Hartford Business Journal

33 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | JUNE 14, 2021 CT can't afford to let 5G misinformation get in way of connectivity needs By Karen Kerrigan During the past year, the need for reliable and fast internet has become even more critical, especially as our use of smartphones, tablets, computers, and other smart devices skyrocketed. Like most small businesses throughout the country, Connecticut's small business community has had to rapidly integrate technologies and find new ways to connect with customers online. A noteworthy example of this innovative mindset was an effort by Stamford's Women's Business Development Council to create new virtual marketplaces to connect consumers with local brands and small businesses. As we emerge from the pandemic, challenges for small businesses will only continue to grow alongside the needs for fast and reliable internet. The availability of 5G, not just for entrepreneurs, but for school, work, health care and more is even more essential for revitalizing our economy. Unfortunately, despite decades of research that say otherwise, misinformation surrounding the safety of 5G and radio frequency (RF) continues to live on. In order to keep local commerce afloat and help to close the digital divide, the facts on the safety of 5G must be more widely known. For years, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have ensured that the technologies we've come to rely on are safe and will not have any adverse effects on our health. The FCC's RF exposure limits should allow consumers to trust that any 5G-approved wireless networks, smart devices, or small cells are not only safe, but also well below the overly-cautious standards set to ensure everyone's well-being. In 2019, after years of additional review, the FCC reaffirmed that their current standards would not pose any danger to people's health with the deployment of 5G. The report said: "While research on the health effects of RF energy continues, no evidence has moved our sister health and safety agencies to issue substantive policy recommendations for strengthening RF exposure regulation." Indeed, the FDA maintains that "[t] he weight of scientific evidence has not linked cell phones with any health problems" and that "the current safety limits for cell phones are acceptable for protecting the public health." The FDA later concluded, "there are no quantifiable adverse health effects in humans caused by exposures at or under the current cell phone exposure limits." Global governing bodies have also concurred on the issue, including the World Health Organization (WHO), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and now even more authorities from Australia who have reasserted the safety of 5G. Specifically, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) review of the millimeter wave (MMW) band found there is no evidence that "low- level radio waves, like those used by the 5G network, are hazardous to human health." As the mountain of evidence grows, it is near impossible to deny the clear reality — that 5G and the RF exposure from 5G-enabled devices are safe. Instead of continuing to spread false and misleading claims about 5G, skeptics should take time to understand the facts and hear about the ways 5G is already benefiting people and small businesses across Connecticut. In Hartford, Stanley Black & Decker's manufacturing plant is one of the first "smart factories" that has benefited from 5G providing connectivity throughout every aspect of its operation. Further adoption of 5G throughout Hartford and the rest of Connecticut will only open the door to more possibilities for nascent businesses and producers to grow and drive the local economy. Thanks to the 5G economy, Connecticut stands to gain more than 40,000 new jobs and add over $15 billion to its GDP over the next 10 years, according to estimates from Boston Consulting Group and CTIA. Small businesses are poised to be a huge contributor in this regard, especially as they adopt 5G technologies that enable innovation and growth. With the scientific community broadly and clearly confirming the safety of 5G, it is essential for consumers as well as state and local lawmakers to understand what is at stake for Connecticut if misinformation spreads any further. Karen Kerrigan serves as president and CEO of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, a national advocacy, research and education organization. Opinion & Commentary OTHER VOICES Karen Kerrigan Greg Bordonaro EDITOR'S TAKE Hartford's comeback de- pends on a return of office workers O ver the past year, Hartford Business Journal has spent a lot of resources reporting on the future of work, particularly in a post-pandemic world. That coverage culminated in this week's issue with a special return-to- work feature that included data from a recent four-week poll conducted by the Hartford Business Journal in partnership with accounting and consulting firm PwC. The survey covered various topics ranging from COVID-19's impact on people's living situation to what workers would be comfortable with in terms of steps employers take to keep the workplace virus free. I'm not going to rehash the results here, but what piqued my interest most was how employers and workers plan and want to conduct business in the future: in person, remotely or in a hybrid model? At this point I think it's clear that a hybrid work environment — where employees spend some time in the office and some at home — is the way of the future, at least for the next few years. I believe companies that go too far in one direction or the other will have a harder time recruiting and keeping talent in the post-pandemic world. Workplace flexibility was an increasingly important perk before COVID-19 hit the U.S.; the pandemic likely cemented its place in a company's talent-recruitment toolbox. At the same time I think offices and in-person interaction spur important innovation and efficiencies that can't fully be replicated remotely. As employers finalize their return- to-work decisions in the weeks and months ahead they'll have plenty of constituents to think about. One that should remain top of mind is the communities in which they are based. Cities of all sizes have taken a beating over the past year and Hartford, particularly downtown, is no exception. Cities are in desperate need of workers to head back to the office so that restaurants and other small merchants can get customers back in their doors. But beyond helping the local merchant, I think there's a much more significant issue at stake. The longer it takes to get people back downtown the slower the city's recovery will be. And Greater Hartford will need a strong and vibrant Capital City in the years ahead to attract top talent and employers. A lot has been written about the death of American cities in the wake of the pandemic, but I think many of those predictions are overblown. Yes, companies will shrink their office footprints, and Connecticut's suburbs have become more attractive to those seeking more space and a private backyard. But cities will eventually regain their luster, even if it takes years to do so. The reality is young people and others will always crave the live, work and play offerings of a vibrant urban center. Humans also have short memories. It won't take long for most people to regain their pre-pandemic lives and mindsets once the virus is more fully in the rearview mirror. Our country has been through pandemics before and cities have endured. So what's all this mean? I think it's incumbent on Hartford- based business leaders to try to get their vaccinated workers back to the office sooner rather than later. I'm not saying bring back everyone at once. Employees' health and safety must remain a top priority, and some flexibility still must be offered to those facing child care and other pandemic- related issues, but where it's feasible and safe to do so, workers should be encouraged to get back to the office, even if it's a day or two a week. Others agree with this sentiment. For example, a few days after HBJ published a story last month detailing how many major city employers aren't planning to bring workers back until September, Gov. Ned Lamont and other city leaders held a press conference urging companies and workers to get back to the office. I don't think the timing of their pleas was a coincidence. Attracting top talent will remain a challenge and priority for Hartford area employers for years to come. Having a strong and vibrant Capital City will be key to that effort. Hartford had upward momentum before coronavirus dealt it a serious blow. Getting the city back on its feet will require more people to actually be in it. Employers and their workers are a key part of making that happen. Let's start moving that dial this summer, rather than waiting for the fall.

• Cover