By Julian MITCHELL

The CV Town Council held an open forum on Wednesday, Jan. 16 regarding the possible installation of a new 5G AT&T “small cell” antenna. The council has been collecting opinions from citizens to be included in its recommendation of the proposal to the Los Angeles County Dept. of Regional Planning Commission.

Most forum attendees were against a new cell attachment, with only one public speaker voicing his opinion in favor of it.

The proposed new small cell installation would be on a utility pole near 4704 Briggs Ave. but could require additional infrastructure to work properly. 5G technology is the next generation in cellular mobile communications. Proponents state that the new technology will allow cellphone service to perform better and cost less than current 4G technology.

The primary concern voiced by many of the citizens was the possible hazardous health effects that could accompany the installation of the new 5G technology. Schoolteacher Laurie Brown has been out on disability leave, citing “microwave sickness” due to technology at the school where she taught.

While most citizens at the meeting were against a new cell site attachment, they were in favor of a fiber optic alternative. Many citizens had done their own research and believe that fiber optics will be faster and safer.

The Jan. 16 meeting was supposed to be attended by the LA County Regional manager who was unable to make it. Additionally, no AT&T representative was present.

An additional concern of many citizens was the possibility of fire as a result of the new electrical technology though, according to a 2017 report from the LA County Fire Dept., less than 3% of their calls were in response to fires.

The meeting was led by councilmember Daniel Kim who knows that technological expansion is always on the horizon.

“New technology is always coming, so I think we have to be prepared for it,” said Kim.

Kim also said that he would need to do more research into the potentially harmful effects of 5G technology.

Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, government bodies are not allowed to consider health effects when considering telecommunications-based policies, another issue that many citizens were unhappy about.

The LA Times reported in 2016 that scientific reports had shown a correlation between 5G exposure and increased amounts of tumors in rat test subjects. The rats were exposed to nine hours of cellphone radiation daily for two years.

AT&T’s 5G website has no available data in regard to health risks.

The council voted last year on this project and was split on the issue. Although the final verdict comes from LA County, decision-makers do take the opinion of the CV Town Council into consideration.

  Julian MITCHELL