The Congressional bill that would fast-track cell towers in front of homes is advancing to a full House vote. 
H.R. 2289, the American Broadband Deployment Act, has now been placed on the House Union Calendar (No. 532), meaning it has cleared committee and is headed to the full House floor. .
<h3>This action alert will send letters to your state and federal representatives. </h3>
<a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/H_R_2289_American_Broadband_Deployment_Act_of_2025_825ab0e396.pdf" target="_self"><ins>H.R. 2289</ins></a> is one of the most sweeping preemptions of local authority for cell towers ever proposed by the United States Congress. In addition, HR 1343, 1588, 1665, 1681, 1731, 6503, and 6046 all include provisions impacting wireless deployment. 
These Bills will dramatically shift power away from cities and counties, transferring control directly to wireless corporations and the FCC. If passed, they would change how every American community handles cell towers, wireless network antennas, and wireless equipment—stripping away public input, local oversight, and meaningful safety protections. 
<ul>
<li>Despite the<a href="https://ehsciences.org/top-10-health-safety-and-liability-risks-of-cell-towers-near-homes-and-schools/" target="_self"><ins> health and safety risks of cell towers,</ins></a> this bill would force local governments to approve most applications, impose impossible deadlines, and “deem granted” any application not processed fast enough—even when cities are overwhelmed or lack staff capacity. This bill would also allow antennas to be installed on almost any structure, including homes, schools, utility poles, apartment buildings, and residential yards. </li>
<li>H.R 2289 eliminates review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) for eligible facilities requests—modifications to existing towers and base stations—and sets the stage for unfettered wireless deployment expansion.  </li>
<li>At the same time, the bill expands federal RF “gag rules,” blocking local governments from considering environmental or health impacts of radiofrequency radiation for cell towers.   </li>
</ul>
<a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/H_R_2289_American_Broadband_Deployment_Act_of_2025_825ab0e396.pdf" target="_self"><ins>H.R. 2289</ins></a> states, “No State or local government… may regulate the operation, placement, construction, or modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions, to the extent that such facilities… comply with the Commission’s regulations.” 
This comes despite<a href="https://ehsciences.org/are-cell-towers-safe/#scientificResearch" target="_self"><ins> ever growing science indicating health effects</ins></a> from cell towers and the agency’s failure to respond to the federal court order to explain how its outdated 1996 regulations protect for children’s vulnerability, long term exposure effects and wildlife impacts. 
Combined with the existing RF preemption in the Telecom Act, HR 2289 will leave communities with even fewer tools to protect environmentally sensitive areas or address health risks posed by cell antennas near homes and schools.  
The American people are being shut out from decisions that directly affect their neighborhoods, property values, safety, and environment. Local taxpayers would also be forced to subsidize industry access to public property, since the bill caps local fees at “direct processing costs” only—meaning cities cannot recover long-term management, liability, or public-impact expenses. 
<h3>The time to act is now.</h3>
<h3>This bill is being rushed through with minimal public awareness, yet its consequences will be felt in every community in America. </h3>
Your voice matters. The only way to stop this unprecedented federal takeover is for the public to speak up—loudly, quickly, and in great numbers. 
<h3>RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/H_R_2289_American_Broadband_Deployment_Act_of_2025_825ab0e396.pdf" target="_self"><ins>H.R. 2289 TEXT</ins></a></li>
<li><a href="https://ehsciences.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FactSheets-on-FCC-25-276-Cell-Tower-Fast-Track-.pdf" target="_self"><ins>Environmental Health Sciences Resources and Factsheets on HR: 2289</ins></a> with key quotes from states, cities, and towns </li>
<li>The National Association of Counties:<a href="https://www.naco.org/resource/oppose-preemption-local-broadband-permitting-authorities" target="_self"><ins> Oppose the Preemption of Local Broadband Permitting Authorities | National Association of Counties</ins></a> </li>
<li>National Association of Town and Townships Action Alert:<a href="https://nytowns.org/common/Uploaded%20files/NATaT%20Advocacy%20Alert%20-%20Oppose%20H.R.%202289.pdf" target="_self"><ins> Oppose H.R. 2289, American Broadband Deployment Act</ins></a> </li>
</ul>
<h3>THE SCIENCE AND POLICY OF CELL TOWERS </h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://ehsciences.org/cell-towers-drop-property-value/" target="_self"><ins>How Cell Towers Drop Property Value</ins></a></li>
<li><a href="https://ehsciences.org/are-cell-towers-safe/#scientificResearch" target="_self"><ins>The Science on Cell Tower Health Effects. </ins></a></li>
<li><a href="https://ehsciences.org/cell-tower-radiation-liability-risk-and-industry-disclosures/" target="_self"><ins>How Companies Warn Shareholders of Risk But Not Us. </ins></a></li>
<li><a href="https://ehsciences.org/top-10-health-safety-and-liability-risks-of-cell-towers-near-homes-and-schools/" target="_self"><ins>Top 10 Health, Safety, and Liability Risks of Cell Towers Near Schools and Homes</ins></a></li>
<li><a href="https://ehsciences.org/lawsuit-wireless-radiation-safety/" target="_self"><ins>Landmark Federal Court Decision On Wireless Radiation</ins></a> </li>
</ul>

Stop Congress From Stripping Local Control for Cell Towers 

I am writing to urge you in the strongest possible terms to oppose Congressional Bills that would fast-track cell towers by stripping local authority. 

H.R. 2289, the American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025, is one. This bill represents one of the most far-reaching federal preemptions of local authority ever proposed, transferring control over wireless infrastructure from communities to corporations, with virtually no safeguards for public safety, the environment, or democratic process.

HR 2289 would:
• Preempt local zoning authority, forcing automatic approvals and overriding local ordinances.
• Allow antennas and small cells on nearly any structure, including homes, schools, and utility poles.
• Eliminate review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) for many new deployments, eliminating key environmental and cultural protections.
• Impose extreme shot clocks and “deemed granted” approvals, turning local review into a rubber stamp.
• Restrict local fees, shifting long-term costs and liabilities onto taxpayers.
• Expand RF preemption, silencing communities from raising safety concerns even as the FCC continues to rely on outdated 1996 exposure limits.

This bill would result in antennas and towers placed virtually anywhere—with no meaningful notice, no environmental review, no public hearings, and no ability for local governments to protect residents, historic sites, or sensitive areas.

Congress should not advance any legislation encouraging the deployment of wireless facilities or increasing the density of radiofrequency radiation in the United States until the FCC has complied with an order issued by the DC Circuit in 2021 in the case Environmental Health Trust, et al. v. FCC (DC Cir 2021, No. 20-1025), ordering the FCC to address 11,000 pages of evidence on adverse impacts of cell tower and wireless radiation.

Read about the landmark lawsuit here https://ehsciences.org/lawsuit-wireless-radiation-safety/ 

Our communities deserve transparency, science-based standards, and genuine local decision-making. Please stand with your constituents, not with industry lobbyists.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.