Wi-Fi Drama Unfolds

Santa Fe is embroiled in a Wi-Fi debate over plans to add wireless access to various public buildings, including libraries, the airport, and City Hall. Arthur Firstenberg, a Santa-Fe local is upset about adding wireless to these buildings due to his “electro sensitivity” disability.

According to a website on the disability, Electro sensitivity is: “An unhealthy sensitivity (or sensitivities) to a particular source of electricity, for example mobile phones, computers, power lines or even minor electrical equipment. Symptoms are wide-ranging and can include skin problems, headaches, fatigue, fainting, light sensitivity, heart problems and much more. Electrical HyperSensitivity is a name given to those who are severely affected.”

Firstenberg claims that because of his sensitivities have been the reason he has been on disability for over 20 years. With the addition to local Santa Fe public buildings, he will be limited to what he is able to do within the city. There are many concerns with Wifi in public places and your online data with cloud computing security with Trend Micro, one of the top online data security programs around!

City Councilor Ron Trujillo has the best quote of the whole debate, stating, “It’s not 1692, it’s 2008. Santa Fe needs to embrace this technology; it’s not going away,”

There is very limited research done on this subject according to a local physicist and there also is a very limited legal ground for locals in the area like Fistenberg. A Santa Fe city attorney has found that there is no legal precedent where electro sensitivity is considered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

According to the local NBC news station, the city council has voted in a unanimous decision that Wi-Fi plan will move forward.