By: Ann Compton 

WASHINGTON - Drive down just about any road and the odds are good that you'll see more than one person on a cell phone, even though it's illegal unless you're on a hands-free device.

That is, unless you're in Washington. Cell service in Washington, facilitating the use of cell phones and other wireless devices, is spotty at best.

For the second time in two years, Verizon is proposing a new cell tower on one of two sites in the northwest corner of town.

The Zoning Commission will hold an informational meeting for the public this coming Monday, at 7:30 p.m. in Bryan Memorial Town Hall Auditorium.

The first, located on a 32-acre parcel at 16 Mountain Road, is owned by Ray Underwood. The second alternative is on Route 202 in Marbledale at 167 New Milford Turnpike on a 1.25-acre parcel owned by Unica and Lloyd Waldron.

Verizon has said it would construct a 150-foot tower disguised as a pine tree at the Mountain Road site if that were chosen, that would extend 157 feet above the ground.

A similar tower would be constructed if the New Milford Turnpike site is chosen, standing 150 feet.

Verizon's representatives, Robinson & Cole LLP, said the primary purpose for the Washington North facility is to provide cell coverage along Route 202 and the southerly portion of Route 45, along with other local roads.

Conservation Commissioner Diane Dupuis told the commission at its February 7 meeting, however, that she believes five more towers would be required to have coverage in the Washington area.

These locations must be in three mile radiuses of each other, which she maintains would be needed for Washington coverage due to the terrain.

Even then, she said there would still be pockets without service, since seamless service is not possible in Washington due to the topography.

According to award-winning journalist B. Blake Levitt of Warren, there are more pressing reasons to limit the installation of cell towers.

Ms. Levitt, a recognized international expert on electromagnetic fields, is the author of "Electromagnetic Fields: A Consumer's Guide to the Issues and How to Protect Ourselves," which won the Award of Excellence from the American Medical Writers Association in 1996, and was editor/contributing author of "Cell Towers: Wireless Convenience or Environmental Hazard?"

She cites numerous health hazards in documented studies that result from cell towers.

"A cell tower frequency contains the ability to heat human tissue the way a microwave heats food, at a similar frequency," she explained. "However, there are no walls and no door on a cell tower.

"Some of the adverse effects observed from this ambient exposure include numerous cancers, primarily neurotransmitters such as Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinsons and Alzheimers; immune system suppression, sleeplessness, concentration problems, dizziness, headaches and fertility issues."

Ms. Levitt said these findings have been verified in three separate community studies of residents living near cell towers.

She also cites property devaluation that occurs when cell towers are located near homes.

"Realtors have an obligation to disclose cell tower proximity and radiation to prospective buyers, since it is a declared known hazard. Most insurance companies understand that."

The International Association of Firefighters voted at its 2004 convention to call for a moratorium on the installation of cell towers on fire stations until the health effects can be studied.

A pilot study of six California firefighters, first publicly revealed at the IAFF convention, raises concern about the safety of fire fighters working and sleeping in stations with towers.

The study focused on neurological symptoms of six firefighters who worked for up to five years in stations with cell towers.

Those symptoms included slowed reaction time, lack of focus, lack of impulse control, severe headaches, anesthesia-like sleep, sleep deprivation, depression and tremors.

There is added environmental danger from these two proposed cell tower locations, said Ms. Levitt.

She believes the Mountain Road site is the lesser of two evils because it is on a larger parcel, but both sites are in the Lake Waramaug raptor flyway and endanger numerous birds.

"Between three and five million birds are killed every year because of cell towers," she stated. Scientific evidence shows that birds are attracted to cell towers, and have been seen frantically circling around them.

"So a 150-foot monopine near Lake Waramaug in a sensitive migratory flyway will certainly increase the amount of bird kills," she stressed.

Connecticut is in a unique position in terms of cell tower regulation. It is the only state in the nation with a centralized Siting Council that governs the entire state, and can override municipalities and land use boards in determining where cell towers may be placed.

Although towns may be active participants in the process of telecommunications site selection, the final decision rests with the Siting Council, a government agency which can override local regulations.

The Public Utilities Environmental Standards Act gives the council exclusive jurisdiction over such matters.

Ms. Levitt noted that the Siting Council does try to partner with towns, and seeks input from them before making a decision.

"The town is in a legal advisory capacity," she explained. "The Council wants to know where towns want these facilities to go, and how towns feel about the locations."

Washington has beaten back the installation of cell towers in the past.

A plan to establish a telecommunications tower in the church steeple of the New Preston Congregational Church under AT&T fell through several years ago after facing strong public opposition, and in 2005 Verizon began discussions with the town on a location in the New Preston Volunteer Fire Department building which was eventually put on hold by the company.

©Voices 2007