Re: [pf] Reducing Driving and Cell Phone Towers

by Jill Taylor Bussiere

07 December 2000 16:12 UTC

Thanks for your input, Kaleopono.  Here is what I have found out so far.
Coincidentally, I got the notice of the zoning board meeting the day after I
wrote the post. The tower is proposed to be built on the farm next to ours.

Two neighboring towns have passed the measures needed to put up towers in
their towns.

The FCC legislation on technology, the Telecommunications Act of 1996,  does
not allow towns to prohibit cell phone towers - this was signed by President
Clinton.

There is a cell phone tower 2 miles to the south of us.  The hope of the
companies is to put one every 6 miles.

Although towns can not deny the erection of the towers, they can direct
where, and how tall they can be, and they can insist upon companies sharing
towers.  They can also direct cell phone companies to colocate on other
existing buildings such as water towers and buildings.  Towns can direct the
companies to camouflage the towers.  They can also  require companies to
remove, withing 180 days, any tower no longer being used.

The tower in Pierce is proposed to be 250', and able to accomodate 6
antennas - one of which would be the Sprint company and the rest to lease to
other companies.

One town called a 120 day moratorium as they were not prepared to deal with
this issue thoughtfully.

I am not yet decided about this issue - but have lots of thoughts to bring
up at the meeting.  I still need to research the health effects - there is
some mention of ill effects, but no details yet.

What I am cautious about is the quickness with which this technology is
being adopted, without the effects of it being known yet.  And what I am
upset about is more legislation that is forcing something whose benefits/ill
effects balance we do not yet know down our throats yet again - just as BGH,
genetically engineered foods, and the thousands of chemicals currently in
our environment that are detrimental to us, especially when combined with
one another.  I feel a responsibility to take up the slack for the greater
good, because it is not being sufficiently considered at other levels in our
government.

                                    Jill