What’s Next? There is still time to pack the testimony record before it closes on June 26th. We need your voice to support the 2 year pause – and urge that the pause is well used to engage stakeholders in a transparent cost benefit analysis that yields strong regulations and zoning laws. Here are two ways to be sure your voice is heard: Write a Letter Here – use the Montgomery Countryside Alliance quick template […]
Continue readingTech Wise News Brief June 2026: Data Center Hearing, Election Resources & Pepco Rate Case
Urgent: June 16 Public Hearing on Data Centers Montgomery County is currently considering several proposals that would shape how data centers are regulated in the county. The discussion includes proposed zoning regulations, as well as competing moratorium proposals that would temporarily pause approvals while impacts are studied. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16, providing residents an opportunity to share their views on how Montgomery County should address data center development. Supporters and […]
Continue readingTech Wise News Brief – April 2026: H.R. 2289 Stalls, Dickerson Data Centers, Candidate Response, and Surveillance Pricing
H.R. 2289 Cell Tower Fast-Track Bill Stalls — But Remains Active U.S. House / Environmental Health Sciences | April 2026 H.R. 2289, the American Broadband Deployment Act, advanced in the House earlier this spring but has not been brought to a final vote and appears to have stalled for now. The bill was placed on the House Union Calendar in mid-April, but no further action has been taken. Advocacy groups report that the legislative process […]
Continue readingTech Wise News Brief – March 2026: AI School Surveillance, Data Center Debate, Grid Costs, Robot Pilot Cancelled
MCPS Pilots AI-Supported Video Monitoring Parents‘ Coalition of Montgomery County | March 2026 “This has not been discussed at the Board of Education. This has not had any procurement process…” Montgomery County Public Schools has begun testing an AI-assisted monitoring system using existing security cameras in several high schools as a pilot program. Read more:https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2026/03/montgomery-county-public-schools-uses.html Maryland Office of People’s Counsel Warns of Transmission Costs Linked to Data Center Growth Maryland Office of the People‘s Counsel […]
Continue readingData Centers in Montgomery County: Now Is the Time to Speak Up
Data centers located near homes can create significant impacts if not carefully planned and regulated. What is happening at the County Council? The Council is deciding how to deploy data centers in the county. There are two proposals on the table: 1) Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 26-01, which would amend the zoning code to allow data centers in industrial zones. While it is a good start, it is missing many needed protections for residents. 2) […]
Continue readingNew Peer-Reviewed Paper Examines U.S. Wireless Radiation Policy Gaps (2025)
Introduction A 2025 review article published in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Public Health examines the current U.S. regulatory framework governing radiofrequency radiation (RFR) exposure limits for wireless technologies. The paper, titled: “U.S. policy on wireless technologies and public health protection: regulatory gaps and proposed reforms” analyzes how federal exposure standards are set, which agencies hold oversight responsibility, and where regulatory gaps may exist. Full citation:Frontiers in Public Health, Volume 13 (2025)DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1677583 What the […]
Continue readingMontgomery County Residents Speak Out on Data Centers at Feb. 3, 2026 Community Forum
Montgomery County is actively considering policies that would shape whether, and how, large-scale data centers are developed here, after recent conditional use approvals raised questions about how such projects are reviewed in the absence of clear, data-center-specific standards. While often described as neutral infrastructure or “just warehouses,” these facilities bring profound implications for energy use, water, land use, the balance of power between corporate operators and local government, public process, and long-term governance. On February […]
Continue readingWest Montgomery County Citizens Association Featured in National Cell Tower Policy Coverage on widespread public opposition to a Federal Communications Commission proposal affecting wireless infrastructure siting
The West Montgomery County Citizens Association (WMCCA) was recently featured in an Inside Towers article reporting on widespread public opposition to a Federal Communications Commission proposal (HR 2289) affecting wireless infrastructure siting. The article, “FCC’s Proposal to Simplify Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Draws 3,550+ Comments,” notes the unusually high number of public filings submitted in response to the Federal Communications Commission proposal, which would further limit local authority over cell towers and related facilities. WMCCA’s letter […]
Continue readingMontgomery County Deploys Robotics and Drone-Based Public Safety Programs
Overview Montgomery County has recently introduced two technology-driven public safety initiatives: the Parker security robot, deployed in 2025 as a pilot program in the Silver Spring Town Square garage, and the Drone as First Responder (DFR) program operated by Montgomery County Police, which launched in November 2023. These programs raise governance questions regarding transparency, data collection, public oversight, and the long-term expansion of digital surveillance infrastructure. Update (2026): The Parker security robot deployed in the […]
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