From the New York Times:
WASHINGTON — AT&T and T-Mobile USA edged closer to scrapping their proposed merger, saying on Thursday that they had withdrawn their application to the Federal Communications Commission to join their cellular phone operations.
Read the full article here.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A Message from Jefferson Smith, Mayoral Candidate:
I appreciate this question from the neighborhods listed, as well as the other neighborhoods allied in support of further oversight for cell tower siting. I share your doubts about the safety of cell towers in residential neighborhoods and near schools. I also support the precautionary principle in general. Concerns about decreased property values and aesthetics provide further cause for better regulation. I know that the City has expressed that their hands are tied by both federal law and by lack of resources. But, clearly, for over two years now, residents have come together to demonstrate that Portland's neighborhoods want more restrictive policies regarding cell tower siting.
As Mayor, I would be open to what other jurisdictions have done, working within the federal legal structure to make it harder to erect cell towers in residential neighborhoods. I'd start by championing a stronger resolution against Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, as Los Angeles, Santa Fe, and many other jurisdictions have done. I would also consider how Portland can promote the use of fiber optic broadband over wireless. Although I understand that resources are limited, it strikes me that the checklist you have shared serves almost no purpose without enforcement.
As a state representative, I championed increasing broadband access in our rural areas and served on the State Broadband Task Force. I have expertise on the issue and have relationships that can help move us toward a solution.
I hope that you and your allies on this issue will get together with either me or my staff as soon as possible, in order for us to be brought (and kept) up to date. We're listening - and we're open to your ideas.
Cheers,
JS
As a state representative, I championed increasing broadband access in our rural areas and served on the State Broadband Task Force. I have expertise on the issue and have relationships that can help move us toward a solution.
I hope that you and your allies on this issue will get together with either me or my staff as soon as possible, in order for us to be brought (and kept) up to date. We're listening - and we're open to your ideas.
Cheers,
JS
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Residents Force T-Mobile to Back Down in Glendale, CA
RESIDENTS WIN
ON FEB 5th, T-MOBILE OFFICIALS met with NorthWest Glendale residents and announced that they are withdrawing plans to build a 34' cell tower on Cumberland Road in Glendale.
OUTSIDE AFTER THE MEETING, residents who worked tirelessly to stop the tower construction exchange hugs, high-fives and felt elated at the victory, which residents called a 'dogfight' with multi-national T-Mobile.
THEIR STORY BEGAN IN NOVEMBER OF 2008, when several residents discovered that Glendale Public Works, in conjunction with T-Mobile, was planning to erect a 3-story tower five feet in front of a home on Cumberland Road in NW Glendale. The contruction came with little or no notice, but residents quickly formed a community activist group called GO ACT (Glendale Organized Against Cell Towers). The group approached Glendale City Council and gained a 'stop work order' on the project.
Over the intervening 3 months, GO ACT quickly gained the attention of the community and Council through a media blitz that included t-shirts, 5 different lawn signs, appearances on KFI Radio, ABC 7 TV, NBC 4 TV, and the Glendale News Press.
In January, the Mayor allowed the group to present at City Council for 35 minutes, during which the organizers, dressed in business suits and flanked by supporters clad in white and red GO ACT T-shirts, crowded city hall, forcing chairs to be set up downstairs. The group presented a powerpoint exhibit, complete with dozens of exhibits maligning T-Mobile for its poor corporate citizenship and detailing legal cases that supported a new city ordinance.
With a 5-0 vote, Council approved a city-wide moritorium, during which Glendale would write a new wireless ordiance.
But GO ACT continued to press the issue during this time-off period, getting new signs up, appearing on Cable Access and coverig the Pasadena Weekly. On February 5th, T-Mobile officials decided it had enough and met with residents, getting feedback about how things could have evolved differently in a civil, constructive meeting at a local hotel in Glendale.
OUTSIDE AFTER THE MEETING, residents who worked tirelessly to stop the tower construction exchange hugs, high-fives and felt elated at the victory, which residents called a 'dogfight' with multi-national T-Mobile.
THEIR STORY BEGAN IN NOVEMBER OF 2008, when several residents discovered that Glendale Public Works, in conjunction with T-Mobile, was planning to erect a 3-story tower five feet in front of a home on Cumberland Road in NW Glendale. The contruction came with little or no notice, but residents quickly formed a community activist group called GO ACT (Glendale Organized Against Cell Towers). The group approached Glendale City Council and gained a 'stop work order' on the project.
Over the intervening 3 months, GO ACT quickly gained the attention of the community and Council through a media blitz that included t-shirts, 5 different lawn signs, appearances on KFI Radio, ABC 7 TV, NBC 4 TV, and the Glendale News Press.
In January, the Mayor allowed the group to present at City Council for 35 minutes, during which the organizers, dressed in business suits and flanked by supporters clad in white and red GO ACT T-shirts, crowded city hall, forcing chairs to be set up downstairs. The group presented a powerpoint exhibit, complete with dozens of exhibits maligning T-Mobile for its poor corporate citizenship and detailing legal cases that supported a new city ordinance.
With a 5-0 vote, Council approved a city-wide moritorium, during which Glendale would write a new wireless ordiance.
But GO ACT continued to press the issue during this time-off period, getting new signs up, appearing on Cable Access and coverig the Pasadena Weekly. On February 5th, T-Mobile officials decided it had enough and met with residents, getting feedback about how things could have evolved differently in a civil, constructive meeting at a local hotel in Glendale.
http://www.getthecelloutofhere.com/
ENACT Supports CLOUT
CLOUT: Coalition for Local Oversight of Utility Technologies
This group is sponsoring a petition to change the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to give local municipalities more control over determining their own cell tower plans. Please check out their website and sign the petition.
This group is sponsoring a petition to change the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to give local municipalities more control over determining their own cell tower plans. Please check out their website and sign the petition.
Monday, October 24, 2011
T-Mobile Losing Customers
T-Mobile has lost one million contract customers since June 2010.
Read more in the Wall Street Journal.
Read more in the Wall Street Journal.
Antenna Search
How many cell towers are there in a 4-mile radius of your house? Find out at www.antennasearch.com.
Within a 4-mile radius of this proposed tower site, there are already 228 towers, 795 antennas, and 2 new tower applications in process.
Within a 4-mile radius of this proposed tower site, there are already 228 towers, 795 antennas, and 2 new tower applications in process.
Regulations
Do you know what regulations corporations have to follow in order to install cell towers in Portland? Here is Chapter 33.274 of the Portland Development Code. It spells out the regulations.
In that chapter, it says that T-Mobile is required to go through Conditional Use Review for both the equipment cabinet and the pole. Here is some information about Conditional Use Reviews.
In that chapter, it says that T-Mobile is required to go through Conditional Use Review for both the equipment cabinet and the pole. Here is some information about Conditional Use Reviews.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Fire Fighters Against Cell Towers
Do you trust Fire Fighters? Ask yourself, if Fire Fighters have banned cell towers from locating on fire stations, how safe is it for cell towers to be located in residential neighborhoods?
Here is an excerpt from their website:
Here is an excerpt from their website:
Position on the Health Effects from Radio Frequency/Microwave (RF/MW) Radiation in Fire Department Facilities from Base Stations for Antennas and Towers for the Conduction of Cell Phone Transmissions
The International Association of Fire Fighters’ position on locating cell towers commercial wireless infrastructure on fire department facilities, as adopted by its membership in August 2004, is that the IAFF oppose the use of fire stations as base stations for towers and/or antennas for the conduction of cell phone transmissions until a study with the highest scientific merit and integrity on health effects of exposure to low-intensity RF/MW radiation is conducted and it is proven that such sitings are not hazardous to the health of our members.
Who's in Charge of all this?
City Commissioner Dan Saltzman
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 230
Portland, OR 97204
503-823-4151
dan@portlandoregon.gov
Commissioner Saltzman is in charge of making sure cell phone companies follow the rules - the Portland Development Code - when placing their Radio Frequency Transmission Towers. Will Commissioner Saltzman do his job and make sure T-Mobile follows the Code?
Dozens of neighbors surrounding this unwelcome proposed development have called, written hand-written letters, and emailed Dan Saltzman to ask him to make sure T-Mobile follows the rules and regulations. Several of us have also gone to City Hall to testify our opposition to T-Mobile building a cell tower in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Please join us! His contact information is posted above.
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Room 230
Portland, OR 97204
503-823-4151
dan@portlandoregon.gov
Commissioner Saltzman is in charge of making sure cell phone companies follow the rules - the Portland Development Code - when placing their Radio Frequency Transmission Towers. Will Commissioner Saltzman do his job and make sure T-Mobile follows the Code?
Dozens of neighbors surrounding this unwelcome proposed development have called, written hand-written letters, and emailed Dan Saltzman to ask him to make sure T-Mobile follows the rules and regulations. Several of us have also gone to City Hall to testify our opposition to T-Mobile building a cell tower in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Please join us! His contact information is posted above.
Neighborhood Meeting Coming Up
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
7-8:30pm
5138 NE 23rd Avenue, Portland
The Little Church
Sunday, October 16, 2011
T-Mobile moves to Eastmoreland!
Concerned neighbors of Alameda just learned that T-Mobile is simultaneously trying to place another cell tower in a residential neighborhood of Eastmoreland. Where is the City on this issue??? Why did the City develop a system that designates neighborhoods as lowest priority??
Why doesn't the city have an urban plan for this?
Why doesn't the city have an urban plan for this?
Friday, October 14, 2011
August 2011
In August of 2011, construction started on the corner of NE 31st and Prescott in Portland, Oregon. Neighbors started talking, and asking... "what's going on here?" Some neighbors went on-line, to www.portlandonline.com, typed in the address (4423 NE 31st Avenue), and found that the intended development was a cell tower, and that the builders were working with a 3-year-old EXPIRED permit!
After talking with the owner of 4423 NE 31st, Bruce Badrick, the neighbors discovered that he had signed a contract with T-Mobile to install a cell tower facility in his back yard.
After talking with the owner of 4423 NE 31st, Bruce Badrick, the neighbors discovered that he had signed a contract with T-Mobile to install a cell tower facility in his back yard.
Immediately, several neighbors contacted the City and got a STOP WORK order issued.
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