THE SENATE |
S.R. NO. |
20 |
TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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requesting hawaii'S congressional delegation to urge the federal communications commission to investigate and examine the ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS OF cellular and radio antenna towers in the WAIAWA "pearl city" industrial area, and if necessary, TO require the removal of any unused or potentially dangerous antennas that pose a health risk.
WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress and charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable; and
WHEREAS, the FCC oversees cellular phones and personal communications service transmissions, and regulates the use of radio spectrum to fulfill the communications needs of businesses, local and state governments, public safety service providers, aircraft and ship operators, and individuals; and
WHEREAS, many consumer and industrial products and applications make use of some form of electromagnetic energy, including radio waves and microwaves which are used for providing telecommunications, broadcast, and other services; and
WHEREAS, the FCC often receives inquiries concerning whether there are potential safety hazards due to human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) energy emitted by transmitters; and
WHEREAS, heightened awareness of the expanding use of RF technology has led some people to speculate that "electromagnetic pollution" is causing significant health risks to humans from environmental RF electromagnetic fields; and
WHEREAS, transmission of electromagnetic energy is essentially radiation emitted from antennas; and
WHEREAS, antennas generate electromagnetic waves that radiate from the transmitter and to a rooftop TV antenna, car radio antenna, or an antenna integrated into a hand-held device such as a cellular phone; and
WHEREAS, scientific research indicates that there are potentially adverse health effects of RF radiation on human tissue; and
WHEREAS, it is important to ensure that human exposure to RF radiation is maintained well below levels that are suspected to be even potentially harmful; and
WHEREAS, the Waiawa "Pearl City" industrial area on Oahu has several radio antenna towers in the midst of densely populated areas; and
WHEREAS, Waiawa "Pearl City" industrial area residents have expressed concern about the concentration of radio antenna towers in the area and the potential adverse health effects from radio waves; and
WHEREAS, an area resident who lives within close proximity to the antennas has stated that he has spent a large sum of money to shield his home from the effects of the RF and cellular exposure, and the possible harmful biological effects have diminished his quality of life; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the members of the Hawaii congressional delegation are respectfully requested to urge the Federal Communications Commission to examine and investigate the adverse health effects of radio and cellular antenna towers in the Waiawa "Pearl City" industrial area in Honolulu, and if necessary, to require the removal of any unused and potentially dangerous antennas that pose a health risk to the surrounding community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to AT&T (at P.O. Box 68055, Anaheim Hills, CA. 92817-8055), the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, the Governor, and the Director of Health.
OFFERED BY: |
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Report Title:
Removal of Cellular and Radio Antennas in the Pearl City Area