5G Technology Workshop Coming Up In Marin County

SAN RAFAEL, CA – A public workshop, planned next week for Marin County residents, will focus on "fifth-generation cellular wireless technology" – commonly called 5G – which soon will be implemented in many areas of the world, with the first 5G cell phones expected to be released in 2020, according to officials.

The Marin County Board of Supervisors is seeking to hear from locals and discuss the pending technology at the upcoming session set for Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael.

"Each generation of cellular technology is defined by its transformative increase in speed and its incompatibility with the previous generation," the county said. "Circa 1991, 2G introduced text messaging. In 1998, 3G introduced mobile applications, internet access and video calls. By 2008, 4G introduced high-definition and 3D video. As an example of 5G’s enhanced speed and connectivity, a user could download an entire movie on a phone or mobile device within a few seconds."

The Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) oversees the Marin County Telecommunications Facilities Policy Plan, which regulates telecommunications equipment sites countywide, and that means the CDA will oversee local implementation of new equipment designed to deliver 5G service.

At the workshop, supervisors will discuss possible emerging issues and potential amendments to the county’s policies and regulations.

The county recently joined other public agencies in a court action against the federal ruling for 5G deployment, officials said, adding, "The county took the legal step to protest the Federal Communications Commission’s seizing of local control on the deployment of 5G and how implementation costs can be recovered."

From cell phone towers, cell phones send and receive signals which are a form of electromagnetic radiation known as radiofrequency (RF) energy, officials said The county noted that while RF energy is not as powerful or as damaging as X-rays or ultraviolet rays, "some scientific studies have suggested, however, that there may be increased health risks from exposure to RF energy."

The 5G technology will require the installation of a greater number of smaller antennas because they have shorter range (less than 1,000 feet) compared with existing 4G, creating a potentially denser network of closely spaced antennas, Marin officials said. In most cases, 5G devices are affixed to existing light poles, utility poles and traffic light poles within the public right-of-way, including in residential districts, according to authorities.

To ensure community engagement, CDA created an online survey in December 2018 to measure support and concerns for 5G. More than 200 people took the survey as of late January, with 59 percent of respondents indicating support for new changes to wireless telecommunications if it would maintain or expand service, officials said.

The county noted, however, that 52 percent of respondents expressed at least moderate concern about the upgrades to wireless communication devices and exposure to electromagnetic fields.

The CDA survey will remain open online through March 31 at Open Marin. Results will be weighed by decision makers as they consider policy changes. CDA maintains a new webpage devoted to 5G, as well.

The California Department of Public Health has shared information about cell phone technology as it relates to health and included links to other key sources such as the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The February 5 workshop will be webcast live on www.marincounty.org and archived there for later viewing. The Board of Supervisors chamber is in Suite 330 of the Civic Center at 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael.

Residents may share thoughts on 5G with county officials through emails, letters or at public meetings.

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