Urgent Oppose SB-556! Don't add fuel to California Wildfires - Testimony needed today

[saraha...@aol.com]

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Testimony needed to make calls today Don't let corporate telecom decide where and how many fire hazardous antennas are on poles in your neighborhood. SB-556 spells potential economic ruin for California.  Fires have cost California billions of dollars and individuals billions and for our residents suffering, home displacement and for some death. Antennas are known fire-hazards.  Elected local representatives are the only authorities who should be responsible with making these safety decisions, they know their own local fire codes, and the integrity of structures in HIGH winds.

Please imagine being stopped at a stoplight trying to evacuate from a fire and having the wind blow down an overloaded utility pole with the antennas above you or snap a pole, as what happened in the Malibu fire.  

The League of California Cities opposes SB-556.  See here.

Senator Diane Feinstein in her Op-Ed insists on municipal control due to fire concerns and safety, “Cities must decide how and where 5G is deployed, “Wireless companies won’t bear the responsibility when things go wrong….When poles come down, they pose significant risk for physical harm, property damage, blackout and even wildfires in dry regions. And under FCC rules, cities and residents would be on the hook for that damage.”

SB-556 is another SB-649 which did not become law, though many busy legislators voted for it without knowing that it was written by industry lobbyists with ALEC (the corporate-beholden American Legislative Exchange Council.)  SB-556 is sponsored by wireless carriers.  Another corporate landgrab.

One of the most important arguments against this bill is it does NOT close the digital divide. Close proximity antennas will not improve reception, that requires wiring into the premises and USB cables to your devices.  5G (fifth generation technology) is NOT for video or voice communication. 5G reception is a problem and is interfered with by hills, trees, and weather. 

Action 1

Call Monday during the day: call members of the Senate Energy Utilities and Communications Committee  before 3 pm

Here’s how to call Senators- names & links to numbers

Welcome to the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications | Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee

Senator Ben Hueso (Chair)  (916) 651-4040

Senator Brian Dahle (Vice Chair) (916) 651-4001

Senator Josh Becker (916) 651-4013

Senator Andreas Borgeas (916) 651-4008

Senator Steven Bradford (916) 651-4035

Senator Bill Dodd (916) 651-4003

Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman (916) 651-4005

Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (916) 651-4033

Senator Shannon Grove (916) 651-4016

Senator Robert M. Hertzberg (916) 651-4018

Senator Mike McGuire (916) 651-4002

Senator Dave Min (916) 651-4037

Senator Susan Rubio (916) 651-4022

Senator Henry Stern (916) 651-4027

If you live in their district, make sure you let them know, if you don’t live in their district, you can say I don’t live in the district, so I can’t vote for  Senator ________, but s/he votes for me on this committee.

Call and leave messages/voicemails for as many Senators as you possibly can State your name and organization.  Say: “My organization/I am(is) opposed to SB-556, antennas are proven fire hazards, we are entering the worst fire season in our California history.  Overloaded poles and poorly planned placement of antennas will cause fires. More antennas will not improve voice and video communication.  Only fiber to the premises will improve voice and video.  Local governments currently make this decision and should continue to do so. and ask them to vote no on SB-556. 

Action 2
Monday: Give testimony at Senate Energy and Utilities hearing will be Monday 4/19 at 3pm.  Call at 2:45 pm, Senate Energy Utilities and Communications committee to add your opposition to SB 556 before the vote. CALL:  Participant number: 1-877-226-8152

ACCESS CODE: 2599954

https://seuc.senate.ca.gov/content/2021-2022-oversight-hearings

Please note: In order for your testimony to be heard clearly, you must mute any devices you are using to live stream the committee hearing prior to calling into the teleconference service. Please do not testify using speakerphone or bluetooth, this can cause acoustic feedback and make it very difficult to hear your testimony. 

• Upon calling in, you will be placed in a “waiting room” where you will be muted but you can listen to the committee hearing as you wait. (there’s a time delay if you are watching online)
• When a committee moves to public comment, a moderator will ask for anyone who is wishing to testify in “Support” of the bill to please press 1-0.  The moderator will again prompt those waiting in “Opposition” when the committee moves to opposition.  You should press 1-0 when you are prompted by the moderator – be sure to listen for support or opposition and DO NOT press 1-0 until the proper position has been asked for. 
• When you press 1-0 on your phone, you will wait and an operator will assign you a line number, at that time you will be placed in the queue for identification.  Remember your line number, the moderator will call out that number to identify YOU when it is your turn to testify.  

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you press 1-0 a second time, you will remove yourself from the queue and you will not be identified to testify. Every time you press 1-0 you either put yourself “In queue” or take yourself “Out of queue” so listen carefully, and press 1-0 only once when you are prompted by the moderator.

• When you are successfully in the queue, with your assigned line number, the moderator will call out your line number, open your line, and at that time you may address the committee. You must have your own phone unmuted before you begin testimony.
• Speak fast and don’t pause (you will only have a few seconds so chose what you want to say from below.

State…“(Name)” and organization (if you represent one) state I oppose SB 556, state where you live. 
ADD:

• Don’t Add Fuel to California Wildfires- Cell Towers Are Fire Hazards
• No Fire Hazards in Neighborhood Fire Defensible Zones 
• Don’t Transfer Electric Infrastructure Cost and Liability to Municipalities
• Don’t Sell Public Safety Out to Corporate Telecom Carriers 
• Don’t Steal Cities’ Rights
• Finish quickly with: “Strongly oppose.” 
• See Teleconference commenting instructions here:
  Video: https://www.senate.ca.gov/media/20200724-How-to-give-Public-Comment-with-the-Telephone-System/video