For nearly three decades, a broken system has silenced parents, ignored scientific evidence, and violated constitutional rights. Today, cell towers are being placed dangerously close to schools, outdated safety guidelines from the 1990s continue to put our children at risk, and federal agencies refuse to fulfill their legal obligations to protect public health.
I’m John Coates, founder of RF Safe and the father of a seven-year-old girl who attends a school where a cell tower sits just 465 feet from her desk. This is a tower I can’t protest, challenge, or demand be relocated—not because the science isn’t on my side, but because Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 strips me of my rights as a parent to even bring health concerns into the discussion.
This system isn’t just broken—it’s unconstitutional. It’s been this way for 30 years. And unless we demand change, it will stay this way.
The good news? There is one person who can fix this: President Donald Trump. But he can only act if we the people speak out and demand it.
The Issues at Hand: A Web of Neglect and Violations
1. Section 704: Silencing Parents and Communities
Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, signed into law by President Bill Clinton, prohibits local governments from denying cell tower permits based on health or environmental concerns. This law:
- Strips local control: Communities have no say in the placement of wireless infrastructure near schools, homes, or playgrounds if it meets outdated federal standards.
- Violates the First Amendment: It silences parents like me, barring us from raising health concerns in public hearings or legal challenges.
- Violates the Tenth Amendment: Zoning, land use, and public health traditionally fall under state and local jurisdiction, but Section 704 overrides this constitutional principle in favor of federal and corporate interests.
2. Outdated FCC Guidelines: A 30-Year Stalemate
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) relies on RF safety guidelines established in 1996. These guidelines only account for thermal effects—the heating of tissue from radiation—ignoring decades of research showing non-thermal effects, such as:
- DNA damage
- Oxidative stress
- Neurological impacts
In 2021, the FCC lost a landmark lawsuit brought by the Environmental Health Trust and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that the FCC had failed to justify its reliance on these outdated standards in light of new scientific evidence. Despite this, no updates have been made.
3. FDA Violations: Breaking Public Law 90-602
The Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-602) mandates the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to:
- Conduct and support research into the safety of electronic product radiation.
- Inform the public about potential health risks.
For 30 years, the FDA has failed to fulfill this legal obligation. This neglect allows the FCC to continue enforcing obsolete guidelines, leaving the public unprotected from the rapid expansion of wireless technology.
4. The NTP Research That Biden Shut Down
During President Trump’s tenure, the National Toxicology Program (NTP) released its groundbreaking findings:
- Clear evidence of cancer: Male rats exposed to RF radiation developed malignant gliomas (brain tumors) and schwannomas (heart tumors).
- Validation of non-thermal risks: The research showed biological harm at radiation levels far below what causes tissue heating.
This was the most comprehensive study of its kind, yet under the Biden administration, funding for the NTP was cut, halting further research and violating the FDA’s mandate under Public Law 90-602.
Why You Must Speak Out: This Is Our Only Hope
The problems we face aren’t new. Section 704 has tied the hands of parents and communities for 30 years. The FCC has ignored scientific evidence for decades. The FDA has neglected its legal responsibilities for just as long. And all the while, our children’s health hangs in the balance.
President Trump is the only one who can fix this. He has the power to:
- Repeal or amend Section 704, restoring local rights and constitutional protections.
- Direct the FCC to update its guidelines based on modern science.
- Hold the FDA accountable for fulfilling its legal mandate.
- Restart and expand NTP research to protect future generations.
But he won’t act unless we demand it. This isn’t just about President Trump—it’s about you. Your voice matters, and your actions can make the difference.
What You Can Do Right Now
1. Contact President Trump
Write to him, tweet at him, and post on his social platform, Truth Social. Tell him:
- Section 704 violates the First and Tenth Amendments.
- The FCC’s 1996 guidelines are dangerously outdated.
- The FDA is breaking Public Law 90-602 by neglecting its legal mandate.
- Cutting NTP research was a massive step backward for public health.
2. Spread the Word
Share this blog, talk to your friends and family, and raise awareness about how Section 704 and outdated RF guidelines affect us all. Use social media to amplify your message.
3. Demand Action from Local Leaders
Even though Section 704 limits local authority, pressure from local governments can still drive federal change. Demand that your city council or state representatives pass resolutions calling for the repeal of Section 704.
A Final Plea: Protecting Our Children
As a parent, I shouldn’t have to fight this hard to protect my daughter. The science is clear: cell towers should not be placed within 500 meters of schools, yet I am powerless to protest the tower 465 feet from her desk.
You want the right to abortion. I want the right to protect my child.
It’s time to end the hypocrisy. If states and local governments can decide abortion laws, they should also have the right to regulate wireless infrastructure to protect children’s health.
This isn’t just about RF radiation. It’s about local rights, constitutional freedoms, and holding our government accountable for not following the law. It’s about ensuring that parents like me have a voice in decisions that affect our children’s future.
President Trump, we’re counting on you to fix what the Democrats broke 30 years ago. Repeal Section 704. Update the FCC guidelines. Hold the FDA accountable. Restart the NTP research. And give parents the right to protect their children.
John Coates
Founder, RF Safe
Father, Advocate, and Citizen
Closing Call to Action
If you care about your children, your rights, and your future, contact President Trump today. Use every platform available—tweet him, post on Truth Social, write him letters. Together, we can bring these issues to his attention and demand the change we’ve needed for 30 years.
FAQ 1
Q: What is Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act, and why is it controversial?
A: Section 704 (1996) prevents local governments from rejecting cell towers based on health concerns. This law overrides both First and Tenth Amendment rights by blocking communities from protecting children against potential RF radiation risks.
FAQ 2
Q: Why can’t parents like John Coates protest a cell tower only 465 feet away from a school?
A: Section 704 forbids health-based objections to cell tower placement, so even though studies like the BioInitiative Report recommend a 500-meter (1,500 ft) minimum, parents can’t legally challenge towers on these grounds.
FAQ 3
Q: What did the National Toxicology Program (NTP) discover about RF radiation?
A: During Trump’s presidency, the NTP found “clear evidence” linking RF radiation to cancers (gliomas, schwannomas) in lab animals—non-thermal effects that current FCC guidelines ignore. Funding for further study was cut under Biden.
FAQ 4
Q: How do outdated FCC guidelines affect public health?
A: The FCC’s 1996 safety standards focus on thermal effects only, ignoring decades of research on non-thermal RF radiation risks such as DNA damage, oxidative stress, and neurological impacts—leaving the public at greater risk.
FAQ 5
Q: What is Public Law 90-602, and why is it relevant?
A: Passed in 1968, it requires the FDA to research and inform the public about radiation hazards. The FDA has failed to enforce it regarding non-thermal RF radiation, allowing outdated FCC guidelines to persist.
FAQ 6
Q: Why do critics say Section 704 violates the First Amendment?
A: Section 704 effectively silences communities by barring them from raising health objections in public hearings or legal cases, undermining the right to “petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
FAQ 7
Q: How does Section 704 conflict with the Tenth Amendment?
A: Zoning, land use, and public health traditionally fall under state/local authority. Section 704 places federal restrictions on these powers, overshadowing local autonomy and community decision-making.
FAQ 8
Q: What role does abortion rights play in this debate?
A: Critics argue that local control is upheld for abortion decisions but denied when parents want to protect children from RF radiation in schools—revealing a contradictory application of “local rights.”
FAQ 9
Q: Why is President Trump pivotal in fixing this problem?
A: Section 704, passed under Bill Clinton, has remained largely unchanged for 30 years. Only federal-level action—such as from a President willing to amend or repeal it—can restore local rights and modernize RF safety standards.
FAQ 10
Q: How can the public help?
A: By contacting President Trump directly—through letters, social media, or public forums—demanding he repeal/amend Section 704, update outdated FCC guidelines, and ensure the FDA enforces Public Law 90-602.