speak during "Public Open Time"

WHEN: Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 5:30 PM

WHERE: Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Supervisors' Chambers, Suite 330, San Rafael, CA 94903

** You will be given 3 minutes to speak. For suggested public comments, please review the above "Suggested Message".

Please click HERE to read the Board of Supervisors' Agenda for February 5th.(Scroll down to view the agenda for the 5:30 PM Workshop on 5G Technology.)

Please click HERE to read the Staff Report:

3. Spread the news - Send a link to this article to all your email contacts in Marin and post the link on Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor and other social media.

Thank you in advance for taking action. Together we can make a difference and protect our community from harmful radiation!