Independence Day /5G: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Northern Pass – Discerning New Hampshire Didn’t Buy the Malarkey, and They Still Aren’t – Stop 5G
Did you hear the one about Northern Pass? About using New Hampshire as a highway to bring electricity from Canada’s dams down to Massachusetts (while promoting hydroelectric as “green”)?
If you don’t live in the Northeast, you might not be familiar with the Northern Pass debacle. Sugar Hill Historical Museum archived materials produced in opposition to the Northern Pass Transmission project from 2010 to 2018. The collection includes resistance by “grassroots” citizens, as well as conservation, environmental, recreational, and other non-governmental organizations, and by municipal and legislative groups.
“Susan Schibanoff, who kept residents up to date on Northern Pass happenings through the Bury The Northern Pass blog, said ‘They had all the money.’ ‘We didn’t have any. Not that we needed it. It was our passion and dedication.’
That passion and dedication overcame a transmission line that went through two iterations, an all overhead line and a mixed line that would have been overhead in Coos and buried for 50 miles along roads beginning in Bethlehem and through Franconia and Sugar Hill south to Bridgewater. Eversource Energy, the Northern Pass parent company partnering with Hydro-Quebec, stood to gain some $10 billion in revenue and a $4 billion guaranteed profit during the 40-year term of the line, according to its federal filings.” – Bury Northern Pass
New Hampshire’s resistance to Northern Pass is indicative of two very valuable resources.
One, citizens did not blindly accept the industry’s claims regarding jobs creation, safety, necessity, sustainability, and entitlement to the natural resources of the Granite state.
And, New Hampshire’s Independence: Public Servants Serve the Public, and Not the Political-Industrial-Corporate-Economic Elite
The independence of New Hampshire’s legislators is reinforced by one very important fact: they are not career politicians.
Many states, including neighboring Massachusetts, employ politicians who have accepted contributions from industry and special interests for decades.
The National Conference of State Legislators provides a summary of compensation per year for state legislators, from 2020. Among the 41 states that pay their legislators an annual salary was $38,370, up from 2019’s average of $37,800.
California $114,877/year
Hawaii $62,604/year
Illinois $69,464/year
Massachusetts $66,256/year
New Hampshire $100/year
New Hampshire legislators haven’t taken a raise since 1889. And, compensation tallies do not include payments from lobbyists.
New Hampshire’s legislature passed a law to study the health and environmental impact of 5G and EMFs. After a year of investigating, they issued a groundbreaking report.
Cece Doucette explains: “New Hampshire formulated 15 recommendations to inform and protect the public in the groundbreaking Final Report of the Commission to Study the Environmental and Health Effects of Evolving 5G Technology (HB 522, Chapter 260, Laws of 2019, RSA 12-K:12–14).”
New Hampshire 5G Legislative Report with Dr. Kent Chamberlin and Cece Doucette
Cell Tower Health Effects Q&A With Dr. Kent Chamberlin, Theodora Scarato (EHT) and Cecelia Doucette (MA Safe Technology)
(“Verizon turned on a cell tower next to a neighborhood during COVID-19 and more than a dozen children and adults are suffering microwave sicknesses. Courtney Gilardi, Dr. Kent Chamberlin, Theodora Scarato and Cece Doucette discuss the hazards of cell towers in residential areas, and explain why the FCC public radiation exposure limits do not protect human health or the environment. They provide action steps to empower citizens, municipal leaders, legislators and health care professionals today to protect our communities until public policy catches up to the science.”)
From EHTrust:
The New Hampshire 5G Commission Report’s 15 Recommendations (shortened for space)
Propose resolution of the House to the US Congress and Executive Branch to require Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to commission independent review of the current radiofrequency (RF) standards of the electromagnetic radiation in the 300MHz to 300GHz microwave spectrum as well as a health study to assess and recommend mitigation for health risks associated with use of cellular communications and data transmittal.
Require that the most appropriate agency (agencies) of the State of NH include links on its (their) website(s) that contain information and warnings about RF-radiation from all sources, but specifically from 5G small cells deployed on public rights-of-way as well as showing the proper use of cell phones to minimize exposure to RF-radiation, with adequate funding granted by the Legislature. In addition, public service announcements on radio, television, print media, and internet should periodically appear, warning of health risks associated with radiation exposure. Of significant importance are warnings concerning the newborn and young as well as pregnant women.
Require every pole or other structure in the public rights of- way that holds 5G antenna be labeled indicating RF-radiation being emitted above. This label should be at eye level and legible from nine feet away.
Schools and public libraries should migrate from RF wireless connections for computers, laptops, pads, and other devices, to hardwired or optical connections within five-year period starting when funding becomes available.
Signal strength measurements must be collected at all wireless facilities as part of the commissioning process and as mandated by state or municipal ordinances. Measurements are also to be collected when changes are made to the system that might affect its radiation, such as changes in the software controlling it. Signal strength is to be assessed under worst-case conditions in regions surrounding the tower that either are occupied or are accessible to the public, and the results of the data collection effort is to be made available to the public via a website. In the event that the measured power for a wireless facility exceeds radiation thresholds, the municipality is empowered to immediately have the facility taken offline. The measurements are to be carried out by an independent contractor and the cost of the measurements will be borne by the site installer.
Establish new protocols for performing signal strength measurements in areas around wireless facilities to better evaluate signal characteristics known to be deleterious to human health as has been documented through peer-reviewed research efforts. Those new protocols are to take into account the impulsive nature of high-data-rate radiation that a growing –body of evidence shows as having a significantly greater negative impact on human health than does continuous radiation. The protocols will also enable the summative effects of multiple radiation sources to be measured.
Require any new wireless antennas located on a state or municipal right-of-way or on private property be set back from residences, businesses, and schools. This should be enforceable by the municipality during the permitting process unless the owners of residences, businesses, or school districts waive this restriction.
Upgrade educational offerings by NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) for home inspectors to include RF intensity measurements.
State of NH should begin an effort to measure RF intensities within frequency ranges throughout the state, with the aim of developing and refining a continually updated map of RF exposure levels across the state using data submitted by state-trained home inspectors.
Strongly recommend all new cell phones and all other wireless devices sold come equipped with updated software that can stop the phone from radiating when positioned against the body.
Promote and adopt statewide position that would strongly encourage moving forward with the deployment of fiber optic cable connectivity, internal wired connections, and optical wireless to serve all commercial and public properties statewide.
Further basic science studies are needed in conjunction with the medical community outlining the characteristics of expressed clinical symptoms related to radio frequency radiation exposure. The majority of the Commission feels the medical community is in the ideal position to clarify the clinical presentation of symptoms precipitated by the exposure to radio frequency radiation consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which identifies such a disability. The medical community can also help delineate appropriate protections and protocols for affected individuals. All of these endeavors (basic science, clinical assessment, epidemiological studies) must be completely independent and outside of commercial influence.
Recommend use of exposure warning signs to be posted in commercial and public buildings. In addition, encourage commercial and public buildings, especially healthcare facilities, to establish RF-radiation free zones where employees and visitors can seek refuge from effects of wireless RF emissions.
NH should engage agencies with appropriate scientific expertise, including ecological knowledge, to develop RF-radiation safety limits that will protect the trees, plants, birds, insects, and pollinators.
NH should engage our Federal Delegation to legislate that under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the FCC do an environmental impact statement as to the effect on NH and the country as a whole from the expansion of RF wireless technologies.
Citizens across the county are encountering obstruction and betrayal from public servants not ready, willing, and able to challenge industry corruption. In some cases, local governments have even played an active part, for example the health officials involved in the Oregon report, and the MA National Grid smart meter pilot, and Pittsfield tower.
New Hampshire demonstrates the promise of independence, integrity, and public service sourced from truth.
Read the archive of Independence Day 5G articles here.
Patricia Burke works with activists across the country and internationally calling for new biologically-based microwave radio frequency exposure limits. She is based in Massachusetts and can be reached at [email protected]
