Towers & siting

I am commenting as an individual consumer and parent. My comment relies on peer-reviewed research, government reports, and a federal court decision, each cited below. The safety limits are almost 30 years old. The FCC set its wireless radiation limits back in 1996 and hasn’t updated them since. In 1996, about 44 million Americans had cell phones. Now nearly everyone does, and most of us also have Wi-Fi, smartwatches, tablets, and smart meters running all day [1]. In 2021, a federal appeals court ruled that the FCC acted “arbitrary and capricious” when it kept those old limits. The court found the FCC never gave a real answer to evidence of non-cancer health effects below the limits, especially for kids, and didn’t address long-term exposure or the environment [2][3]. There’s real science here (Q12) In 2011, the World Health Organization’s cancer agency (IARC) classified radiofrequency fields as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” based on an increased risk of glioma, a malignant brain cancer, linked to wireless phone use [4]. In a study nominated by the FDA, the government’s own National Toxicology Program exposed rats to cell phone radiation. Male rats developed malignant heart tumors, and both male and female rats showed heart tissue damage. The lowest exposure level matched the highest amount allowed today for local tissue exposure from phones. The NTP said the tumors resembled ones reported in some studies of frequent cell phone users [5]. NTP also pointed out that 4G and 5G use different frequencies and signal types than the ones it tested. So the networks we’re all using right now haven’t been studied this way [5]. Kids deserve extra care (Q11) Children’s bodies and brains are still developing, and they’ll be exposed for a lifetime. The American Academy of Pediatrics has asked for limits that account for children and pregnant women [3]. The court specifically faulted the FCC for not explaining why it brushed off evidence about children [3]. What I’m asking HHS to do I’m not asking for the government to control what devices I buy. I’m asking for honest information and the freedom to choose. Tell the FCC plainly that the 1996 limits aren’t backed by current health science. Then have HHS, not the wireless industry, lead the health review the court ordered. Give us the facts. Radiation levels (SAR) and the minimum distance from your body should be on the box and at the store, not hidden in phone menus. Let people opt out. Families should be able to decline smart meters without penalty fees and ask for wired internet options for their kids at school. Neighbors should get a heads-up before antennas go up near homes and schools. Give communities a say again. Right now, local towns can’t consider health concerns when deciding where towers go. HHS should support restoring that local voice. Fund independent research. NIH should follow up on the NTP findings using 4G and 5G signals, with scientists who aren’t funded by the wireless industry. Share simple tips. Use speakerphone, keep your phone off your body, and use a wired connection when you can. HHS should share this as voluntary guidance, stated clearly. Until independent research shows this is safe for kids and lifelong use, the burden of proof should be on the technology, not on families. Thank you for asking the public about this. [1] Washington Spectator, “FCC & Electromagnetic Radiation” (2022): https://washingtonspectator.org/fcc-electromagnetic-radiation/ [2] Environmental Health Trust v. FCC (D.C. Cir. 2021), summary by Davis Wright Tremaine: https://www.dwt.com/blogs/broadband-advisor/2021/08/fcc-radiofrequency-limits-dc-circuit [3] Law Street Media, D.C. Circuit remand summary: https://lawstreetmedia.com/?p=12895 [4] IARC Press Release No. 208 (2011): https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pr208_E.pdf [5] NIH news release on NTP findings (2018): https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/high-exposure-radiofrequency-radiation-linked-tumor-activity-male-rats

I am submitting these comments as an individual. These comments share my personal and family experiences with man-made EMR illness and can thus be categorized as answering Question 3 on HHS’s Request for Information. I am a US citizen and a resident of Massachusetts. I am 34 years old and currently living in a semi-rural residential neighborhood, sharing a home with my parents and three adult siblings. One reason why we live together is our inability to find other living situations where we can avoid man-made electromagnetic radiation (EMR). All of us experience symptoms of EMR exposure when we spend time in commercial or urban areas in our region. [3c] Symptoms include headaches, vertigo, nausea, cognitive dysfunction, “brain fog,” chronic fatigue, skin rashes, full body bloating, diarrhea, tinnitus, and impaired motor control. [3f] We have been able to mitigate EMR exposure in our own home such that when these symptoms are triggered by EMR exposures outside our home, we can return home to recover. [3b] Recovery takes hours to days to weeks, depending on the severity and duration of exposure. [3a, f] We have taken measures on our own property to ensure that our home remains a sanctuary from EMR. We do not have a “smart” utility meter. We do not have any LED or fluorescent lights in our home—only incandescent (and a few halogen) lights whose radiation is closer to that of natural light. We do not have WiFi routers in our home. We use laptop computers (not on our laps!) with WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities disabled, and with internet access via hardwired ethernet. We have resisted our internet service provider’s efforts to upgrade our service box to a newer model that emits more EMR. There is enough distance between our house and our neighbors’ houses so that our neighbors’ WiFi signals are significantly reduced (though still present) in our home. The nearest cell tower is on the other side of a hill from our house. We do not own cell phones or any other “smart” devices; thus, we do not have devices calling for the cell tower’s signal from our house. We do not drive electric cars or have solar panels on our roof. While it is impossible to completely eliminate wireless EMR from our home (we still have cell service, as well as weak WiFi access from our neighbors’ houses), the difference between the EMR in our home and in the stores, schools, homes, and public buildings we visit is extremely evident—as measured both by our EMR exposure symptoms and by our handheld RF and Tri-field meters. [3g] As an example of meter readings, our home regularly measures under 10 microwatts per meter squared of RF radiation as measured on a handheld “Safe and Sound Pro II” meter (which measures radiation in the 200 megaHertz to 8 gigaHertz frequency range), and often under 2, while commercial and public buildings often measure in the tens of thousands. We are able to tolerate our home environment, and we often cannot tolerate other environments for longer than a short visit, if at all. It is important for our health and ability to live that we are able to maintain our home as the relative EMR oasis that it is. This means, in particular, retaining the rights to purchase incandescent light bulbs, to live without smart phones, to refuse smart-meter installation, and to reject cell towers or other wireless radiation infrastructure projects in our neighborhood. While we are able to live in our home, we are increasingly unable to leave our home without getting ill due to the continued increase in EMR in our broader communities. Society-wide scaling back of EMR technologies would enable us to participate more in our local communities and the broader society (e.g., to work) without getting so ill. When we go out into the world—to grocery stores, to schools, on public transportation—we observe that many people are dealing with illnesses similar to our EMR-induced illness, though our broader society fails to make the connection. We appreciate any efforts by HHS to address the nationwide illness crisis caused by our wireless telecommunications infrastructure. Regarding questions 12 and 14: Two useful sources of scientific evidence of EMR health and environmental harms are (1) the book “The Invisible Rainbow: A History of Electricity and Life” by Arthur Firstenberg, information available at https://cellularphonetaskforce.org/, and (2) the essay “When Light Turns to Darkness: Electromagnetic Radiation and Health: Are Our Wireless Technologies Harming Us?” by Margot DesBois, which distills much of the information in Firstenberg’s book and can be found online here: https://www.desboistutoring.org/when-light-turns-to-darkness-03-18-25.html.

I live in a suburban area less than 1 mile from a 5g wireless tower. I am concerned about radiation exposure from EMFs, RF radiation, and Wireless radiation exposure. I consider myself sensitive to the radiation in my area and bought a EMF-390 device to measure. I have attached some random exposure pictures over a few days. Sometimes I can get low to 0 readings, other times I get high radiation exposure numbers. When the numbers are indicating high exposure levels I suffer from headaches, body aches/joint pain, fatigue, insomnia, as well as hot/cold flashes. I would also refer to Len Ber's comments regarding diagnosed civilian Havana Syndrome/Anomalous Health Incidents (AHI) victims have no federal case definition, reporting pathway, or case definition. I ask that you recognize AHI1 as a novel clinical phenotype and to set safety standards for exposure limits and parameters associated with this condition. Directed, pulsed RF energy is the leading scientific explanation for Havana Syndrome/AHI1.

I write this as a person who has not been able to be a part of society for the last 9 years. Not able to grocery shop or go anywhere there is a mobile phone tower, any Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or someone using any digital device because of the pain and harm it causes my body. The pain is felt immediately when someone comes near me with any digital device. I can feel it before I see it. Therefore have not been able to work or do usual activities and as a result have been forced to live in a rare place with no RF frequencies and NO LIFE. The difference in health and pain levels is enormous. I know someone who cannot even use a computer to fill this comment out as she has to live with no power whatsoever. Our whole lives have been taken away from us due to other people using digital devices and what I see as absolutely no regulation due to the $$$ being made at our health's expense. There have been enough studies for decades and enough researchers, scientists and doctors speaking about the harms but they are silenced. I have not been able to live in my own home due to the 100's of towers and devices nearby trespassing into it and being assaulted. I understand the safety testing fake person mannequin SAMe is based on a man weighing more than 4 times than I do. This is a big deal and fake science used by the industry for illusion of safety. This certainly does not protect children. You also do not get any disability or care help or acknowledgment of disability impairment from bodily assault. What we do get however is to be an outcast and excluded from society. Please remove all digital wireless technology as it is very harmful to all life. Thank you! See attached file(s)

I am writing to ask that HHS to adopt RF exposure limits that are protective of human health and the environment. Current exposure limits must be updated. I also ask that Section 704 of the TCA be amended to allow our local governing authorities the ability to consider this important factor when deciding on the future of our neighborhoods. The world’s biggest insurance companies like Swiss Re have EMF exclusions in their policies because they understand the risks of wireless radiation exposure. Environmental Health Sciences discusses this liability shield: “Major insurers rank radiofrequency (RF) radiation emitted by cell towers as a “high-risk” liability, often comparing the issue to asbestos or lead. The Swiss Re Institute, a leading authority in reinsurance, has categorized 5G as an “off-the-leash” risk—a designation for unpredictable threats with potentially widespread impact…Telecom companies reassure communities that cell towers are “safe,” yet they warn their shareholders of cell tower radiation-related risks in their annual reports, stating that regulations could change or legal cases could result in unfavorable rulings – which could impact their cash flow.” Our county codes, health recommendations and building permits reflect the HHS policies that date back decades. It is time to update policies with the known science of EMF / RF radiation harm.

On Sep 30, 2019 I was stopped at a red light in Boston and immediately felt like I was being zapped by electricity. My heart started racing, felt dizzy, and felt the sensation of a vice around my head. A small cell 4G antenna was on top of the light pole approx 15 feet from my car. I never noticed this antenna before at that intersection. My symptoms subsided within a few hours. After that experience, whenever I go to Boston I feel similar symptoms which are caused by the high number of small cell 4G/5G antennas: head pressure, feeling ‘off kilter’, various degrees of dizziness/vertigo, feeling ‘wired’ like I drank 10 cups of coffee, and loud tinnitus. I’ve only experienced tinnitus that ‘loud’ if I was at a loud concert (decades ago) or in Boston or other cities with many small cells. I used to work in Boston and never felt these symptoms prior to 2019. In Manhattan at the corner of 3rd Ave and E. 45th there is a cell ‘tower’ with many 4G and 5G antennas placed on the roof of a small 1 story sandwich shop. In Feb 2020, I measured the RF from across 3rd Ave. It was 2896 milliwatts (so 2,896,000 microwatts) per sq meter. Ever since getting ‘attacked’ by the small cell antennas, I now get symptoms of slight dizziness and/or head pressure when I am near a router or wifi access point on the ceilings of public buildings, restaurants, etc. The symptoms also linger hours after exposure. I live approx ¼ mile from cellular antennas. I own a meter that measures RF in milliwatts per sq meter, which is set to building biologist standards. With my 3G smartphone years ago I got 5 bars of service from home and the RF reading (not on a phone call) was approx. 3.4 milliwatts per sq meter. With my newer 4G LTE phone when 3G was discontinued, even though I was in the same home, I only got 2 bars of coverage and the RF reading (not in a call) ranged between 34 and 350 milliwatts per sq meter . I stopped using a smart phone as a result of this 10 to 100 fold increase in RF exposure since 3G went away and haven’t had wifi turned on in my home for ten years to reduce my exposure. Worst of all is the AMI smart meter installation that the electric companies have rolled out. I live in one of the few states that allow an opt out. However, my neighbors didn’t opt out and the same day the meters were installed, the side of my head and face felt tingly (occurs when I am closest to the bank of 8 AMI meters-approx 10 feet away). The only other time the side of my face/head ever felt tingly was when I was within 4 feet of a wifi access point that was attached to a wall at a school 8 yrs ago. I occasionally feel a sensation of a quick ‘jab’ to my brain which lasts 2 seconds, constant head pressure/ feeling like a band is tightly wrapped around my head while I’m at home, insomnia, and heart skipped beats, irregular heartrate, tachycardia and a few episodes of atrial flutter. These symptoms all occurred and are getting worse after the AMI meters were installed, likely caused by the RF pulses every 15 seconds and/or the increase in dirty electricity caused by the AMI meters. I didn’t have the tingly head/ head pressure/ stabbing to head sensation, tachycardia, etc symptoms in my home with the prior AMR meters. When I leave the house the head pressure completely goes away but comes back again every time I return home. I needed to spend $$$ on building biologist phone consults, a meter, shielding fabrics, etc, to try to tolerate living in my own home after the AMI meters were installed and I know people that needed to move after the AMI meters were installed on their homes. The shielding fabrics didn’t help that much. The best way to reduce symptoms is to reduce/eliminate exposure and that cannot be done with AMI smart meters in neighborhoods. The meters pulse every 15 seconds or so which is harmful to all of us, whether or not we feel symptoms, due to oxidative stress and many other ill effects. In addition: I am forced to purchase cars at least 10 years old to avoid being blasted by RF in the new cars due to all the technology in newer cars. Difficult to travel in a plane due to passengers using their devices and now some airlines incorporated a drop down ‘shelf’ for the passenger in the next row to place their phone in to watch in flight movies, with their phone’s antennas inches from the back of our heads. The readings in the plane that I have taken vary from approx. 2.9 to 9 milliwatts per sq meter. At hotels, I need to find a room as far away from wifi hot spots to try to get a good night sleep and to avoid symptoms. I wish hotels didn't replace their wired internet in guest rooms with wifi. I used to enjoy spending time in large cities but over the past decade I now sadly need to avoid them due to the extremely high levels of EMF. I feel fortunate that I at least know what is causing my symptoms. So many people have symptoms and they have no idea what is causing them. See attached files

I am submitting this comment in response to HHS’s Request for Information on Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs), Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation, and Wireless Radiation Exposure. I am responding from the perspective of a parent, as a person negatively affected by RF and a concerned member of the public. I am also an elected official for my small town. This last year I realized that I am negatively affected by RF and EMF. I had been sleeping for six year with a smart meter on the outside of our bedroom wall and though I am a very healthy individual, this has negatively affected my body. I can feel in my body when there is strong WIFI as it makes my body feel anxious and uncomfortable. My sleep is negatively affected by WIFI. I frequently have headaches when I go out in the public and am around strong WIFI. It takes me a couple of hours to recover. Places like Target are untenable with the strength of their WIFI. Air travel is very difficult. We had to sell our electric vehicle because it was negatively affecting my body. We have cut back on our WIFI at home and have put shielding between ourselves and our smart meter. I am trying to live wisely but still be part of our modern world but it is hard with all the increasing infrastructure. Even if we take measures at home, our neighbors do not which is discouraging. My children are exposed to wireless radiation all day while at school. They come home exhausted and have to spend the rest of the day recovering. Scientific studies have shown that wireless radiation is a toxin and causes oxidation on the cellular level. Many of my friends now have cancer and thyroid disease in their 40s. Their children have ADHD, autism and emotional problems and I believe it is because all of our bodies are being bombarded from RF and EMF everywhere we go. I am also concerned by the rise in Parkinson and dementia that I am seeing in our general population. Websites: https://doi.org/10.1590/2179-10742025v24i3288526 https://www.cureus.com/articles/66244-an-exploration-of-the-effects-of-radiofrequency-radiation-emitted-by-mobile-phones-and-extremely-low-frequency-radiation-on-thyroid-hormones-and-thyroid-gland-histopathology#!/ There should be laws against building homes and offices next to phone towers and phone towers being erected near schools. I support HHS taking an active role in examining the potential health and environmental effects of wireless radiation. Questions about human health should be addressed by federal agencies with appropriate expertise in medicine, biology, epidemiology, and public health, and the experiences of individuals and families who report being affected should be considered alongside the scientific evidence. I urge HHS to carefully evaluate these experiences and the scientific evidence, identify gaps in current research, give particular attention to children and other potentially vulnerable populations, and establish appropriate federal research priorities regarding wireless radiation and public health. The strength of a nation depends on its youth and having a healthy population and I believe our nation's strength and vitality is compromised by this hidden assault of EMF and RF. Thank you for providing individuals and families with an opportunity to be heard.

My aunt (Lithuania) lived on a beautiful, small, quiet street, by the river, maybe ~20 neighboring houses. They built a tower next to it, first 4g, then 5g. Over ~7 years, 11 people died of oncological diseases on that street. This happened to both my aunt and her husband. One had brain cancer, the other had stomach cancer. Her husband was a healthy man, a farmer. He ate his own products, meat, milk, grain dishes, swam in the fresh air in the winter, did not smoke, drank 1-2 glasses during the holidays, and played sports.

Hi my name is Salman. I have been living near a cell tower in 20 meters for the past two years and have experienced persistent health problems, including insomnia cnt sleep at night, dizziness, headaches, and burning and itching sensations in my skin and eyes everytime. Despite consulting several doctors and trying different medications, my symptoms have not improved. And there are several other residents in our area have reported symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and nausea, and hotness of body, This has raised serious problems among local residents,two residents got cancer in last 2 years, Cell towers emit radiofrequency (RF) radiation continuously, 24 hours a day, RF microwave radiation can cause cells and tissue heating at sufficiently high exposure levels, There are many researches and investigations and publications available regarding cell tower radiations which proved that cell tower radiations are harmful for humans , animals .plants and birds.and other living things I urge the relevant authorities to take residents' concerns seriously, investigate the potential health and environmental impacts of rf cell tower radiations and do research about it and make people life easy...thankyou

I urge the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to independently review the scientific evidence on radiofrequency (RF) exposure from cell towers, particularly potential non-thermal effects, long-term exposure, and antenna placement near homes, bedrooms, schools, and childcare facilities. Documented premature tower activation Official City of San Mateo correspondence states that Crown Castle energized 19 wireless facilities before receiving required final city inspections and approvals. The City demanded de-energization and identified outstanding construction, electrical, permitting, and compliance issues. In subsequent correspondence following a June 26, 2024 meeting, Assistant City Attorney Linh P. Nguyen reported that only seven of the 19 sites had received final inspections and approval, two had been de-energized for necessary work, and 10 remained essentially unchanged. The City also discovered additional facilities energized without its knowledge, including one with an expired permit and no final inspection or approval. The City warned of further enforcement action. These letters document serious compliance and oversight concerns. While they do not establish health effects, they raise questions about transparency, enforcement, and public safety. Community reports and my experience During this period, members of our community group began reporting headaches, tinnitus, insomnia, anxiety, feeling unwell, and feeling unusually “off.” Some asked whether the towers had been activated. At the time, neither I nor the residents contacting us knew they were operating. After making inquiries, we learned of the City's findings regarding Crown Castle's premature activation of multiple facilities. I cannot prove that RF exposure caused these symptoms, but the timing and similarity of the reports warrant investigation. Around the same time, I developed severe insomnia for the first time in my life. Suddenly, I struggled to sleep, relied on sleep aids, and often awoke feeling unrefreshed. The timing was striking. I offer this experience not as proof of causation, but as a significant health change coinciding with the reported tower activation. I ask that it be considered alongside objective exposure measurements and scientific evidence. Request for scientific review I urge HHS to review the full scientific literature, including studies reporting effects, systematic reviews, and unresolved research questions. Please examine: * Sleep disruption, headaches, tinnitus, neurological function, cognition, and other reported symptoms. * Proposed non-thermal mechanisms, including oxidative stress and cellular signaling, and whether findings are reproducible at real-world exposure levels. * Long-term and cumulative exposure from multiple antennas and wireless sources. * Frequency, modulation, pulsing, duty cycle, beamforming, signal strength, and exposure duration. * Exposure in bedrooms, homes, schools, and childcare facilities, including overnight exposure and potential vulnerabilities of children. * Whether current standards adequately address real-world exposure and evolving scientific evidence. Compliance with outdated existing RF limits should not end scientific inquiry. Agencies should distinguish established adverse health effects from biological findings, plausible hypotheses, and unsupported claims. I respectfully request that the agencies: 1. Review the City's correspondence and examine premature operation before final inspections and approvals. 2. Support independent RF measurements near affected facilities, including in nearby homes, bedrooms, and schools where appropriate. 3. Commission independent research on non-thermal effects, sleep, neurological outcomes, and long-term exposure. 5. Establish appropriate ways to document community health reports and investigate exposure changes. 6. Evaluate reasonable exposure-reduction measures and alternative siting near homes 7. Clarify federal and local responsibilities for permitting, notification, compliance, and enforcement. Conclusion I am not asking agencies to presume that cell towers caused these symptoms. I am asking them to take documented regulatory failures, residents' experiences, and unresolved scientific questions seriously. The City's correspondence documents facilities energized before final approval and additional facilities reportedly activated without its knowledge. During the same general period, residents reported unusual symptoms and I experienced unprecedented insomnia. These circumstances warrant transparent investigation, reliable exposure measurements, and rigorous scientific review. Please evaluate whether current standards adequately reflect the evidence and take appropriate action to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public health protection. Thank you for considering my comment. Attachments: Official City of San Mateo correspondence regarding Crown Castle's premature activation and outstanding inspections and approvals.