This commentary is by Jim Wood, who worked for more than 26 years in IT infrastructure in Vermont’s state government.
Two years ago, I retired to focus on my health and my house. A house I share with my daughter near the intersection of Norton, Gould Hill and the Kaeding Roads in Worcester.
If, over the years, you’ve hiked the popular Ellis-Bruce Trail, you’ve gone by my home and likely seen me working on it.
My main incentive for this work, the investment of time, energy and money into my house, was done so that my daughter will have a place she can call home for many years to come, my legacy to her.
Then, on Dec. 17, 2021, my neighbors and I received notification from MSK Lawyers, notifying us of the proposed installation of a 200-foot-tall cell tower near the intersection of the Norton, Gould Hill and Kaeding roads.
It did not take long for our neighborhood to come together over this issue. On several occasions, we did tests with helium balloons on a 200-foot tether from my property to visualize the impact this 200-foot tower would have at this location. We determined this would be visible from many places, including the village and at the trailhead of the Ellis-Bruce, a view of the Worcester Range that stops me in my tracks every time I come out of the woods heading home.
I mentioned that these tests were done on my property because this 200-foot tower would be just 300 feet from our home. This 200-foot tower would be looming over us, receiving and transmitting cell and microwave signals day and night.
Since being notified of this proposal, I have been overwhelmed by the amount of information that has come across my computer — reports, studies, peer reviews, etc. — regarding the health effects of RF, EMF and microwave. None of it good!
While I have significant health concerns of my own, I am more concerned for the health and well-being of my daughter with the proposed siting, just 300 feet from where she will hopefully be living safely for many years to come.
My daughter is a traumatic brain injury survivor. What will the long-term exposure of RF, EMF, microwave and cellular (4/5G) transmissions have on her and her injury?
Here are some recent medical findings:
Physicians for Safe Technology: Brain and nervous system effects. We will be told there are no health concerns, that they are in compliance with FCC regulation. These regulations have not been updated in 25 years — decades before the explosion of cell phone usage.
In 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled the FCC “failed to respond to record evidence that exposure to RF radiation at levels below the commission’s current limits may cause negative health effects unrelated to cancer” and demonstrated “a complete failure to respond to comments concerning environmental harm caused by RF radiation.” The court ordered the FCC to create new standards.
I was recently made aware that in 2019 our neighbors in New Hampshire created a commission to study the health effects of cell service. This committee created a report, and New Hampshire representatives have introduced legislation (HB1644) limiting the proximity cell towers to people., no closer than 1,640 feet.
Without updated regulations and laws, this could happen to anyone!
