Wireless Telecommunication Installations Whereas, The health and safety of our students and employees are fundamental concerns of the Los Angeles Unified School District;
Whereas, The Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles adopted a resolution opposing the siting of cellular facilities on or in close proximity to schools to ensure individuals, especially children, are protected from the potential health effects associated with exposures to extremely low frequency electromagnetic and radio-frequency radiation;
Whereas, The Los Angeles Unified School District has been successful in restricting the placement of wireless communication installations on its school facilities, it has had limited success in preventing wireless service facilities from siting near its schools due to apparent restrictions placed upon zoning authorities to consider the health and environmental effects of radio-frequency radiation;
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 areas 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 radio-frequency 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 radio-frequency 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;
Whereas, The full Parliament of the European Union has raised concerns about the exposure of children and young people to electromagnetic fields and continuing uncertainties about possible health risks and therefore adopted on April 2, 2009 a resolution encouraging 1) the establishment of setback criteria for wireless antennas, mobile phone masts and other electromagnetic emitting devices to be set within a specific distance from schools and health institutions, 2) stricter regulations and protections for residents and consumers and 3) more reliable information be made available about the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields to citizens in an effort to prevent a "proliferation of poorly positioned masts and transmitters;”
Whereas, The Federal Communications Commission is obliged to conduct periodic reviews of current research and analysis of the health implications associated with radio-frequency exposures in cooperation with industry, agency, and organizations responsible for community health and safety to ensure exposure guidelines are appropriate and scientifically valid; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles direct the Office of Environmental Health and Safety to request local jurisdictions to provide timely notification when new cellular permit applications are filed and provide comment on the health risks from the proposed facility as it relates to compliance with existing Federal Communications Commission regulations associated with cumulative exposures; and be it
Resolved, further, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles support responsible deployment of fiber optic broadband technology, which is superior to wireless technology in speed, reliability, security, durability and protections it affords people and the environment from the potential hazards of exposure to radio-frequency radiation; and be it
Resolved, further, That the Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles requests the County of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles City Council and all local jurisdictions that the Los Angeles Unified School District serves to join them in passing a resolution in favor of revising Section 704 of the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996’s preemption of consideration of the health and environmental effects of radio-frequency radiation at levels below current Federal Communication Commission standards in decisions involving the placement, construction and modification of wireless facilities, and in favor of amending the California Public Utilities Code to grant local governments authority to regulate wireless facilities in public rights of way pursuant to local planning and zoning ordinances, to be sent to Sacramento and Washington DC.
National WorkerRF Safety Crisis Video Our nations’ workers and the welfare of their families
are at risk! Watch the video to see how.
LA School District Demands Wireless Antenna Moratorium
Source: cloutnow.org
Date: 05/26/2009
