Who We Are
We are a growing group of concerned Montgomery County, Maryland residents focused on infrastructure policy, zoning and land-use changes, governance transparency, and the community impacts of rapidly expanding wireless and digital systems.
We are residents who oppose the rapid rollout of dense networks of “small” cell antennas for current 4G and 5G — and future 6G/7G — wireless technologies emitting radio frequency (RF) radiation without thorough investigation into their environmental and health implications for humans and wildlife.
We are neighbors, parents, professionals, and long-time residents who believe technological progress should be paired with accountability, meaningful public participation, and careful consideration of long-term impacts.
Tech Wise MoCo is not a formal organization or incorporated entity. It is a loose, volunteer-led network of Montgomery County residents who contribute research, testimony, analysis, and documentation related to infrastructure and governance issues. Participation varies — some residents contribute regularly, while others share information or testimony on specific issues.
Because Tech Wise MoCo functions as a collaborative civic platform rather than a formal membership organization, contributors may hold differing views on specific policies or proposals. Content published on this site reflects the perspectives of individual contributors and resident advocates and does not represent a unified position on every issue discussed.
The Landscape Today
Montgomery County is undergoing rapid technological and regulatory transformation — often through processes that move faster than public awareness. Decisions about infrastructure, data systems, artificial intelligence, and land use are increasingly interconnected and may have long-term implications for governance, community character, and individual autonomy. As AI-driven tools and public-private technology partnerships become embedded in planning, permitting, enforcement, and service delivery, questions of transparency, accountability, and democratic oversight grow more complex. We aim to make those developments visible, understandable, and open to thoughtful civic discussion.
Our Evolving Focus
Originally formed to track and respond to local wireless siting and zoning amendments affecting small cell deployment, our scope has expanded as broader infrastructure and land-use changes have reshaped Montgomery County’s regulatory landscape.
Recent years have seen not only accelerated wireless deployment and data center proposals, but also significant zoning and upzoning actions — including the elimination or restructuring of traditional single-family zoning classifications — that alter long-standing neighborhood planning frameworks.
These shifts have prompted residents to examine how infrastructure expansion, land-use policy, energy demands, and digital systems intersect — and how public participation and oversight function within those changes.
Scholarship in digital governance began warning more than a decade ago that digital infrastructure was evolving beyond communication networks into systems shaped by large-scale data collection and predictive analytics. In The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, Shoshana Zuboff described how human experience could be translated into behavioral data within emerging economic models that concentrate informational power and influence decision-making structures. Since that time, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, biometric systems, digital identity frameworks, and integrated “smart” infrastructure have expanded these dynamics in ways that raise new questions about consent, democratic accountability, and individual autonomy. For some residents, local infrastructure debates now intersect with broader concerns about preserving human agency in an era of increasingly data-driven governance, where public decision-making structures are often shaped through digital systems and public-private technological frameworks.
Why We Organized
Community organizing around wireless and digital infrastructure in Montgomery County developed over time — shaped by federal telecommunications legislation, industry-driven deployment initiatives, traditional tower siting conflicts in earlier decades, evolving zoning amendments, and procedural changes that altered long-standing safeguards and limited meaningful local oversight. As infrastructure expanded and regulatory frameworks shifted, many residents concluded that increased coordinated civic engagement was necessary to preserve transparency, accountability, and meaningful public participation.
(See: Governance & Zoning Timeline)
In addition to policy and zoning concerns, some residents reported experiencing health symptoms they believed were associated with nearby wireless infrastructure. Others expressed concern about potential long-term environmental and health impacts, particularly for children. Add the growing evidence that the government has been under the influence of industry; these experiences and precautionary concerns contributed to a growing desire for updated safety standards, independent oversight, and fuller public discussion before further deployment.
In 2019, Montgomery County itself acknowledged potential health uncertainties associated with emerging 5G technology in a federal court filing. The County stated that if 5G were later shown to pose health risks, prior deployment could result in irreversible harm to residents, including children.
(Montgomery County, Maryland v. FCC, No. 19-70147, p. 55.)
Resident Testimony Spotlight
At the November 19, 2019 Council Session – Evening Public Hearing (ZTA 19-07), a Montgomery County resident referenced the County’s own federal court filings and asked elected officials to clarify what had changed.
“Council members, could you please explain to us what has changed from your prior conclusions that a roll out of 5G small cells at this time would be detrimental to residents financial investments, health, and safety? I’d have to assume that you’ve obtained additional information since your most recent federal court filings, and I would hope that you would be able to share that with us tonight.”
In 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled in Environmental Health Trust et al. v. Federal Communications Commission (No. 20-1025) that the FCC had not adequately explained how its decades-old radio-frequency (RF) exposure limits reflect current scientific evidence and remanded the matter to the agency for further explanation. As of this writing, the FCC has not issued updated exposure limits or a revised explanation addressing the court’s remand. (See: EHT Wins in Historic Decision, Federal Court Orders FCC to Explain Why It Ignored Scientific Evidence Showing Harm from Wireless Radiation.)
Residents have expressed concern that federal regulatory constraints limit local authority over wireless siting and prevent health considerations from being weighed in permitting decisions. Scholarly analysis has also examined the structural relationship between federal regulators and the industries they oversee. For example, the Harvard University Press book Captured Agency: How the Federal Communications Commission Is Dominated by the Industries It Presumably Regulates documents longstanding concerns about regulatory capture at the FCC.
In light of the court’s ruling and the ongoing absence of updated federal exposure standards, many residents believe that local officials should exercise caution when relying exclusively on federal limits.
During this same period, the County Council advanced ZTA 19-07 and later ZTA 22-01, expanding and accelerating small cell deployment in residential areas. In 2025, the Council adopted Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25-11, which permits towers up to 200 feet in height across a broad range of zones, including residential areas, and shifts approvals toward streamlined administrative processes, raising concerns among residents about notice procedures, setback requirements (no requirements now), and long-standing zoning protections.
For years, Montgomery County residents have worked to educate elected officials about peer-reviewed scientific studies and questions surrounding the development and oversight of radio-frequency (RF) exposure standards. Some residents have also raised concerns about the role of industry participation in regulatory and research processes. Many community members believe a precautionary approach is warranted — particularly in residential neighborhoods and near schools and parks — and that meaningful public participation must remain central to infrastructure decision-making.
About this Website
This site highlights the efforts of Montgomery County residents who are:
- Reviewing wireless, digital infrastructure, and emerging technology proposals
- Analyzing zoning and regulatory changes
- Studying how state and federal frameworks influence local authority and digital governance
- Sharing research and policy resources
- Examining how data systems, automation, and infrastructure intersect with democratic accountability
- Engaging in civic processes
Tech Wise MoCo serves as a centralized space for organizing and sharing this information.
We do not oppose technology. We advocate for transparency, accountability, updated scientific review, and community-centered governance in how technological systems are adopted and regulated.
Guiding Principles
We believe:
- Infrastructure and zoning decisions should be clearly explained in plain language, supported by accessible technical documentation and independent advisory resources — including mechanisms such as an Office of the People’s Counsel — so residents can meaningfully evaluate long-term implications.
- Public participation should occur early in the decision-making process and include genuine opportunities to shape policy before it is finalized.
- Regulatory standards should be transparent, regularly reviewed, and grounded in independent, evidence-based research.
- Major infrastructure policies should be grounded in independent, up-to-date scientific analysis and reflect relevant court rulings, particularly when regulatory standards are under judicial scrutiny.
- Local communities should retain meaningful input in decisions that affect their neighborhoods.
- Technological systems that affect residents’ daily lives should be implemented with meaningful consent, clear oversight structures, and safeguards that preserve individual autonomy and democratic accountability.
Our goal is to equip Montgomery County residents with clear, well-organized information so they can engage thoughtfully and effectively in decisions about whether and how emerging technologies are adopted in our community.
We seek to strengthen informed civic participation and encourage policies that prioritize public health, environmental stewardship, privacy, and accountable governance.
Editorial Transparency & Archive Policy
This website functions as an evolving archive of resident research, testimony, and civic participation related to infrastructure and governance in Montgomery County, Maryland. Content has been contributed over time by multiple Montgomery County residents engaged in local civic issues.
Many posts reflect the legislative context, timing, and urgency in which they were originally published. As policies evolve and links change, posts may be updated to correct broken links, improve clarity, or add contextual notes. Substantive updates are identified to preserve transparency and maintain the integrity of the public record.
Historical action alerts and time-specific advocacy posts are retained as part of the documented record of community engagement.
Links to third-party materials are provided for informational and educational purposes. Tech Wise MoCo is a volunteer-led network of Montgomery County residents and does not independently verify or endorse all claims contained in external sources.
Connect With Us
To learn more, explore the website or visit our Contact Us page.