Chico Enterprise-Record
Article Launched: 12/24/2006 01:00:00 AM PST

The rantings of Zach Solnila regarding health risks of electromagnetic radiation from cell phone towers must not go unchallenged.

I suggest that citizens seeking the truth about biological effects and potential hazards of radio frequency radiation check out www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/rf-faqs.html. Further, read FCC OET bulletins 56 and 65.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996, Section 704, provides for federal pre-emption of state and local regulations of wireless facilities on the basis of environmental effects. Cell phone towers cannot be legally challenged on this basis.

Non-technical people need to understand that we all have been drowning in a sea of electromagnetic waves of many different wavelengths for many years from AM, FM, TV, military and public services operating at much higher power levels than the minuscule power levels used in wireless telephone communications. You are receiving more radiation sitting too close your TV set than you are receiving from any cell phone tower unless you climb the tower and stick your face on the antenna. Zach will receive more radiation lying under an electric blanket than he would through being in the proximity of a cell phone tower.

-- Maurice Picard, Chico