Cellular Tower Risks Taken Too Lightly

* Just when we thought it was safe to go near the Planning Commission, we get this late-breaking bulletin. It has been enforcing and quoting from a federal telecommunications act that does not exist. It has been approving permits for cellular/PCS towers and telling residents exposed to the radiation fields they cannot protest on grounds of health risk, by order of the FCC. County officials cite an FCC act that is under revision and will not be implemented until Sept. 1 of this year. Would you believe they thought it took effect last year?

Meanwhile, an estimated 125 towers will be coming to Ventura County, more than eight for Ojai. Roving site finders get $7,000 per lease, bounty from telecom companies.

Our National Council on Radiation Protection (U.S. Congress chartered) recommends exposure levels five times stricter than the Planning Department staff is willing to accept. Hughes Aircraft adopted limits 100 times safer for their personnel. Local counties do have the right to set their own standards, as ruled recently by a federal judge in Washington. More than 30 California communities have declared moratoriums to consider this. Los Angeles’ City Council extended its ban on wireless telecommunications facilities until Nov. 1.

We’re the county that banned smoking. Now we are buying the same unctuous assurances from telecom spin doctors that the tobacco industry buttered us with for 30 years. A nonexisting FCC act is being used to quash resistance on the basis of health risk. It prevented open discussion, public disclosure of a very dark and carefully concealed threat. Portland, Ore., and the state of Vermont, among others, are setting local levels of exposure. No FCC approval is necessary. No experts needed. Just common sense. And regard for our children.

BILL STRATTON

Ventura