1)  One reminder about what Telus is doing and calling “aerial fiber optic” access:  if you agree to allow Telus access to your home and cable, it will likely switch your home phone from a landline to a digital one which will run on a battery.  

2)  A member has reported that there is a relatively new cell tower at 1439 Sunrise Dr., French Creek, BC (which is near Qualicum Beach and Nanaimo on Vancouver Island). Last  year, there were protests and many people asked for it not to be built in a residential neighbourhood, but it’s there and Telus has put 30 transmitters on it:to ensure 360 degree coverage. The frequencies are from 700 MHz – 2100 MHz or 2.1 GHz.  There has been discussion of 700 MHz being used with 5G (5th generation) technology.

This is just an example of what is still going on in addition to the microcells Telus is putting up.  And once there is a cell tower, ISED allows more transmitters to be put on it without any public notification whatsoever. I wonder if the body that owns the land is aware that he will be totally responsible for any lawsuit that ensues.

Telus transceivers at
N49.3458 W124.3778

Freq (MHz)	BW (Hz)	Power	Azm (°)	Hgt (m)	Elev (m)
700	12M	20	60	15	21
700	12M	20	228	15	21
700	12M	20	310	15	21
850	20M	20	60	17	21
850	20M	20	228	17	21
850	20M	20	310	17	21
1900	10M	20	60	15	21
1900	10M	20	228	15	21
1900	10M	20	310	15	21
1900	10M	20	60	15	21
1900	10M	20	228	15	21
1900	10M	20	310	15	21
1900	10M	20	60	15	21
1900	10M	20	228	15	21
1900	10M	20	310	15	21
1900	10M	20	60	15	21
1900	10M	20	228	15	21
1900	10M	20	310	15	21
1900	10M	20	228	15	21
1900	10M	20	310	15	21
1900	10M	20	60	15	21
1900	10M	20	60	15	21
1900	10M	20	228	15	21
1900	10M	20	310	15	21
2100	10M	20	60	17	21
2100	10M	20	228	17	21
2100	10M	20	310	17	21
2100	20M	20	60	17	21
2100	20M	20	228	17	21
2100	20M	20	310	17	2

3)  Meanwhile, in Mill Valley, California, 5G microcells are being refused, as has been done in quite a few other cities in California and across North America.  We need to raise awareness and get some Councils in BC to do the same.

Mill Valley, California blocks 5G cell tower implementation

“The city voted unanimously to effectively halt the installation of new small cell towers which carry the 5G technology by enacting an “urgency ordinance” after it received over a hundred letters from concerned citizens expressing their worries over the new 5G towers.

Mill Valley residents cited multiple studies which claim that experts have found evidence that cell phone radiation can cause cancer…

The town of 14,000 now joins several other towns who have blocked the installation of 5G over health concerns. Before Mill Valley blocked 5G, other municipalities in California, such as Marin County and San Anselmo, passed similar ordinances.

Similar movements to block 5G have taken place across the country as well.” 

Letters: 

Please read from the bottom up.

From: X

Date: March 24, 2019

To: “Minister, EMPR EMPR:EX” <EMPR.Minister@gov.bc.ca>

Subject: Response from Minister Michelle Mungall  [BC Hydro and BCUC]

 

Dear Minister

Thank you for your response and I do respect your intention to be informative.  However, respectfully, you do not appear to be well informed on this issue and are merely disseminating BC Hydro propaganda.

How can the 2016 report be considered complete when the program was not finished?  There are many omissions including:

1) no mention of the smeter actual shorter life expectancy versus the figures included in  BC Hydro’s original business case

2) no mention of smeters that had to be replaced in Jan. 2016, that were not covered by warranty and cost $20 million   https://theprovince.com/news/b-c-hydro-must-remove-more-than-88000-smart-meters  

3)  there is no financial data I have seen that includes revenues from opt out fees or accurate costs associated with opt outs.  

4) no mention regarding lawsuits or costs for fires, insurance, etc.  

Given the Auditor General’s recent report I see no reason for British Columbians to believe that our privacy and data are properly protected.

Please take a much closer look at the governance of BC Hydro because IMHO the public interest is no longer the priority at BC Hydro.

X

********

From: “Minister, EMPR EMPR:EX” <EMPR.Minister@gov.bc.ca>

Subject: Response from Minister Michelle Mungall

Date: March 20, 2019

To: X

Cc: “OfficeofthePremier, Office PREM:EX” <Premier@gov.bc.ca>

 

Dear X

Thank you for your February 18, 2019 email regarding the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) and BC Hydro’s smart meter program, and for taking the time to write and share your views.

BC Hydro and the BCUC have both assessed the cost-effectiveness of BC Hydro’s smart meters.  In 2010, before BC Hydro began implementing its program, BC Hydro published its business case for smart meters, finding that the expected net present value of the program through 2033 was $520 million in savings.  This report can be found  at  https://www.bchydro.com/content/dam/BCHydro/customer-portal/documents/projects/smart-metering/smi-program-business-case.pdf.

After the program was completed, BC Hydro filed the Smart Metering and Infrastructure Program Completion and Evaluation Report with the BCUC on December 21, 2016.  This report included a review of concerns shared by some members of the public relating to health, safety, and the risk of a security or privacy breach that could impact customers or system operations.  The report updated the BCUC on responses to these matters.  It also quantified the financial benefits the program has realized, and provided an outlook for the expected benefits until 2033.  The report can be found at  http://www.bcuc.com/Documents/Proceedings/2016/DOC_48502_B-1-4_BCH-Appx-P-Update-SMI-Report.pdf  (see pages 19 to 23, and pages 41 to 48).

In BC Hydro’s Fiscal 2019 to Fiscal 2020 Revenue Requirements Application to the BCUC, BC Hydro provides additional information on the Smart Metering and Infrastructure Program, including costs and benefits.  In fiscal 2019, BC Hydro’s Audit Services department engaged experts from Bridge Energy Group, who have extensive experience in technology strategy, enterprise architecture, and integration and utility security, to assess whether the smart metering system is fully operationalized, managed and functioning effectively.  The internal audit found that the smart metering system is delivering intended services, and that it has controls around data and application security, access and privacy.  Operations are effectively governed and the system is well monitored.  You can find more information on the Revenue Requirements Application at  https://www.bchydro.com/toolbar/about/planning_regulatory/regulatory_documents/regulatory-filings.html.

Once again, thank you for writing.

Sincerely,

Michelle Mungall

Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

 

*********

From: X

Sent: February 18, 2019

To: “OfficeofthePremier, Office PREM:EX” <Premier@gov.bc.ca>; “Minister, EMPR EMPR:EX” <EMPR.Minister@gov.bc.ca>; “Weaver.MLA, Andrew LASS:EX” <andrew.weaver.mla@leg.bc.ca>

Subject: BC Hydro and BCUC 

 

Dear Elected Representatives

Your government says it is important that the independent oversight of BC Hydro and its projects be handed back to the BCUC, unless the Commission interferes with the govt’s plans.

Will you allow an independent review of the Hydro smart meter program which would include minimally long term cost/benefit analysis, cybersecurity and safety. Even better, will you encourage BCUC to undertake this analysis?

I look forward to your response.

X

 

Sharon Noble, Director, Coalition to Stop Smart Meters

“Our Society is run by insane people for insane objectives. We are being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I m liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That’s what is insane about it…”    John Lennon