Item 6 - PH/Cell Towers - Laserfiche WebLink

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However, based on past experiences with the chemical industry, for example, many people believe the FCC limits are driven by the industry and are not based on reliable science and may be too high, particularly for long-term exposure to low levels of RF. Other than MPE limits, the FCC regulations exclude health concerns from consideration when establishing cell sites. This is because there are no generally accepted scientific studies linking cell site RF radiation from sites in compliance with MPE limits to negative health effects. However the 1,000' setback from public schools and 800' setback from residences and residentially zoned property are arbitrarily chosen limits added precisely for that reason. These limits do not take any of the variables such as frequency, power, focus of the antenna or distance from the antenna into account. If this proposed ordinance had been in effect when the sites on the UO campus were established, every one of the sites would have required a zoning variance and, in all probability; virtually every existing cell site in Eugene would have required one. Since there were not complying alternatives for most of theie sites, most of them would have ultimately been approved but only after the added expense of the variance process to both the companies and the city. In addition, there are new wireless technological changes coming within the next two or three years that potentially will be very valuable to the community and the University; a poorly crafted ordinance could either greatly slow or eliminate all together our ability take advantage of them. These wireless technolOgies -- generically known as WiFi and WiMax -- have the potential to bring broadband internet access to homes, small businesses, and public agencies throughout the community at a lower cost and with simpler implementation than either the DSL or Cablemodem services offered by the telephone and Cable companies, now. The City, County and University, 'as well as private companies, are all considering these technologies as valuable tools to suPport our various constituencies. A WiFi/WiMax installation would require a dispersal of small transmitters and receivers throughout neighborhoods, probably two or three per square block. These devices would be about the size of a half-gallon milk container or smaller and would likely be mounted on existing utility poles or on street lights. The proposed ordinance does not distinguish between a small WiFi antenna and a 100 foot cell tower and could make implementation of this extraordinary service much more difficult.