Citywide
Coalition Forms to Pursue Regulation of
Cell Phone Antennae Sites
Elected officials and community groups cite potential health
threat;
City Hall press conference to take place on Thursday, February 16, 11:00 am
Brooklyn, NY - U.S. Representative
Major R. Owens is joining with New York State and municipal elected officials
from across New York City, as well as with community groups and concerned
individuals, to form the Coalition to Regulate Antennae Safety (CRAS) in
response to the growing proliferation of cellular antennas and base stations in
heavily residential areas. The coalition is dedicated to creating legislation
that protects the public from health risks that may result from long-term
exposure to radiation from these antennae.
"We rely upon cellular phone service so much that we have
overlooked potential dangers that may be created by the increased demand,"
said Congressman Owens. "There is no scientific
evidence to assure us that cell phone antennae and base stations when placed in
clusters do not pose a threat to the health and well-being of people,
particularly the young, the elderly and the frail. It is far better to be safe
than sorry, which is why I support and have joined this Coalition to Regulate
Antennae Safety."
CRAS is pursuing new policies on wireless antenna placement that will mandate
input from community groups and residents before any installations of cellular
base stations are approved. Groups from all five boroughs have joined the
coalition, some of whom are already involved in legal action against multiple
antennae either already on their roofs or currently planned for installation.
In
addition to Congressman Owens (D-Brooklyn), CRAS includes New York State Senators Jeff Klein (Bronx) and Martin Golden
(Brooklyn), New York State Assembly members Michael Gianaris (Queens) and Joan
Millman (Brooklyn), and New York City Council members Peter Vallone, Jr.,
(Queens), Vincent Gentile (Brooklyn), Letitia James (Brooklyn), and Lewis Fidler
(Brooklyn). Along with numerous individuals, the Coalition has also received
support from community activist Chris Owens of Brooklyn, as well as Joel
Kupferman, Esq., an attorney with the New York Environmental Law & Justice
Project.
"This coalition, with its diverse representation, will work
tirelessly to ensure that common sense and public safety prevail in the
placement of cellular phone antennae," says
Councilmember Letitia James, who represents the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Fort
Greene, Prospect Heights and Crown Heights. The Councilmember has received
numerous complaints and inquiries regarding the clusters of antennae emerging
within her district.
The Coalition's purpose is to ensure that legislation is created to regulate the
placement and installation of these structures and to limit their density in
residential districts and near schools. "For years, the
telecommunications industry has had carte blanche to place these antennae
wherever they wanted, without respect to community concerns," adds
Leonore Gordon, a member of the Park Slope group objecting to a T-Mobile cell
tower siting. "As a result, thousands of rooftops throughout the city are
cluttered with cellular antennae, exacerbating the risk of health problems
related to the radio frequency (RF) radiation emitted from the structures."
A growing body of scientific
evidence points to potential health risks presented by the low-dose RF radiation
emitted from the antennae, particularly over the course of many years. It is
common for cellular phone antennae leases between landlords and carriers to have
terms of 15 years or more and there has been little or no disclosure to
residents. Gordon has been receiving reports from New Yorkers in each of the
five boroughs. "Residents throughout our City are often completely
unaware of the purpose or potential health threats posed by antennae already on
their rooftops until they read about this issue in the newspaper," she
said. To make matters worse, some contracts between cell phone companies and
landlords include provisions that allow the carrier to continue to increase size
of their equipment during the period covered by the contract, or, at the sole
discretion of the carrier, to even sell their equipment to another carrier.
"Right now, thanks to questionable public policy, it is too easy
for a company and landlord to obtain a permit to construct these structures,"
says Evie Hantzopoulos from Astoria, another CRAS member. Ms. Hantzopolous
referred to a New York City Department of Buildings memorandum, issued in 1998,
which exempted the cellular phone industry from more stringent permit
application procedures, including public review. "Our rights as residents
and our safety have been erased in favor of big business interests,"
Hantzopoulos said.
The City Council of New York is attempting to overturn the DOB exemption.
Councilmember Vallone has had legislation passed which requires the agency to
maintain a separate public list of cellular antenna sites. In addition, the
Council as a whole passed a resolution calling for the New York City Department
of Health to begin studies of antenna safety, particularly with regards to
people living in close proximity to an antenna or cluster of antennae.
The Council has also wants to see the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996
amended. This Act contains a provision making it difficult for municipalities
to protect their citizens from wireless antennae solely for health reasons.
CRAS maintains that this provision protects the wireless industry, but not the
nation's citizens. A similarly prohibitive provision is included within the
"911 Act" of 1999, which prevents lawsuits against the industry based on
illnesses caused by cell phone equipment. In spite of this legislation,
however, the U.S. Supreme Court recently determined that five class action suits
alleging illnesses caused by cell phones could proceed. Congressman Owens has
now promised to bring the issue to the federal legislative branch as well.
"Now is the time to ask tough questions and engage in good planning, not
after we have allowed people to get hurt or worse," said Owens.
The New York State Legislature is also reviewing legislation to regulate the
siting of antennae, particularly near schools, while research continues
regarding potential health dangers. One bill has been written by Assemblymember
Gianaris and co-sponsored by Assemblymember Millman. Another has been sponsored
by State Senator Jeff Klein.
Gordon pointed to the fact that there has been growing concern
about radiation from cellular phone towers. "Municipalities in California
and Florida already have laws banning antennae near schools, as does the country
of New Zealand," she said. Research suggests that children's developing
brains may be especially vulnerable to long-term radiation exposure.
"While the industry points to its own studies along with several others claiming
that there is no radiation danger, enough
questions have been raised from a vast body of research strongly disputing that
conclusion to spur several international conferences on cell-tower siting,"
said attorney Joel Kupferman.
CRAS is seeking to expand its membership. To contact CRAS, call or fax
888-767-8088, toll free or send an email to
mailto:safeantenna@aol.com. CRAS has established its own website,
www.safeantenna.org containing information and tools for
communities and residents to refer to and utilize when confronted with a cell
phone tower issue.
A press conference will be
held on the steps of City Hall at 11:00 am on Thursday, February 16. Attendees
will include elected officials, community groups and individuals who are members
of CRAS. For press conference information, please contact Ms. April Miller,
Office of Assemblymember Michael Gianaris, at 718-545-3889 or 315-450-3268
(cell).
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