Our children deserve healthy school environments. 
Across the country, companies are seeking to place cell towers on or near school campuses. However, cell towers can create significant health, safety, liability, and financial risks. Children are uniquely vulnerable to cell tower radiation because their bodies are still developing and they are exposed for hours while at school. Too often, school boards are not fully informed of these risks. 
<h3>We urge lawmakers to act now to protect children. </h3>
Schools should be for education, not for the benefit of commercial industries. 
The US allows <a href="https://ehsciences.org/cell-tower-radiation-limits-worldwide/" target="_self"><ins>the highest level </ins></a>of RF radiation from cell towers compared to numerous other countries. Many countries have already<a href="https://ehsciences.org/cell-tower-radiation-limits-worldwide/" target="_self"> <ins>banned cell towers</ins></a> from school grounds. Although several U.S. school districts have banned new cell towers, there are no federal protections specifically regulating the placement of cell towers near U.S. schools. 
<a href="https://ehsciences.org/are-cell-towers-safe/#scientificResearch" target="_self"><ins>Scientific studies</ins></a>,<a href="https://ehsciences.org/doctors-and-scientists-on-cell-phone-radiation-health-effects/" target="_self"><ins> expert recommendations</ins></a>, and<a href="https://ehsciences.org/cell-tower-radiation-limits-worldwide/" target="_self"><ins> international policies</ins></a> increasingly support safeguards, including setbacks to distance cell towers from schools.
Here are a few of the key cell tower health and safety issues: 
<ul>
<li>Fire Risk: Cell tower equipment can catch fire. At <a href="https://ehsciences.org/top-10-health-safety-and-liability-risks-of-cell-towers-near-homes-and-schools/#TTHSLRCT-4-Fire-Risk" target="_self"><ins>multiple schools,</ins></a> cell tower fires have forced closures of school sports fields. </li>
<li>Hazardous Materials: Cell tower compounds contain <a href="https://ehsciences.org/top-10-health-safety-and-liability-risks-of-cell-towers-near-homes-and-schools/#TTHSLRCT-5-Hazardous-Materials" target="_self"><ins>hazardous chemicals</ins></a>. Their back up power systems can include lead acid batteries and diesel fuel tanks, which can leak. Some county fire departments register cell tower sites as HAZMAT sites.  </li>
<li>Fall Zone: Anything located in the area surrounding a cell tower - including students and staff - could be at risk from equipment and debris that may fall from a tower in the event of a structural failure, collapse, extreme weather conditions, accidents, or malfunctions. </li>
<li>Increased RF Radiation: Studies show close proximity to cell towers and wireless antennas increases students’ exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation, which has been classified by the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Class 2 B “possible” carcinogen in 2011. Published research links exposure to cancer and<a href="https://ehsciences.org/are-cell-towers-safe/#scientificResearch" target="_self"> <ins>numerous other health effects.</ins></a> Children are especially vulnerable, as they <a href="https://ehsciences.org/science-on-children-cell-phone-radiation-and-health-risk/" target="_self"><ins>absorb higher rates of cell tower RF radiation</ins></a>. </li>
<li>Outdated Cell Tower RF Radiation Limits: U.S. FCC limits for cell tower radiation are unchanged since 1996 based solely on avoiding short-term heating effects.  These antiquated limits are derived from studies on small animals exposed for less than 60 minutes. They are<a href="https://ehsciences.org/are-cell-towers-safe/#USRegulations" target="_self"> <ins>not designed to provide protection</ins></a> against effects from the long-term exposure children experience in the classroom. </li>
<li>High Risk: Insurers<a href="https://ehsciences.org/cell-tower-radiation-liability-risk-and-industry-disclosures/#CTRLRID-Insurance-Auth-Reports" target="_self"> <ins>rank</ins></a> 5G and RF radiation as a “high” risk,<a href="https://ehsciences.org/cell-tower-radiation-liability-risk-and-industry-disclosures/" target="_self"> <ins>comparing the issue to lead and asbestos</ins></a>.  Swiss Re Institute, a world-leading provider of insurance, classifies 5G mobile networks as a “high off-the-leash” risk.</li>
<li>Liability: Wireless companies warn shareholders about the risk but not the school administration, teachers, students or the community. Most insurance plans exclude coverage for health damages from RF radiation, and RF exposure has often been defined as a type of pollution by insurers as well as<a href="https://ehsciences.org/cell-tower-radiation-liability-risk-and-industry-disclosures/#CTRLRID-Wireless-Companies-Define" target="_self"> <ins>the cell tower companies themselves.</ins></a></li>
<li>Drop in Home Values: Realtors<a href="https://ehsciences.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Cell-Towers-Drop-Property-Values-Oakland-Township-Realtor-Letters-2024-1-1.pdf" target="_self"> <ins>repeatedly document</ins></a> studies that<a href="https://www.nationalbusinesspost.com/cell-towers-impact-home-values/" target="_self"> <ins>have found</ins></a> cell towers can reduce the property value of nearby homes between 4 and 20%. A nearby tower can also create a loss in tax revenue for the county, which in turn impacts school funding. </li>
<li>Lack of Federal, State, and Local Oversight for Compliance: The federal government has no program ensuring oversight for cell tower RF radiation compliance. RF radiation levels in schools,playgrounds, and sports fields should be regularly measured for compliance with results posted online. However, most states and localities do not have such compliance requirements, and robust RF radiation monitoring is rarely done.  </li>
<li>Lack of Transparency and Community Participation in the Decision-Making Process:  Parents and the local community are often the last to hear about proposed cell towers, leaving them little time to get informed or involved and shutting the most impacted community members out of a meaningful decision-making process. Leasing agreements are often made for entire districts without informing the entire school community and neighbors.  </li>
<li>Today's Decision-Makers Lock Future School Boards Into 30+ Year Leases: School boards that later seek to limit or remove cell towers from school property often discover they are locked into 30-year or longer lease agreements approved by prior boards. When community opposition arises, boards frequently have no practical remedy other than breaking the contract and paying significant legal fees and damages.</li>
<li>Obstacles for School Remodeling and Construction Projects: Once a tower is built, school renovation projects must work around the tower, rather than be designed according to what is best for the school’s needs.   </li>
</ul>
<h4>Schools should follow a risk mitigation approach and avoid exposing children to environmental pollution. Join us in calling on your lawmaker to act now. </h4>
 <a href="https://ehsciences.org/are-cell-towers-safe/#scientificResearch" target="_self"><ins>Cell tower radiation health and safety risks</ins></a>
<a href="https://ehsciences.org/cell-towers-drop-property-value/" target="_self"><ins>Cell towers drop property values</ins></a>
<a href="https://ehsciences.org/cell-tower-radiation-liability-risk-and-industry-disclosures/" target="_self"><ins>Cell towers bring liability and risk</ins></a>
<a href="https://ehsciences.org/cell-tower-radiation-limits-worldwide/" target="_self"><ins>U.S. laws allow high cell tower radiation compared to other countries</ins></a>
<a href="https://ehsciences.org/are-cell-towers-safe/#scientificResearch" target="_self"><ins>Children absorb higher cell tower radiation</ins></a>
<a href="https://ehsciences.org/are-cell-towers-safe/#USpolicies" target="_self"><ins>U.S. school board policies restricting cell towers near schools</ins></a>

Tell Lawmakers: It’s Time to Ban Cell Towers at U.S. Schools

I’m asking you to support legislation that bans cell towers and cell antennas on K–12 school property and requires protective setbacks around campuses.  
Numerous countries have already banned cell towers from school grounds. Many U.S. school districts have banned new cell towers or stopped renewing leases, including Los Angeles Unified, Palo Alto Unified, West Linn–Wilsonville (OR), Temecula Valley Unified, and Loudoun County (VA). Yet many campuses still host towers, and too often parents only learn about them after a lease has already been signed.

Cell towers create avoidable risks on school grounds, including:
1. Fire risk
2. Hazardous materials (diesel fuel, generators, lead-acid batteries)
3. Fall-zone dangers (tower sections, equipment, ice/debris)
4. Increased RF exposure in classrooms, playgrounds, and athletic areas
5. Outdated federal RF limits (not designed for long-term daily exposure)
6. Exposure can increase over time (additional antennas/carriers added later)
7. Liability and insurance gaps (coverage exclusions/uncertainty)
8. Property value drops up to 20% and tax-base impacts for surrounding neighborhoods
9. Little to no independent monitoring/oversight of on-campus RF levels
10. Lack of transparency and meaningful community consent
11. Long-term lease lock-in that binds future school boards
12. Campus renovation and planning constraints

The U.S. is among the countries that allow for the highest levels of cell tower radio-frequency (RF) radiation in the environment, with limits 10 to 100 times more than numerous countries including Italy, Israel, Russia, China. Many of the cell antennas now installed on school property in the US would be illegal in these countries.  

Children absorb higher rates of cell tower radiation and are biologically more vulnerable. Numerous published scientific papers support stronger protections and greater setbacks for cell towers from schools. Yet in the United States, federal safety rules have not been updated since 1996, and the U.S. FCC has not complied with a 2021 federal court order to address children's long term exposure.  

Cell towers operate with little real-world oversight or enforcement, especially around schools. 
1. Pre-installation baseline testing is rarely required
2. Post-activation RF compliance monitoring is not required
3. Results aren’t posted publicly, leaving parents and staff in the dark
4. Equipment changes that increase RF radiation levels (added antennas/carriers, power increases) can occur with minimal notice
5. Enforcement is limited, so problems may only surface after complaints or incidents

Please introduce and/or support legislation that (1) prohibits cell towers and macro antennas on K–12 property, (2) establishes minimum setback distances from schools and areas where children spend time, and (3) requires public notice, independent RF reporting, and ongoing monitoring for any facilities near campuses. I would appreciate your written response stating whether you will support this policy and what steps you will take to move it forward.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. 

See research on cell towers at https://ehsciences.org/are-cell-towers-safe/

Read the recommendations of the  scientists of the International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF)  
https://icbe-emf.org/new-icbe-emf-scientific-publication-concludes-cell-phone-and-cell-tower-safety-limits-are-not-protective/

The EMF Scientist Appeal https://emfscientist.org

Scientific Research

International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (ICBE-EMF). (2022). Scientific evidence invalidates health assumptions underlying the FCC and ICNIRP exposure limit determinations for radiofrequency radiation: Implications for 5G. Environmental Health, 21(1), Article 92. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-022-00900-9

Bandara, P., & Carpenter, D. O. (2018). Planetary electromagnetic pollution: It is time to assess its impact. The Lancet Planetary Health, 2(12), e512–e514. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(18)30221-3

Scarato, T. (2025). U.S. policy on wireless technologies and public health protection: Regulatory gaps and proposed reforms. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, Article 1677583. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1677583

Uche, U. I., & Naidenko, O. V. (2021). Development of health-based exposure limits for radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices using a benchmark dose approach. Environmental Health, 20(1), Article 84. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-021-00768-1

Belpomme, D., Hardell, L., Belyaev, I., Burgio, E., & Carpenter, D. O. (2018). Thermal and non-thermal health effects of low intensity non-ionizing radiation: An international perspective. Environmental Pollution, 242, 643–658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.07.019

McCredden, J. E., Cook, N., Weller, S., & Leach, V. (2022). Wireless technology is an environmental stressor requiring new understanding and approaches in health care. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Article 894447. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.894447

Miller, A. B., Sears, M. E., Morgan, L. L., Davis, D. L., Hardell, L., Oremus, M., & Soskolne, C. L. (2019). Risks to health and well-being from radio-frequency radiation emitted by cell phones and other wireless devices. Frontiers in Public Health, 7, Article 223. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00223

Fernández, C., de Salles, A. A., Sears, M. E., Morris, R. D., & Davis, D. L. (2018). Absorption of wireless radiation in the child versus adult brain and eye from cell phone conversation or virtual reality. Environmental Research, 167, 694–699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.05.013

Davis, D., Birnbaum, L., Ben-Ishai, P., Taylor, H., Sears, M., Butler, T., & Scarato, T. (2023). Wireless technologies, non-ionizing electromagnetic fields and children: Identifying and reducing health risks. Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, 53(2), Article 101374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cppeds.2023.101374