Key Points From County Executive Marc Elrich’s Letter: NO federal obligation to pass this ZTA NO need Prudent to wait for FCC reply to Appeals Court ruling on “arbitrary and capricious” RF rules Won’t help address digital divide. Montgomery County digital equity efforts include: 12,294 County households have enrolled in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) – as of JUNE 2022 Residents enrolled in other benefit programs are eligible to receive $45 off their home or mobile broadband […]
Continue readingRacial Equity Social Justice Impact Statement Based Largely on Industry-Funded Report
The Council’s own staff, in its Racial Equity and Social Justice impact statement on ZTA 22-01, did not find that 22-01 would have a positive net impact on racial equity or social justice in the County. And that was after relying on a “report” that was “generously” supported by T-Mobile. At the same time, they noted that “if the reduced set back requirements for small cell towers authorized under ZTA 22-01 results in negative health […]
Continue readingMoCo Residents have had enough of the false claims by the Telecom industry and their lobbyists AND by Councilmember Hans Riemer
Council’s narratives about residential wireless zoning requirements cannot be squared with what the FCC guidance actually states. THERE IS NO FCC REQUIREMENT! The following is an excerpt of a report by Montgomery County Clear Vistas. Read the entire document here. Background Information: Zoning Text Amendments relating to “small” wireless facilities On July 27, 2021, the Council approved Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 19-07, which enables deployment of telecommunications towers in County rights-of-way in residential and agricultural […]
Continue readingMark your calendar! Oct 11 (New date) Rally to Stop Cell Towers 30 Feet From Homes Meet at 11:30 am, Tuesday, Oct. 11th
UPDATED MEDIA ADVISORY: NEW DATE DUE TO WEATHER “No Cell Towers 30 Feet from Homes!” – Residents to Rally At Montgomery County Council Building Oct. 11th at 11:30 am Mark your calendar! Oct. 11th (new date) Rally to Stop Cell Towers 30 Feet From Homes ***RALLY RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER*** Check back on this webpage (https://actionnetwork.org/letters/stop-zta-22-01) for updates to our Rally plans to stop the proposed ZTA 22-01! Meet at 11:30 am, Tuesday, Oct. 11th […]
Continue readingMD5G Partnership Deleted Tweet After Resident Pointed Out the False Claims
The Tweet shown in this screen capture was deleted after a Montgomery County resident pointed out the false claim. Their next tweet wasn’t any better. MC4T @MC4Torg Oct 5 Your bogus @amcancersociety “quote” was hastily taken down. And, this new messaging angle FAILS to mention that DC Circuit ruled current RF standards are “arbitrary and capricious.” @MoCoCouncilMD So, maybe try again @MD5GPartnership?? @Steve_Bohnel In the October 3, 2022 – PHED Committee Worksession on […]
Continue readingResidents Testify in Unanimous Opposition to Cell Tower ZTA 22-01 at a Truncated Daytime Public Hearing
Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 22-01, Antenna on Existing Structure – Use StandardsTuesday, September 13, 2022, 1:30 – 2:30pm ZTA 22-01 lets carriers turn utility and light poles into cell towers just 30 feet from homes, with no prior notice to nearby residents and no chance for hearing or appeal. The Council conducted a truncated afternoon public hearing despite letters from hundreds of residents urging Council President Gabe Albornoz (At-Large) to either cancel all action on […]
Continue readingReflections on the FCC and the Telecommunications Act
Council needs to stop reciting pro-wireless bias narratives that rubber-stamp and cheerlead the interests of telecom and their so-called demonstrations. What is preempted is an actual moratorium that’s specific to wireless –– for which Montgomery County is NOT GUILTY! What the County’s attorneys continue to advise Councilmembers cannot be squared with what the FCC told the Supreme Court in response to City of Portland et al. v. the FCC in June 2021 –– case highlights and details as […]
Continue readingNew Report by Project WTF: SAY NO to Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 22-01 — Effects are harmful and unfair to residents and neighborhoods
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Continue readingThrive Montgomery 2050 accelerates deployment of 5G –– Tell the Council to Hit Pause –– and Add Equity
We are sharing this August 16th article and Action Alert by Montgomery Countryside Alliance (mocoalliance.org) Thrive 2050: What it Says, What it Will Do, and Why We Have to Hit Pause OF NOTE related to the proliferation of close-proximity small cells from that article, please find this linked PDF: Thrive’s Sweeping Changes (PDF) “Thrive’s Proposed Policies Would Bring Sweeping Changes to Montgomery County Thrive’s proposed policies and those in its companion documents including Attainable Housing […]
Continue readingElection Alert: Electronic touchscreen ballots divide candidate choices up via second screens not available unless clicked
A problem has already been reported with voting on the touchscreen for (some) races with multiple candidates in that the voter has to view two screens to see all of the names of candidates running for that position. When there’s a split screen, make sure to click again to see the second screen. Many of the candidates themselves are unaware of these screen issues. David Lublin of Seventh State has also alerted that the electronic ballot divides the candidates on two pages […]
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