5G Cell Service To Launch In Racine; Group Says 5G Is Dangerous

RACINE, WI — Officials in Racine say their community will be the first in Wisconsin to have 5G data network service, and will be marking the occasion this week.

Racine Mayor Cory Mason is set to join U.S. Cellular representatives to usher in the new network by making the first 5G Google Duo video call to Walden III, where students will be learning more about technology during an “Ask an Engineer” session held Wednesday morning at the Cesar Chavez Community Center on Racine's north side at 2221 Douglas Ave.

Last summer, Racine was named a “smart city” and U.S. Cellular will now partner with Racine to deploy its latest network.

According to a news release, U.S. Cellular customers in Racine will be among the first to access the company’s new 5G network with the launch of the 5G-ready Samsung Galaxy S20 5G, S20+ 5G and S20 Ultra 5G on March 6, 2020.

U.S. Cellular publicly released their plans to initially deploy 5G cell service in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and Oshkosh in addition to Racine during the early months of 2020.

5G Planned In Wisconsin After Law Passes

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill in July 2019 allowing for the expansion of 5G wireless technology in Wisconsin - and a leading environmental group blasted the governor for signing it into law.

Wisconsin for safe Technology said in a statement that radiation from 5G towers is harmful to human health and the environment. They cited numerous peer-reviewed studies which have linked exposure to wireless radiation with a long list of acute and chronic health problems including cancer, DNA damage, neurological and cognitive harm, infertility and miscarriage, migraines, anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's, behavior problems among others.

"Deploying 5G without rigorous safety-testing and updated biologically-protective safety limits is irresponsible. Children are especially vulnerable to wireless radiation exposure because of their developing brains and bodies," Greendale resident Elaine Unger, of Wisconsin For Safe Technology, said in response to the bill.

In signing the bill, Evers said it was important for Wisconsin to catch up to neighboring states when it comes to wireless technology.

"Senate Bill 239 allows us to catch up with the rest of the Midwest by bringing 5G to Wisconsin," Evers said in a statement. "This is an important step for investing and updating our infrastructure that will pave the way for the next generation of connectivity across our state."

Unger said, "There are zero studies proving 5G is safe. Zero. This bill strips us of our rights to protect our health, our privacy and our property. It also strips the rights of local government to protect us.