As we reported in November, global weather experts are raising concerns about the effect that 5G could have on accurate weather predictions. And now the leaders of the House Science Committee in the U.S. have issued a letter requesting that the government investigate why federal agencies have such differing views about the risks 5G poses to weather forecasting.
Deeply concerned
In the letter Science Committee Chairman Eddie Bernice Johnson has requested that the Government Accountability Office look into the reasons for the differences between the views of the Federal Communications Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA, regarding the potential for 5G technology to interfere with weather data-gathering instruments aboard polar orbiting satellites.
In late November, negotiators from around the world announced a deal to roll-out 5G technology using the same frequency bands as certain weather equipment.
This decision went against previous studies conducted by NASA that warned 5G technology operating in the 24 GHz frequency band could interfere with transmissions from used to gather weather data.
Back to the '80s
"“These contradictory statements between the FCC, NOAA, and NASA regarding the use of the 24 GHz band for 5G are concerning."
House Science Committee letter.
The letter claims that people are “deeply concerned about the potential for degradation of our nation’s weather forecasts from interference in the electromagnetic spectrum.”
Neil Jacobs, the acting NOAA administrator, even warned that 5G interference could set weather forecast accuracy back by 30 percent, to levels not seen since the 1980s.
Therefore, the analysis concluded that telecommunications equipment operating in the 24 GHz frequency band could affect the frequencies NASA satellite sensors use to predict the weather. This could be incredibly dangerous, as extreme weather could be missed and communities might not have sufficient warning to protect themselves.
“These contradictory statements between the FCC, NOAA, and NASA regarding the use of the 24 GHz band for 5G are concerning,” the letter states. “Earth observing satellites are critical for protecting the lives and property of the American people from severe weather. It is vital that federal agencies work through these issues in a manner that is independent of political motivation and driven by science.”
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