USPS Publication Number 16300
T h i s C om mu n it y Ne w s p a p e r i s a p u bl i c a t ion of E s c a m b i a-S a nt a Ro s a B a r A s s o c i a t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icia l Ci rcu it Section A, Page 1
Vol. 21, No. 17
V isit T he S ummation W eekly O nline : SummationWeekly.com
April 28, 2021
1 Section, 8 Pages
5 G T E C H E X PA N D S TO P E N S A C O L A by Dakota Parks In the era of Zoom calls and working from home, stable and reliable internet connection is more important than ever. Pensacola has become one of the latest cities to receive the next generation of wireless network technology to connect residential homes and businesses alike. Two major carriers, Verizon and AT&T, have begun installing cell towers to bring the 5G network to the Pensacola region. 5G boasts low latency and speeds that are up to 25 times faster than 4G LTE. In March 2021, Verizon announced a rollout of 5G Ultra Wideband in three major cities: Pensacola; Sacramento, California; and Seattle, Washington. The introduction of this network with a higher bandwidth for faster upload and download speeds opens a wide variety of benefits including streaming 4K video in seconds, seamless VR experiences, advances in remote medicine and even the prospect of adjusting traffic flow in real time. Business Climate has gathered the most up-to-date information on the 5G rollout to see how the technology will advance Pensacola’s business and residential life. Currently, around 2,700+ cities across America are connected to Verizon’s 5G Nationwide network, including Pensacola, and 35 cities are now connected to the 5G Ultra Wideband network. Deploying this new 5G technology requires new infrastructure called small cells, which generate less power while collecting and transmitting signals in a short range from one another. Carriers building superfast 5G networks must install hundreds of small cell sites to light poles, walls or towers, often in relatively small proximity to one another. Although 5G offers faster data speeds and better reliability than 4G LTE, not all 5G functions the same. For example, Verizon offers 5G Nationwide, which utilizes a low-band spectrum whose technology lets 5G service run simultaneously with 4G LTE on multiple spectrum bands. Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network utilizes a high-band, ultra-wide millimeter-wave spectrum to deliver even faster
5G service. This millimeter wave spectrum refers to high frequency bands—specifically, those in the 28 GHz to 38 GHz range. Utilizing both technologies allows Verizon to expand service and utilize its full portfolio of current spectrum resources to serve both 4G and 5G customers. Those making the switch to 5G will require some updated technology in the home and office. For 5G mobility, customers will need a 5G-compatible smartphone or mobile hotspot and those switching to 5G home and 5G business internet will requires a 5G gateway. According to Diana Alvear, the south area consumer media relations for Verizon, the new 5G technology will revolutionize how businesses interact with their customers, track inventory, manage operations and engage with their workforce. “5G offers a truly next generational experience over 4G LTE with the ability to provide much faster data speeds and carry a massive amount of data for simultaneous users,”
she explained. “People in high density areas – like airports, stadiums or urban areas – will see dramatic improvements in speeds and latency even if many devices are connected to the network at the same time. 5G also brings new capabilities including connecting millions of smart devices as well as replacing your wired home broadband connection.” High density areas are among the first on the list to receive 5G connection in Pensacola, as cell sites have gone up predominantly along portions of downtown Pensacola between A street and 19 Avenue and parts of East Hill, around Cordova Mall and the Pensacola International Airport, as well as parts of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach. According to the City of Pensacola’s 5G Small Cell Antenna Permit Application List, 75 permits from Verizon and AT&T have been approved and 5 are currently in review. However, not all residents have received the new technology with the same enthusiasm. Many residents have expressed concerns about new poles disrupting neighborhood aesthetics, while others are concerned about the potential health risks associated with the radio frequencies emitted from the cellular network. According to the American Cancer Society, there is no strong evidence that exposure to radio frequency waves from 5G cell phone towers causes any noticeable health effects, but more research must be conducted to study any possible long-term effects as new technologies emerge. As the
∙∙ The Verizon
coverage map shows the rollout of 5G Ultra Wideband through areas of downtown Pensacola and Cordova mall.
American Cancer Society explains on its website, radio frequency waves rarely reach the ground from the point of transmission on tall cell sites: “Radio frequency waves from a cell phone tower antenna, like those from other telecommunication antennas, are directed toward the horizon (parallel to the ground), with some downward scatter. As a result, the level of exposure to RF waves at ground level is much lower than the level close to the antenna.” One major subject of concern for citizens, however, surrounds the City of Pensacola’s lack of authority over the placement of cell towers, resulting in new poles being installed in close proximity to residential homes. According to the Senate Bill 1000 signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on June 25, 2019, municipalities and counties are prohibited from adopting or enforcing certain ordinances, regulations or requirements related to communication services. The bill also specifies limitations on municipal and county authority to regulate and manage municipal and county roads or rights of way. Citizens in East Hill have protested the construction of new pole sites on the basis of preserving historic neighborhood aesthetics, which they claim have been violated through the failure to perform proper historic reviews. Several homeowners signed and sent a petition to the Federal Communication Commission
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(FCC) to review the construction of a small cell site built directly in front of a 100-yearold home on 19th Avenue between Gadsden and Jackson street. On March 17, the FCC granted a pleading schedule to review the petition. According to the Florida League of Cities, citizens opposed to Senate Bill 1000 and the inability of local government to act on cell tower placement can protest the bill by calling Florida legislators in support of “home rule.” The power of “home rule” dates back to the early 1900s and grants cities and counties the ability to enact ordinances at the local level without state approval. Overturning the bill in favor of home rule would give local government and municipalities control to negotiate the placement of towers with carrier companies. As 5G technology expands across the Pensacola region, the increase in connection speeds, reduced lag-time and increased reliability will benefit some of Pensacola’s topgrossing industries including healthcare, education, cybersecurity, banking, aerospace, military and hospitality, which all require advanced connection. To learn more about the rollout of small cell antennas and new towers in Pensacola, you can track current permits through cityofpensacola. com/3057/5G-Small-Cell-Antenna-Permit-Application and the frequently updated Verizon coverage map at verizon.com/ coverage-map.
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