A Big Win in Ashland Oregon! How a Local Band of Health Freedom Warriors Defeated Big Tech
AT&T WITHDRAWS APPLICATION FOR 14-STORY MONOPINE CELL TOWER FACILITY AT THE GATEWAY TO ASHLAND, OREGON, MARCH 2023 OREGON, MARCH 2023
Last December, Oregon for Safer Technology (OST) and Health Research Institute (HRI) solidified a partnership to lobby against a proposed 150-foot, 14-story “mono-pine” telecommunication facility in unincorporated Jackson County, at the site of the Billings Ranch property, on the north end of Ashland, Oregon. The tower was designed for a 5G C band midrange antenna, opening the door for an increased presence of small cell antennas throughout the city.
The proposed site would have disrupted the pastoral view of Grizzly Peak to more than ten thousand motorists who travel North Main and Highway 99 North on a daily basis. Equally important, the tower’s selected location would have showered juxtaposing homes, working farms, and medical and veterinary clinics with RFR (radio frequency radiation). It is noteworthy that HRI occupies one of the properties immediately next door to the proposed tower.
Countless scientific studies document the dangers of RFR pollution. Together, Children’s Health Defense and Environmental Health Trust challenged FCC-established safety standards of RFR and prevailed in court against the FCC, with a decision mandating that the FCC update its safety guidelines. In spite of this landmark decision, and in an outcome that deserves scrutiny and question, the Federal Telecommunication Act of 1996 (TCA) continues to protect telecom from liability for health dangers to the public resulting from RFR. This unacceptable interpretation of the law encouraged OST and HRI’s advocacy teams to design alternative strategies to influence stakeholders against this cell tower.
Advocacy teams worked diligently to scour the application and to gather relevant data, health studies, and new members who might oppose the tower. Communications with County Commissioners, County Planning, Ashland City Council members, and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) were consistent and on point. The research team studied engineering diagrams and searched ring parameters and maps, all of which led to the conclusion that the proposed tower site would not provide AT&T with the cell quality and coverage it hoped to achieve. Additionally, access to the tower off of Highway 99 North was denied by ODOT. Furthermore, careful analysis of the application uncovered inconsistencies and shortcomings. We are left with the conclusion that a cohesive, synergistic, multilateral approach to defeating the tower – conducted by a highly committed, boots-on-the-ground team – was key to the final withdrawal of the cell tower application.
Ashland is poised to become an innovator in offering fiber optics as an alternative to wireless telecommunications. Ashland Fiber Network has received preliminary approval from Ashland City Council to begin a pilot program that will hopefully grow to encompass the entire city. Safe and innovative fiber optic technology, protected by a strong telecommunications ordinance, will demonstrate that Ashland is ready to stand tall against corporate domination, to choose health over RFR dangers, and to support aesthetics over a landscape dotted with unnecessary and already outdated monoliths. By implementing these bold steps, Ashland will be positioned to offer fast, reliable, secure, and healthier access to internet and voice communications.
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https://childrenshealthdefense.org/emr/emf-wireless-health-impacts/
