DEAR EDITOR:
My previous two letters regarding the attempted ban on radio
transmitters within Gilroy City Limits were efforts to convey the
consensus opinion of mainstream scientific and regulatory bodies
regarding radio frequency emissions and possible effects on human
health.
DEAR EDITOR:
My previous two letters regarding the attempted ban on radio transmitters within Gilroy City Limits were efforts to convey the consensus opinion of mainstream scientific and regulatory bodies regarding radio frequency emissions and possible effects on human health. Namely, that there is no credible evidence of any adverse health effect from radio frequency emissions and, further, based on the underlying scientific/technical understanding, no such effect is expected.
The purpose of this follow-up letter is to point out another negative impact of this misguided campaign.
For people who want to continue to enjoy the convenience and communication advantages of a cell phone, but still have lingering concerns regarding radio frequency emissions, the attempted ban is a positive disservice. The whole cellular phone concept is to have the service area divided into small “cells” from one to three miles in diameter, with each “cell” serviced by a low-power transmitter or “base station.”
There is a small radio signal overlap between adjacent cells to assure seamless communication as the cell-phone user moves from “cell” to “cell.” If there is ever a demonstrated physiological effect from radio frequency emissions, (and none has ever been demonstrated to date), it will almost certainly be a function of the intensity of the emission. From an intensity viewpoint, the emission from the base station, although continuous, is relatively inconsequential compared to that from the cell phone itself. Base stations are limited by regulation to a maximum intensity in any publicly accessible area of approximately one milliwatt per square centimeter. Actual maximum intensity measurements around typical base station installations are 100 times less than the regulatory limits; i.e., about 0.01 milliwatts per square centimeter. On the other hand, cell phones have a maximum allowable power output of 600 milliwatts and are held close to the user’s head. Thus, from a “worry” viewpoint, it’s the cell phone emission that is, by far, the major concern.
All modern cell phones now incorporate “power down” technology. With this feature, once the base station and the cell phone establish communication contact, both the base station and the cell phone “power down” to the minimum power level needed to maintain undistorted conversation (this capability also significantly extends cell phone battery life). In cities with comprehensive base station coverage, the operating cell phone power outputs average approximately 250 milliwatts; i.e., down to almost one third of their maximum power output capability. But banning all radio transmitters within Gilroy will guarantee that cell phone users will experience the maximum emission intensity as their cell phones strain to establish and maintain communication contact with remote base stations outside the city limits.
Is this really what the people signing the petition to ban radio transmitters intended?
Mark F. Lyons, Gilroy
Submitted Sunday, March 2 to ed****@************ch.com
