Internet of Things – Powers For the People

More 5G Preemption & Tax Break Bills in #AZHouse (video)

Posted on February 16, 2021April 16, 2021 by Pamela Powers

This is the last week for House committees to hear House bills and for Senate committees to hear Senate bills. Consequently, the agendas are very long on almost all committees. There is a lot of opportunity on Request to Speak (RTS). The groups like Civic Engagement Beyond Voting, Sierra Club and others do an *amazing* job of telling you what’s going on, and we sincerely appreciate all of your comments and votes on RTS and their hard work.

Unfortunately, because of the sheer volume of BS bills proposed in the Legislature, volunteer groups can’t keep up with everything.

I have many constituents in Midtown Tucson who are upset with the preemption Bill regarding four and 5G towers that was passed by the legislature in 2017. There are two more telecom industry preemption/tax break bills in the House now. These bills are not on any of the popular distribution lists.

Continue reading More 5G Preemption & Tax Break Bills in #AZHouse (video)

5G Forum Reveals Risks, Concerns Regarding Widespread 4-5G Towers (video)

Posted on October 3, 2020October 9, 2020 by Pamela Powers

Although I had met with all of the presenters before the 5G Forum on Related Health, Privacy, Preemption and Blight Issues and had a good idea what each of them planned to say, I was blown away by the extensive information that these experts shared.

On my YouTube Channel and below, you can watch the presentations.

Dr. Russell Witte, Professor of Medical Imaging (primary), Biomedical Engineering, Optical Sciences, and Neurosurgery at the University of Arizona, addressed radiation, microwaves and health concerns related to 4-5G.
Elizabeth Kelley, Executive Director: Electromagnetic Safety Alliance, Inc. gave basic background on 4-5G and talked about policy in other states.
Domingo DeGrazia, LD10 representative in the Arizona House and a Certified Information Privacy Profession/US Private Sector, addressed privacy issues and steps that can be taken to protect us from corporations or governments collecting our private data through the “Internet of Things” and using it and/or selling it. Midtown resident
Lois Pawlak initially called me about her concerns over the proliferation of 4-5G towers in Midtown Tucson. She talked about neighborhood concerns because of the preemption that was built into HB2365. The map at the top is a Midtown screen shot from the tower placement maps on the City of Tucson’s website here.
The question and answer video includes cameo appearances by Ward 6 City Councilman Steve Kozachik and Valeri Marsh, who is affiliated with Scientists for Wired Tech.

Forum on 5G on Sept 30: Health, Privacy, Preemption & Blight (video)

Posted on September 29, 2020February 10, 2023 by Pamela Powers

Wi-fi towers abound in the urban areas of Arizona, but with the advent of 5G and the “Internet of things,” expect thousands more.

Access to the Internet is a crucial part of modern life. During the COVID19 pandemic, many of us began living, working, partying, and going to school online. The Internet is an essential service, in my opinion.

With the advent of 5G technology, the “Internet of things” and “Smart Cities”, we are being promised faster connections and more connections. We can already connect our smart phones to security systems, home monitoring, and voice command devices. With 5G, the Internet of Things will explode beyond your current devices to include everyday appliances like refrigerators and services like electric usage that can be monitored not only by the user but also by Corporate America … and potentially the government. If you are concerned about your personal privacy and the privacy of your personal data, the Internet of Things may be a bit too connected for you.

Is 5G ‘Risky Business’? (video)

Posted on February 25, 2020February 14, 2023 by Pamela Powers

Today’s video starts with a walk down memory lane to HB 2365. This was a very complicated, major telecom bill that passed the Legislature in 2017. I was the only person in the Legislature who voted “no” on the final read. I believe I was the last person to vote. Rep. Isela Blanc turned to me and said “You’re voting ‘no’? You should explain your vote.”

I didn’t explain my vote because my stance was part hunch.

I originally voted “yes” on HB2365. (I remember being skeptical, but it was sold as no big deal.) I voted “no” when it came back from the Senate with amendments for two reasons. 1) The bill included a lot of accelerated depreciation, which I interpreted as a tax break for the telecom corporations. I remember asking questions of the staff regarding the cost, and there wasn’t really any clear answer about cost. 2) The bill was very complicated. I remember the explanation alone being pages long, and we had to make a decision very quickly. I voted “no” because I thought we really didn’t know what we were voting on.