On one hand, Virginia has been scrambling to get digitally connected, on the other, some residents want to restrict the placement of cell towers. Parents in Loudoun County have put a halt on plans to erect cell towers on the grounds of River Bend Middle School and Dominion High School and now have their sights set on other campus construction plans.
Though Loudoun Now did not name the newest school site to come under scrutiny, it did report that School Board Chair Melinda Mansfield and her staff have been lobbying for policy changes that would keep cell towers off school properties.
Bypassing the accepted wisdom of the FCC and the American Cancer Society, Mansfield said that her internet research had led her “down the rabbit hole” where she discovered information questioning RF radiation exposure dangers. Inspired by her research, she recommended to the Board that they take steps to revise their policies to keep wireless facilities away from buildings that house students.
Committee member Arben Istrefi noted that administrative buildings were still open for consideration, though he was in favor of imposing limitations on student occupied sites. “I like the idea of not having cell towers on school properties and not having to worry about it,” he said. “But I also just want to be able to have the opportunity for us to get smart about the process, even if we were putting them in administrative sites, for example.”
Despite all the talk, no official decisions regarding the future of cell towers on Loudoun County School grounds were reached at this time, according to Loudoun Now. While some residents weighed in against the cell towers, others supported the opportunity for improved digital service in the region. It was agreed to put all further discussion on hold until autumn, when the school calendar is likely to promote more parent engagement on the cell tower issue.
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