VERIZON’S ROLE

What are the real reasons that Verizon wants a cell tower?

“Why do wireless companies want new wireless telecommunications infrastructure even when no coverage gaps or network capacity issues exist? Why are wireless telecommunications companies spending money on unneeded new infrastructure buildouts?

The answer is increasingly clear that they are doing so to garner a share in the home internet market by offering a wireless option rather than the wired option that most of us currently use. Customers enroll in their respective carrier’s wireless streaming service, and in doing so, they receive a small device that plugs into a standard electrical outlet. This small device provides internet access within the home via Wi-Fi. Unlike conventional routers that connect via fiber optics or cable, the devices connect to the internet through a wireless connection provided by nearby cell towers. The home internet market is huge, currently exceeding $500 billion and expected to increase to over $850 billion in the next few years. The only way that the wireless industry can overtake wired service providers is to build out wireless infrastructure beyond what is needed for cellphone use.”

- Quote from Kent Chamberlin, expert report in resources section

Consumers must be aware of this. Do we actually want to live in buildings where everything is wirelessly connected? The level of RF radiation in this scenario is extreme. Do we really want to have to get rid of alarm systems, appliances and more and replace them with more and new wireless products that link with Verizon and other companies?

Voice Link- Verizon has been selling to local customers Voice Link which is their home wifi service: 

5G - 5G is a higher frequency network than 4G. It is faster, but the signal doesn't travel as far. 5G’s shorter waves are also more powerful to penetrate walls and get into homes. Also 5G requires more towers because the signal it sends is shorter waves over shorter distances than 4G. There are many health and environmental issues related to 5G because of the strength of this radiofrequency radiation and how close it must be to building to make it work.

When Verizon was asked if this would be a 5G cell tower, the attorney for Verizon gave an incomprehensible answer which implied that it would not be 5G. According to the FCC all cell towers being built right now are 4G and 5G. The proposed cell tower will be both 4G and 5G. 

Why is the Town of Rochester Planning Board Acquiescing to Verizon?

While it is admirable that the community members volunteer their time to be on the Planning Board, cell towers are much different from any of the normal approvals for additions to houses or new buildings that the Planning Board regularly deals with. Cell towers are much more complex, dealing with a maze of Federal law, radiofrequency information, and limited abilities to deny projects. Unfortunately in the Town of Rochester, the Planning Board’s lawyer (though an avowed environmentalist) has appeared to be more concerned with a lawsuit from Verizon than a lawsuit from residents. It appears he is not advising the Board on how to reject the tower, but how to try and make a compromise and approve the project. We need the Board members to listen to the public now and do the right thing in upholding our laws and our well-being and our community character over Verizon’s corporate greed.

In addition to the lawyer, the members of the Planning Board have been listening to “independent” consultants who while approved by the Planning Board are paid for by Verizon. For both consultants, they have been lackadaisical at best and have not challenged Verizon but appear to just be going through the motions. The viewshed consultant did not attend the main viewshed analysis, the balloon test, in which a balloon is hoisted up to be visible for people to take photos to see where the proposed tower is visible from. He also lied to the Planning Board that he doesn’t work for Verizon. While disputable about the role of consultants in industry working for companies in their career, the fact that he lied about currently working for Verizon is disconcerting. The Planning Board said that they acted independently of his recommendations and there were no signs that he was in collusion with the industry - but more than that he did not act as an independent consultant should in many respects misrepresenting himself and then not attending and taking photographs at the balloon test and depending on Verizon’s photos in his report.

The other consultant, Doug Fishman, also appeared to lack any robust independent analysis and when asked by a local resident how many cell towers he has been involved in a municipality fighting or stopping - his reply was none. The only time he was involved in a municipality fighting a cell tower corporation was before he was a consultant and he worked for the cell tower corporation. Ultimately, he won against the municipality and built the cell tower.

Furthermore, the Board has been dismissive of distinguished independent experts who local residents paid for out of pocket and ignored their findings. These experts are highly accredited radiofrequency experts who have done significant work for the federal government and in their respective fields discounting the fact that Verizon needs this tower. See their reports in the resources section.

Verizon has dumped over 300 documents on the Board to obfuscate and disperse the information, but ultimately the board has all the legal reasons it needs to deny the permit if they act independent and listen to their conscience - and not their lawyer! Even if Verizon sues - which they may not - all the Town has to pay for is its defense and if they lose then the tower goes up. They do not incur any damages. Yet if the residents sue the Town for approving the project their is the cost of the lawsuit $35,000-50,000, the cost of an injunction $15,000-20,000 and if we, the People, lose the lawsuit then Verizon can get damages for the delay in building to the tune of $200,000. The Town Planning Board should be protecting us - not Verizon!