In 1996, the passage of Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act, paired with new FCC guidelines, solidified microwave-based wireless technology as the dominant force in American communications. This move not only monopolized the market but also hindered innovation, particularly for safer alternatives like Li-Fi. Despite substantial evidence of non-thermal risks, these guidelines created a facade of safety, preventing the public from demanding healthier technology. This blog explores how these two protections have artificially propped up an outdated technology and why it’s time to embrace the Light Age.
The Monopolistic Grip: Section 704 effectively prevents local governments from rejecting cell towers based on health concerns, creating a government-sanctioned monopoly. Coupled with the FCC’s 1996 safety guidelines, which ignore non-thermal risks, this legal framework has created a false narrative of safety, discouraging the development of safer, light-based alternatives. This monopolistic hold has stifled innovation, limiting consumer choices and perpetuating potential health risks. It’s time to challenge these protections and advocate for a transition to the Light Age, where indoor environments utilize light-based communication for safer connectivity.
Embracing the Light Age means breaking free from outdated, monopolistic practices and pushing for innovation that prioritizes public health. Let’s demand safer technology, challenge the status quo, and usher in a future where light waves illuminate not just our homes, but our communications.