5G Equipment Quietly Being Installed On Rhode Island Street Lamps. Are You Next?

5G is coming, whether any of us want it or not. At least that’s the approach some states and wireless companies seem to be taking when it comes to the controversial fifth-generation wireless network. Wires and boxes now clutter Providence light poles and traffic lights, however, people in the area have no idea how they got there. Worse more, state agencies and major telecommunication providers refuse to respond to media inquisitions. Yes, 5G is quietly being installed in some of our cities with no accountability.

City officials announced the first phase of 5G cell network roll-out last week. The new network aims to increase Internet speeds. However, 5G health risks have many citizens concerned.

But people seeing the new installs are at a loss for how they got there. This is because media request to Verizon, the governor’s office, and Rhode Island Department of Transportation have gone ignored. This leads many to believe the state is installing 5G without any accountability. State officials seem to refuse to communicate or debate the matter in a public forum. Instead, they will continue to establish the networks all over the region.

Rhode Island residents are waking up to 5G networks latched to traffic lights, street lamps, and more.

Gov. Gina Raimondo is a long-time promoter of 5G. Back in 2016, she made clear her position to “make Rhode Island one of the most desirable places to live, work and do business” via 5G network installations. Today, with 5G network installs occurring all over the city, its obvious she’s intent on achieving her goal. She also promoted legislation that sought to stop any regulations that could slow down the mass installations.

“Since the beginning, cities have given utility companies a piece of the public right-of-way. This was necessary to extend electrical, gas and other services to the intended users. In the past, the most obvious result of this was the electric poles and wires that march down city streets or alleyways,” said Brent Runyon of the Providence Preservation Society.

“As we’ve seen with electrical transformers, utility companies are coming up with new things to put onto the right-of-way and there’s been no discussion with the public about how this would affect the character of our communities,” said Runyon. “It is reasonable to expect them to work with the City when they are considering placing a transformer in front of some buildings, though perhaps not all. An example is the one they put underground at the Old State House on Benefit Street.”

Samsung, who is partnered with Verizon on 5G equipment manufacturing, called it’s recent 5G installs in Rhode Island a “5G milestone.”

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