Many Tampa Bay residents are shocked to find 5G cell towers being built right next to their homes. 5G cell towers are currently being quietly added to Tampa neighborhoods. These cell towers are popping up right next to schools, parks, and homes. This proliferation seems to be happening so fast that many residents are completely unaware the towers are being built. Residents are concerned about the health hazards these cell towers pose and the appearance of their neighborhoods.
What 5G cell towers are and why you need to know more:
According to Forbes, Dr. Henk de Feyter, assistant professor of radiology at the Yale School of Medicine, said, “5G radio frequencies use higher frequencies than previous wireless communications, such as 4G and 3G. They work by generating electromagnetic waves to send and receive information.” These 5G towers transmit electromagnetic radiation, which is invisible energy. This energy is described as ionizing electromagnetic radiation or non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. Non-ionizing radiation uses low levels of radiation, such as microwave ovens, cell phones, and power lines. Ionizing radiation uses much higher levels of radiation, such as X-ray machines and sunlight. Dr. Christopher Collins, professor of radiology at New York University, said, “In human tissue, sufficient amounts of ionizing radiation have been linked to an increase in cancer, most frequently skin cancer, caused by the ultraviolet energy of sunlight.”
How residents feel about these 5G cell towers:
South Tampa resident Morgan Reed Watts was totally shocked when she found out a 5G tower was going to be built right next to her home. A longtime resident, Watts found out a 5G cell tower would be installed just 15 feet from her child’s bedroom. She started doing lots of research and wanted to help other residents in a similar situation. Watts just started her own petition, which is getting a lot of attention. So far, it has garnered over 1,000 signatures in just a few days. She wants all 5G cell towers removed from Tampa’s residential streets.
Meredith of Wild 94.1 spoke with Watts and asked her how she felt about her current situation. Watts said, “When I found out there was going to be a 5G tower in my yard, it raised questions: What rights do we have as homeowners? What restrictions does the city have? Should I worry about my property values, my family’s health, the aesthetics of my neighborhood? Why do other municipalities, states, and countries have restrictions on this new technology and we don’t?” Many parts of the world, especially some countries, have banned the construction of 5G cell towers. One of the biggest concerns, aside from cybersecurity, has been health. According to Forbes, “In 2017, doctors and scientists filed a petition to block 5G rollout in the EU due to cancer risks. The concern is that because 5G is new, there hasn’t been time to properly test whether it’s safe.”
What you can do:
The more Watts researched 5G, the more unanswered questions she found, and she became upset. She learned many other residents have similar concerns and want something done. “We’ve seen what other places are doing to protect their residents, and we want to know what our elected officials are doing to protect us,” Watts said. “Until these questions are answered, homeowners should have a right to know that when they come home, there won’t be a 5G pole in their yard.” To read and sign Watts’ petition, click here for more information. Verizon’s 5G cell towers have been a big topic of conversation in the Tampa Bay area. Click on this map to see all the current 5G cell tower locations. For all upcoming 5G cell towers, click here.
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Meredith’s outgoing personality has led to many opportunities including being featured in the New York Post twice, The Huffington Post, reality TV shows, commercials, magazines and even a spotlight on Tampa’s version of Dancing with the Stars. In her free time, Meredith enjoys hosting and attending community events, spending time with family and friends and showing support for local charities. In Meredith’s content, you’ll find her reading about local restaurants in Tampa, stories of crazy men/women in Florida, recommendations for things to do and much more.
