Many in Fountain Hills would appreciate better cell signal
OPINION — A letter in the June 10 issue of the Fountain Hills Times Independent referred to a study done in 2019 in Georgia that cell phone towers closer than 1,500 feet can affect home prices.
In 2019 cell towers were big ugly things. Today those in cities and towns are much smaller and either hidden inside artificial Saguaros (in Arizona) or placed inconspicuously on the sides of commercial buildings. This would greatly mitigate any effect on home prices due to seeing a big ugly tower nearby.
The study (which I have read) does not show any pictures of the towers, but it was done in Savannah, Georgia, where there are no Saguaro. The authors even state, "...towers are often highly visible and possibly unpleasant. If an attractive view can increase the value of a home, an unattractive view may have a negative effect." So, it's all about the views.
Furthermore the National Institutes of Health posts the following on their website about cell phone tower radio waves: "The human body does absorb energy from devices that emit radiofrequency radiation. The only consistently recognized biological effect of radiofrequency radiation absorption in humans that the general public might encounter is heating to the area of the body where a cell phone is held (e.g., the ear and head). However, that heating is not sufficient to measurably increase core body temperature. There are no other clearly established dangerous health effects on the human body from radiofrequency radiation."
Furthermore, many people right here in Fountain Hills would appreciate getting a better cell phone signal from an aesthetically pleasing (and safe) wireless tower placed closer to their home.
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