Boulder City Council has continued its discussion of 5G cell phone technology at the urging of concerned
community members. 5G is a next-generation cell phone technology that uses one-third of the transmit
power consumed by current cell phones, offers 20 times faster speeds and requires more dense cell towers.
Council has a study session scheduled for July 23, where 90 minutes is blocked out to discuss the issue and
bring in experts on the topic.
I applaud Julia Richman, the city’s chief innovation and technology officer, for bringing together a list of
impartial speakers and experts to speak to City Council on the topic. Her original agenda had a great mix of
local experts in the areas of engineering, medicine, and law on cellular technology scheduled. At the July 16
meeting, City Council decided to ignore Richman, their staff and experts on the topic, adding back in biased
speakers that are pushing an agenda. A quick search on the internet will show that one of the speakers added
back in represents a group that is notorious for promoting bad science that fits their narrative and is often
used as a teaching example of how to spot bad science. They are using a page right out of the climate change
denial playbook.
