The 'Wet Blanket' of 5G Wireless

During Senate Commerce’s field hearing in South Dakota on 5G wireless technology, Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken raised what he called “the wet blanket” of the coming wide-scale deployment: “I feel we also need to address ... what health impacts micro millimeter waves have because it’s so new,” TenHaken told Senate Commerce Chairman John Thune (R-SD). “I’m going to get asked this 20 times yet this evening about the health ramifications of 5G ... I’m hearing this more and more.” Although TenHaken considers such concern “inflated,” local governments will need “clear direction, talking points, studies” to support the wireless efforts with a “clear conscience,” the mayor argued. Chairman Thune acknowledged "we hear about it, too," and turned to Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Brendan Carr, another witness. The FCC and other federal agencies “reached the determination that these are safe,” Commissioner Carr affirmed. “That is a determination that is constantly undergoing review.” He also said that given this position, federal law prevents state and local governments from taking these radio frequency concerns into account. The exchange marked a departure from largely unified enthusiasm among witnesses and Chairman Thune for the game-changing benefits of 5G. Verizon’s Robert Fisher, in particular, argued Congress needs to advance Thune’s STREAMLINE Small Cell Deployment Act, S. 3157, to help spur faster deployment of 5G infrastructure.