Legislation

Also explore the companion Telecom Regulation page.

June 2017: President Trump Gets 5G Propaganda Pitch

Link to source video.


  • Trump asks few intelligent questions while being pitched a disastrous idea: installing only private fiber-optic cables to millions of private 4G/5G microwave transmitters that will be installed on public utlity/light poles — which creates a dangerous condition of public property and a transfer of huge liability from the Telecom companies to the states and local communities. This scheme will result in three or more, unnecessary, overlapping cells of microwave radiation transmitted 24/7/365 at 15 to 50 feet from Americans’ bedrooms (where we sleep and heal). A MUCH BETTER solution is the one these obscenely profitable companies are eschweing — to install one-set of publicly-owned, Title II fiber-optic cables to every home and business for 1,000 Mbps speeds for $30-$40 per month, over which private companies can offer their coveted, competing television/video services.
  • From Trump, not a single question about safer, better, more secure or more energy-efficient alternatives and no exploration of the many downsides of this scheme . . .
  • It’s that easy, folks. You just have to be in the room where it happens.

Ten Bills That Were Signed into Law on 3/23/18

Public Law No. 115-141 (sorted by Bill Number):

  1. S.19 – MOBILE NOW Act [ congress.gov | S4WT ] (Sens. Thune and Nelson) – Boosts the development of next-generation gigabit wireless broadband services, including 5G, by ensuring more spectrum is identified for private sector use and by reducing the red tape associated with building broadband networks. It requires that 255 megahertz of spectrum be identified for fixed and mobile wireless broadband use by 2022 – at least 100 megahertz for unlicensed use and at least 100 megahertz for licensed use. Further, it identifies mid-band and high-band spectrum to be studied for possible commercial use
  2. S.102 – Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act of 2017 [ congress.gov | S4WT ] (Sen. Cantwell) – Helps speed the recovery of communications infrastructure after natural disasters, and directs the Federal government to study additional ways to make sure that existing infrastructure can survive during those disasters.
  3. S.134 – Spoofing Prevention Act [ congress.gov | S4WT ] (Sens. Nelson and Fischer) – Gives the FCC and law enforcement additional authority to stop fraudulent telephone calls from persons using false caller identification information. Also provides consumers with new tools and information to identify and prevent these illegal scam calls, and directs GAO to conduct a study on new technologies to stop these calls.
  4. S.174 – Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2017 [ congress.gov | S4WT ] (Sens. Heller and Schatz) – Consolidates FCC reports on voice, video, and data delivery while repealing outdated reports that are no longer necessary.
  5. S.1261 (114th Congress) – Wireless Telecommunications Tax and Fee Collection Fairness Act [ congress.gov | S4WT ] (Sens. Manchin and Moran) – Harmonizes state laws regarding what entity is responsible for collecting and remitting certain types of taxes and fees assessed on wireless services.
  6. S.1621 – Rural Wireless Access Act of 2017 [ congress.gov | S4WT ] (Sens. Wicker and Manchin) – Requires the FCC to standardize its wireless coverage data. With better coverage data, the FCC can ensure that funds provided for expanding rural broadband infrastructure are equitably applied between rural and urban areas.
  7. S.1632 – Viewer and Listener Protection Act [ congress.gov | S4WT ] (Sens. Moran and Schatz) –Makes available additional funds to TV stations that are moving channels as a result of the “repack” necessitated by the incentive auction. It also dedicates federal support to alleviate costs borne by radio stations as a result of the repack.
  8. S.2210 – FCC Chief Information Officer Parity Act [ congress.gov | S4WT ] (Sens. Moran and Udall) – Gives the FCC’s Chief Information Officer authority to participate in decisions regarding the Commission’s planning on information technology.
  9. S.2319 (114th Congress) – Spectrum Auction Deposits [ congress.gov | S4WT ] (Sen. Thune) – Chairman Thune first introduced legislation in 2015 to address a technical problem identified by the FCC preventing it from receiving upfront payments from bidders in spectrum auctions and depositing them into the U.S. Treasury. These upfront payments will allow the FCC to confirm a bidder’s ability to follow through on their commitments, an essential step to managing federal auctions in a fiscally responsible manner.
  10. S.2644 (114th Congress) – FCC Reauthorization Act of 2016 [ congress.gov | S4WT ] (Sens. Thune and Nelson) – This legislation contained many provisions that were ultimately included in the agreement reached today to reauthorize the FCC for the first time in 28 years. Many of these provisions were championed by members of the Senate Commerce Committee

Tech entrepreneurs and venture investors met at the White House on Thu, June 22, 2017 to discuss the impact of emerging technologies on U.S. industrial workers.

The meeting was organized by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, now led by Deputy CTO Michael Kratsios, formerly chief of staff for billionaire investor and PayPal founder Peter Thiel. President Donald Trump has yet to appoint a science advisor to run the office. Executives and investors from some 25 companies are slated to attend, alongside Kratsios and Trump's chief economic adviser Gary D. Cohn.

Larger corporations expected to attend include:

Financial organizations participating include:

  • Lightspeed Venture Partners (founder Barry Eggers)
  • New Enterprise Associates
  • Nasdaq.

Startups expected to attend include:

  • AirMap (Ben Marcus, CEO)
  • Airspace
  • Kespry (George Mathew, CEO)
  • Measure (Brandon Torres Declet, CEO)
  • PrecisionHawk

May, 2017: 4G/5G Wireless Microwave Radiation Hazards

Link to source video.


  • Call US Senators and US House Representatives to urge them to Vote NO on the bills, listed below. Tell them that Title II, shared Fiber-Optic cables to the Premises (FTTP) is the solution that can offer 1,000 Mbps download speeds, with low latency, high security and no microwave radiation hazards. One Big Dig for America could install 21st Century Conduit and create hundreds of thousands of jobs for America across the country.
  • FCC WT Docket 17-79 is the Wireless Infrastructure Order
  • S.3157 is the "Streamlining The Rapid Evolution and Modernization of Leading-edge Infrastructure Necessary to Enhance Small Cell Deployment Act", or the STREAMLINE Small Cell Deployment Act
  • HR.7236 is the Radiofrequency Radiation Site Safety Information Act

On 7/6/18, I called the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee (Majority: 202-224-1251; Minority: 202-224-0411) and tracked down the bill text (17 pages).

  • S.3157 — A bill to streamline siting processes for small cell deployment.
  • 06/28/2018: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Action By: Senate)
  • As of 7/6/18, the bill text is not yet on the congress.gov web site, but is linked to from the press release.
  • The full text of S.3157 is posted as a pdf here and analyzed here.