Worried that a proposed Verizon (NYSE: VZ) cell tower could represent a danger, some neighbors have spoken out against the project to their local representatives in Carlsbad. Their fears, they say, are that the cell tower could expose those nearby to RF radiation.
KFMB-TV included a statement from Verizon reminding its audience that 5G service is regarded by the FCC and American Cancer Society as a safe technology. Verizon added that it takes its responsibilities seriously and operates well within the safety limits established by the government. The proposed site for the cell tower would place it on the northeast corner of San Elijo and Rancho Santa Fe Roads in Carlsbad, a plot currently occupied by an RV park.
Undeterred by assurances from Verizon and wireless industry association CTIA, resident Cheri Coats issued an emotional appeal saying, “It’s like a time bomb that, literally, they’re putting there on the corner, affecting hundreds, if not thousands of homeowners, the environment, the preserve, animals.”
Coats and others pointed to internet research suggesting that cell towers imperil humans. A petition signed by 400 neighbors hopes to pressure the city council into voting against Verizon’s conditional use permit request.
A Carlsbad representative shared the county’s 19-page cell tower policy guidelines with KFMB-TV. The council will spend the next two weeks reviewing the guidelines, noted the city planner, before issuing an official response to Verizon’s request.
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