Trustees in California’s Temecula Valley Unified School District passed a ban on new cell phone towers on school property via a resolution and policy. The policy and resolution also bars the district from renewing existing tower leases. The vote also sets the stage for an outside party to monitor cell tower emissions and share that data with the school district and public.
The new Temecula School Board policy has a section that states:
In promoting the health and safety of students and staff and in compliance with its duty to provide an environment free from life hazards, new wireless telecommunication transmitter installments are prohibited on all school premises. For existing wireless telecommunication transmitter installment leases within the District, the District shall not extend or renew such leases. For all existing and operating cellular transmission towers situated on District property, the District shall engage a third-party monitoring vendor to monitor and report on all emissions from the cellular transmission towers, and shall transparently make that reported data available to the public.
Trustees voted 3-2 to pass a resolution asking the city of Temecula to require 1,500-foot setbacks between wireless towers and schools and to notify the district when a tower is sought near school property.
Environmental Health Trust was invited to meet with some of the school leadership, answer questions and share information on cell tower radiation and health. Environmental Health Trust was joined by experts in writing a letter to the Temecula Valley Unified School District offering to present data about cell tower radiation.
Watch the Temecula Valley Unified School District meeting where trustees voted to halt new cell towers on school property.
Download the Temecula Valley Unified School District California trustees’ cell tower resolution and the Temecula School Board policy
TEMECULA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
RESOLUTION 2023-2024/09 IN THE MATTER OF WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION INSTALLMENTS
WHEREAS, the health and safety of our students and employees are fundamental concerns of the Temecula Valley Unified School District;WHEREAS, the Temecula Valley Unified School District cannot prevent wireless service facilities from being situated near its schools;
WHEREAS, the desire of the wireless companies to market new wireless services has since led to a proliferation of cellular facilities targeting residential areas and near schools;
WHEREAS, wireless infrastructure is being deployed at an unprecedented speed and cellular facilities have been approved without proper justification and proof that the placement is to serve existing demand or provide public safety benefits;
WHEREAS, serious concerns exist regarding wireless permits approved near schools without proper notification to school officials and nearby property owners or proper review and oversight of the wireless applications;
WHEREAS, cities, counties, and local municipalities have relied upon Section 704 of the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 to preempt local communities and school districts from opposing the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of environmental effects of radiofrequency emissions to the extent that the proposed facilities comply with the Federal Communications Commission regulations concerning such emissions;
WHEREAS, cities, counties, and local municipalities have not had to demonstrate that these telecommunication facilities comply with the Federal Communications Commission regulations concerning radiofrequency emissions as they relate to multiple-transmitter sites and complex environments whereby all significant contributions to environmental exposures are cumulatively considered;
WHEREAS, based upon new and emerging scientific evidence there continues to be considerable debate as to the adequacy of existing public exposure standards including those promulgated by the Federal Communications Commission. Specifically, a recent decision by the United State Court of Appeal found that the Federal Communications Commission, the commission regulating facilities and devices that transmit radio waves and microwaves, failed to adequately provide explanation or its guidelines on wireless facilities and their harmful effects of radiofrequency. (Environmental Health Trust v. Federal Communications Commission (D.C. 2021) 9 F.4th 893, 900.) While the court emphasized that it took no position on the scientific debate on the health and environmental effects of the radiation, it held that the Commission failed to provide a reasoned explanation on the cancer-related health effects and impacts of radiation on children. (Id. at 909.);
WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission is obligated to conduct periodic reviews of current research and analysis of health implications associated with radiofrequency exposures in cooperation with industry, agency, and organizations responsible for community health and safety to ensure exposure to guidelines are appropriate and scientifically valid;
WHEREAS, regardless of the regulatory compliance, the scientific and medical communities urge a cautionary approach to radiofrequency exposure. Recent environmental research suggests that exposure to radiofrequencies, including a cumulative effective of low- intensity exposure, can cause increased incidence of cancer, neuropsychiatric effects such as headaches, concentration difficulties, memory changes, and reproductive complications and infertility. (J.M. Pearce, “Limiting Liability with Positioning to Minimize Negative Health Effects of Cellular Phone Towers” (October 19, 2019).).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the Board of Trustees of the Temecula Valley Unified School District adopts and implements revised Board Policy 3514, prohibiting new wireless telecommunication installments on Temecula Valley Unified School District’s school grounds as well as prohibiting any extension or renewal of existing ground leases for the maintenance of wireless telecommunication installments on District property.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees requests and supports that the City of Temecula immediately establish local municipal zoning setback rules of 1,500 feet or more for operations of wireless telecommunication transmitters near a school site;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees requests the City of Temecula to provide timely notification when new wireless telecommunication transmitter permit applications are filed and provide comment on the health risks from the proposed installment as it relates to compliance with existing Federal Communications Commission regulations associated with cumulative exposures; and
Download the Temecula Valley Unified School District California trustees cell tower resolutionand theTemecula School Board policy
Temecula School Board Trustee Dr. Joseph Komrosky, who introduced the resolution, has been raising the issue for some time and interviewed EHT experts in his research. Komrosky holds a PhD in Philosophy from Claremont Graduate University and his thesis was The Corporate Character of Eudaimonist Virtue Ethics Cautioning the Invisible Environment of Harmful EMFs Resulting from 5G Technology.
A more recent review entitled “Evidence for a health risk by RF on humans living around mobile phone base stations: From radiofrequency sickness to cancer“ by Alfonso Balmori (2022) found associations between living near a cell tower and radiofrequency sickness, cancer and changes in biochemical parameters.
Numerous schools are now taking measures to reduce cell tower radiation from nearby cell towers. As an example, the Desert Sage High School in central Tucson, a public charter school has installed shielding along the wall facing the cell tower to reduce the cell tower radiation exposures in the classroom. Other U.S. school districts that have banned cell towers include:
- Los Angeles, California, has resolutions opposing cell towers on school property and utilizing a “precautionary threshold” for radiofrequency radiation 10,000 times lower than FCC limits.
- Palo Alto, California Unified School District Resolution No. 2018-19.19 supports the city’s 1,500 ft. setback and opposes cell towers “on or in close proximity to schools to ensure individuals, especially children, are protected from the potential negative effects associated with radiation exposure.”
- West Linn-Wilsonville, Oregon School Board prohibits cell towers on school property.
- Montgomery County, Maryland Schools policy no longer not allow cell towers on elementary schools.
- Prince George’s County, Maryland School Board decided not to renew a cell tower construction master leasing agreement that had allowed more than 60 schools to be marketed as cell tower sites.
- Portland, Oregon, Schools ended new leases for cell towers.
Several communities have ordinances restricting cell towers on or near school property.
- Encinitas, California: No antennas within 500 feet from residential dwelling units, daycare facilities or schools.
- Calabasas, California: All Tier 2 wireless facilities must be setback at least 1,000 feet from schools, homes, and parks.
- North Hempstead, New York: No installations within 350 feet of a school.
- Copake, New York: No facility may be within 1,500 feet of homes, schools, churches, or other buildings containing dwelling units (known as fall zones).
- Scarsdale, New York: No antennas within 500 feet of homes, schools, parks, and houses of worship.
Download EHT’s Briefing on Local Ordinances That Restrict Cell Towers Near Homes
For more information about Temecula, read “New cell phone towers banned on Temecula school grounds” by The Press Enterprise
