5G rollout in Tucson met with opposition

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TUCSON (KVOA) – It’s the highly anticipated future for mobile services, but for many Tucsonans, 5G isn’t a future they’ve been asking for.

5G towers are popping up almost everywhere these days, and many homeowners tell News 4 Tucson investigators that they are angry.

“They hid it from us until the last minute,” said Bryan Goldkuhl.

Goldkuhl is outraged after a 5G tower was built across from his house.

“They started digging pipes under the road, which was probably three months ago. When we asked them about it, they told us they were going to lay fiber optic cables when we found out the opposite, now we are told that it is too late to do something about it, “said Goldkuhl.

He’s not alone, a group of neighbors from Tucson’s Peter Howell neighborhood protested a few weeks ago against the construction of several towers in the area, one at a school.

“We don’t feel that enough research has been done to prove beyond any doubt that it’s safe,” said mother Sarah Salazar.

“You are here because Verizon and AT&T want to implement what our future should be. Nobody asked us if we wanted to, ”said Lisa Smith.

Telecommunications companies, currently mostly Verizon and AT&T, can move this fast thanks to a state law passed in 2017 and not being held back by community concerns. House Act 2365 allows businesses to build small cell towers within the city and town rights of. to be installed without following the usual approval procedures. Arizona was the first state to pass such a law for the 5G rollout.

The law limits the local government’s ability to have a say in where the towers go.

“Based on the work that the telecommunications industry has done at both the federal and state levels, they have basically taken our votes away from where we can force these things,” said Steve Kozachik, Councilor, Tucson Ward 6.

Kozachik has held discussions with representatives of the telecommunications companies, asking them to focus on what is known as colocation, which involves installing 5G technology in existing infrastructures such as power poles and street lights.

“Our constituents are your customers, and you should take care of that. The first question your site selector should ask is if I want this in front of my house, if the answer is no, and then find another place, ”Kozachik told the company.

Many of the homeowners affected said they were concerned the towers could lower their home values ​​and potential health effects.

Dr. Russell Witte, Professor of Medical Imaging, Optical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Applied Mathematics – GIDP, Neurosurgery and Neuroscience – GIDP, said, “The spread of microwaves poses significant dangers and dangers.”

Dr. Witte said he has reviewed thousands of studies of microwave radiation-like forms released by 5G towers and says there is plenty of evidence that the towers may be unsafe and cause various health conditions, even cancer.

“If you actually measure the exposure in people’s homes, because of the proximity of these tiny cells, they are exposed to much more exposure by these cells, sometimes a thousand times more than before, this is 24/7 exposure, they cannot escape it or turn it off it’s over, “said Dr. Witte.

We contacted AT&T and Verizon about 5G security. In a statement to N4T investigators in February, Verizon called claims the towers were unsafe “baseless conspiracy theories” and said, “All devices used for 5G must meet federal safety standards. These standards have large safety margins and are designed to protect everyone, including children. ”

AT&T said in an email that security issues didn’t directly concern them and referred us to CTIA, a company that says it’s the voice of the telecommunications industry. After our report on Monday, CTIA sent us the following statement:

“Radio frequency energy from wireless devices and networks, including 5G, has not caused health problems according to the consensus of the international scientific community, including expert organizations such as the FDA, WHO and the American Cancer Society.”

Dr. Witte said that the general public should be shown that what he is saying is a lot of peer-reviewed studies on the subject and is able to form their own opinion without being labeled a conspiracy theorist to convert 5G into To ask a question. He thinks fiber optic cables are the safer option.

Steve Kozachik said he anticipates thousands of 5G towers will be installed in Tucson within a few months, and admits there is little the city can do to stop it.

If you have a story for us to investigate, email us at investigators@kvoa.com or call our tip hotline at 955-4444.

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