Lobbyists for the telecoms are busy trying to get three industry-friendly bills through the California Legislature, and apparently they‘ll say anything to win. Here are the lies they are telling:

Lie #1: A statewide mandate limiting local government control over the placement of 5G cell antennas and towers is the best solution for everyone.

Truth: The telecoms are tired of local officials deciding how new technology will be integrated into their towns and cities. They're tired of hearing complaints from citizens. So these three bills establish new state-wide rules that will allow telecoms to override the wishes of municipalities and ignore local zoning codes. This is a huge corporate power grab that only benefits telecoms, not anyone else.

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Lie #2: These bills will help close the “digital divide.”
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Truth: Telecom lobbyists (and the bills they wrote) equate “broadband” with “wireless broadband”  – a classic bait-and-switch –  and even legislators are taking the bait!

Underserved communities need safe, reliable, affordable, high-speed fiberoptic broadband, not super-expensive wireless broadband service that needs to be constantly upgraded and will cost those struggling economically much more over time.

In many cases, especially in urban communities, "dark" (e.g. unconnected) fiberoptic cable is already in the neighborhood, ready to be connected to customers. But instead of using it to connect homes to the internet, telecoms want to use it to connect antennas and get more customers onto expensive wireless plans. 

Let's be clear: there is no funding in any of these bills to provide free or reduced cost internet access to anyone. 

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Lie #3: All the problems with wireless technology have been solved. ​

•  Truth: the biggest insurance companies in the world (like Lloyds of London) have refused to insure wireless companies because the risks are too great. SEC filings from the telecoms make it clear that class action and personal injury claims could significant impact their profits because of the lack of insurance. 
  
  
•  Truth: Data show that resale values are lower for properties located near wireless antennas and cell towers. In a survey by the National Institute for Science, Law and Public Policy 94% of respondents said a nearby cell tower or group of antennas would negatively impact interest in a property or the price they would be willing to pay for it.
  
  
• Truth: Wireless transmissions are easier for hackers to penetrate, potentially exposing passwords and personal information, as well as revealing information about where a person works or travels. 
  
  
•  Truth: Federally-funded research shows that exposure to radiation from wireless networks and devices causes cancer as well as organ and DNA damage. A 2018 study by the National Institutes of Health proved that non-ionizing radiation caused biological damage. Not surprisingly, the wireless industry has fought to keep this study quiet. 
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•  Truth: Wireless meters and cell antennas have been implicated in some of California’s worst fires.

The wireless industry wrote three bills they want the California legislature to pass. Great for telecoms, bad for Californians.

Watch our short video about the origins of the Digital Divide to learn why so many communities never got connected to high speed broadband. 

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It's time to call out the lies and the liars 
and protect our right to decide how we want to
integrate technology into our lives. 
 
​Call your California State Representatives NOW
and ask them to oppose these three industry-sponsored bills!

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​Make sure your California State elected officials know
how you feel about this issue. 
CALL TODAY!