EHT Executive Director Theodora Scarato was invited along with lawyer Andrew Campanelli to present to the development Board of Pittsfield Massachusetts to speak on cell tower setbacks and what cities can do to ensure they retain their authority regarding placement of cell antennas in neighborhoods. We highly recommend watching these two videos.
USA POLICY ACTION ON 5G & 4G SMALL CELLS
From coast to coast, local governments are taking action to protect their communities from the unfettered deployment of 4G and 5G “small cell” wireless facilities. Several cities are passing ordinances that strictly limit the buildout. Many policymakers are asking, “What are other cities doing?”
Summary of Action in the USA
State Investigations Recommend Reducing Exposure
The New Hampshire Commission to Study the Environmental and Health Effects of Evolving 5G Technology released its final report with 15 recommendations to reduce public exposure, increase transparency and strengthen federal regulations. The 5G Report recommends US federal agencies coordinate “to protect people, wildlife, and the environment from harmful levels of radiation” and states “until there is Federal action, New Hampshire should take the initiative to protect its environment.” The Commission recommendations include a public education campaign on reducing exposure, replacing Wi-Fi with wired (not wireless) networks in schools and independently funded health studies.
Oregon’s SB 283 requires the Oregon Health Authority to review the peer-reviewed, independently funded scientific studies of the health effects of exposure to microwave radiation, particularly children’s exposure from wireless in schools. EHT will be releasing more information on this report in February 2021. Other passed state Bills to create investigations into 5G include Louisiana Bill HR 145.
RESOLUTIONS TO HALT 5G
Hawai’i County, Easton Connecticut, Keene New Hampshire and Farragut Tennessee have passed resolutions to halt 5G. The Coconut Creek Florida Commission adopted a Resolution on 5G and radiofrequency radiation “imploring the US Congress to allocate funding and direct a cross discipline federal agency study of the effects caused by exposure to current and proposed electromagnetic spectrum and radiofrequency commissions on human health and the environment in light of the recent implementation of fifth generation technology and to use those findings to create science based laws or rules regarding limiting human and environmental exposure.”
RESOLUTIONS OPPOSED TO FEDERAL ATTACK ON LOCAL CONTROL
Several cities are passing resolutions calling for local control of the placement of 5G and “small cell” towers as federal FCC and new state 5g streamlining laws have stripped their local authority. Greendale Wisconsin passed a Resolution R2018-20 referring to the FCC’s actions stripping local authority as “an unprecedented attack on local control” which “threaten the Village of Greendale’s responsibility to protect the health, safety and welfare of its residents.” Oak Brook Illinois’ Resolution 2020-ITGL-R-1891 and the City of Jersey City, New Jerseys Resolution 20-362 both call for local control. The Hallandale Beach Florida Resolution urges the federal government to initiate independent health studies on 5G. The Carmel City, Indiana Council approved a resolution asking state lawmakers, the Federal Communications Commission and Congress to limit 5G technology deployment in Indiana until the health effects are fully understood.
Crown Castle withdrew applications after Western Springs Illinois sent this letter.
LOCAL ORDINANCES TO RESTRICT 5G AND SMALL CELLS IN NEIGHBORHOODS, NEAR HOMES AND SCHOOLS
Numerous US cities and towns are passing ordinances to restrict 5G and the proliferation of wireless antennas near homes and schools with the authority they have. For example Los Altos, California passed an ordinance that does the following:
- Prohibits installation of small cells on public utility easements in residential neighborhoods
- 500 foot setbacks for small cells for multi-family residences in commercial districts
- 500 ft separation from schools
- 1500 ft separation between nodes
Other communities that have passed ordinances to restrict cell antennas near homes and schools include numerous cities in California such as Petaluma, Mill Valley, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Encinitas, Fairfax, Palo Alto, Walnut City and San Diego County as well as Bedford New Hampshire, Mason Ohio and more.
WORLDWIDE ACTION
Policy on 5G and Cell Phones
See EHT’s PDF of the latest government action on 5G and cell towers.
- Color PDF on 5G and Cell Tower Actions
- Black and White PDF of 5G and Cell Tower Actions
- Note: Please send comments and updates to info@ehtrust.org if your country has actions not represented here.
Over 600 cities in Italy have passed resolutions to halt 5G, as have cities throughout Europe, such as Trafford, United Kingdom, Lille, France ,Ormidia, Cyprus, Balchik, Bulgaria.
The Pancyprian Medical Association and Cyprus National Committee on the Environment and Child Health sent Parliament their position paper “The Risks to Public Health from the Use of the 5G Network.” Bermuda has halted 5G pending a report on safety and hosted a 2020 Consultation. Switzerland’s report on 5G health effects resulted in the Parliament’s refusal to loosen their radiation limits despite heavy industry lobbying efforts. The Netherlands issued a 5G report that recommended measuring radiation levels and also recommended against using the 26 GHz frequency band for 5G “for as long as the potential health risks have not been investigated.” Read more about 5G policy actions worldwide here.
LOCAL ACTION
Local Ordinances Address These Issues
Local ordinances note various purposes such as preserving visual character, protecting environmental resources, and protecting residents against adverse health effects. They take a variety of approaches, such as prohibiting small cells in certain areas, creating application and recertification fees and imposing aesthetic and administrative requirements. Some combine several of these approaches.
LOCATION
- Prohibiting small cell installations in residential areas, certain streets, etc.
- Requiring installations to be a certain distance away from residences, schools, hospitals, and/or other installations
- Specifying that installations must be relocated if/when they would interfere with a public project
AESTHETICS / ENVIRONMENT
- Aesthetic, design, and noise requirements such as colocation, camouflage, height and light limits, etc.
ADMINISTRATIVE / LEGAL
- Requiring that residents who will be within a certain distance of an installation be notified
- Instating automatic time limits for permits
- Requiring annual recertification fees
- Requiring permittees to defend and indemnify the city from any liabilities arising from permits and the installation, operation and maintenance of small cell installations
- Reserving the right to hire independent consultants at the applicant’s expense
INVESTIGATION
- Appointing a committee to study the viability of a fiber optic network
