[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 6 (Friday, January 10, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E26]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        5G DEPLOYMENT AND CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL STAKE HOLDERS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GARRET GRAVES

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 10, 2020

  Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, this week the House considers 
important pieces of legislation related to the global race to 5G. 5G is 
the newest iteration of wireless technology, and as telecommunications 
companies and service providers begin deploying their digital cellular 
networks, I want to take a moment to discuss an important aspect of the 
5G rollout: consultation with local governments and homeowners.
  Last year, the 5G rollout began in my district in parts of Baton 
Rouge. The utility poles needed to support the new small wireless 
facilities and other 5G infrastructure are being installed in public 
rights of way in front of homes. While it is absolutely an economic and 
national security priority to win the race to 5G, it is vital that 
Congress consider the impact that this rollout will have on communities 
across America.
  In June, I sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission 
Chairman Ajit Pai outlining my concerns and urging service providers to 
work closely with local stake holders as they install this new 
technology infrastructure.
  Madam Speaker, I include in the Record the following letter to the 
FCC from June 13, 2019.

                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                    Washington, DC, June 13, 2019.
     Hon. Ajit Pai,
     Chairman, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Pai: Recently, telecommunications service 
     providers have begun installing the new wireless broadband 
     infrastructure that is necessary to support 5G in cities 
     across America, including Baton Rouge. While I share your 
     appreciation for the tremendous role that technology plays, 
     both in the economy and in the lives of its users, I am 
     concerned by the roll out of these small-cell facilities in 
     homes and neighborhoods across my district.
       A technological transformation of 5G's magnitude requires a 
     massive support structure, but that deployment cannot come at 
     the expense of property values and neighborhood aesthetics, 
     especially in historic communities. America's 5G leadership 
     is an important national priority, but even a national 
     priority demands consultation with local stakeholders. I 
     respectfully ask you to encourage wireless carriers to 
     collaborate with municipalities on the placement and design 
     of these new transmission systems.
       Additionally, recent reports by the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) suggest that the 
     5G network could interfere with satellite data, reducing the 
     accuracy of weather forecasting by as much as 30 percent. I 
     urge you to work closely with the NOAA, NASA, and any other 
     stakeholders to investigate any potential effects of 5G on 
     our nation's ability to forecast and prepare for severe 
     weather events.
       As the FCC continues to oversee the deployment of the 5G 
     network, we must remember that the rollout is not happening 
     in isolation. It is crucial to consider the effects that 
     these innovations will have on existing technologies and 
     communities across America. Thank you for your prompt 
     attention to these important issues.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Garret Graves,
                                               Member of Congress.