NIMBYs and Politicians Are Behind Your Bad Cellphone Reception

In San Francisco, Bernal Hill residents with dubious claims of health risks from microwave antennas have persuaded their supervisor to kill a wireless service providers plan to add to an already existing antenna, says Todd Lappin.

1 minute read

December 9, 2010, 9:00 AM PST

By Tim Halbur


Bernal supervisor David Campos managed to block the antennas despite federal regulations saying he couldn't:

"Under federal law, SF's Board of Supervisors cannot deny a permit for wireless antennas on the basis of scientifically unproven health risks. The antennas themselves are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, so if a Supervisor wants to kill the antennas, he needs to come up with a different reason. Ergo, barring the antennas because the tower's control station is covered with graffiti."

The anti-antenna residents have insisted that the project complete an environmental impact report.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 in Bernalwood

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