Montgomery County has proposed adding eight new antennas to the existing telecommunications tower located at 5202 River Road in Bethesda. They have also proposed adding a new diesel-powered generator and utility building below the tower, which is in close proximity to the Westwood Tower apartments on Westbard Avenue. The stated purpose of the new antennas and equipment is improvement of public safety radio communications.
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Motorola Solutions document showing types
and placement of the proposed antennas on the
River Road TV tower |
Documents submitted by the County and contractor Motorola Solutions state that six of the antennas will be "whip-style" antennas, and two will be dish antennas. However, Motorola's diagram shows a different mix of antennas: 5 whip antennas, 3 dish antennas, and 2 VHF antennas.
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Site plan of proposed utility building and
diesel-powered generator at the base of the tower |
The Motorola document shows the planned locations of the new antennas on the tower, which is owned by Pinnacle Towers, LLC. Montgomery County will pay Pinnacle $48000 a year to lease the required space on the tower, and on the ground for the utility building, generator, and necessary HVAC equipment.
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Google Maps satellite photo showing proximity of
Westwood Tower apartments (left) to the proposed
diesel-powered generator (right) |
Motorola's diagram shows the range of the antennas, which will be aimed at Grosvenor, Potomac, and Takoma Park. The County says the RF radiation emitted by the new antennas, which at high levels of exposure has been shown to rapidly heat biological tissue, will be within the FCC exposure limits. How loud the diesel-powered generator will be to residents of Westwood Tower and the Residences at the Capital Crescent Trail apartments - and beyond - is not addressed in the County's application.
10 comments:
Did you ask whether the diesel generator would be used all the time, or just as a backup during PEPCO's now thankfully very rare and brief power outages?
"The County says the RF radiation emitted by the new antennas, which at high levels of exposure has been shown to rapidly heat biological tissue, will be within the FCC exposure limits"
You appear to be confusing RF with microwaves. Have you been talking to the Parent Coalition again?
The radiation will be an added bonus to the incoming "New Westwood" residents.
5:11: You're the one confused, with no knowledge of the topic, as a 10-second Google search on the topic would prove. The RF radiation ACTS LIKE A MICROWAVE on biological tissue.
RF /= Microwave.
They are two different sets of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.
Stop trying to lecture anyone regarding anything having to do with science (or mathematics or statistics) - you will only make a fool of yourself.
Wear a tinfoil hat.
If people are so worried about microwave radiation, why do they hold a cell phone up to their ear, an inch or so from their brain? Yes the signal is low power, but Google the "inverse square law."
4:55: Here is a quote directly from the FCC, dumbass:
"Biological effects can result from exposure to RF energy. Biological effects that result from heating of tissue by RF energy are often referred to as "thermal" effects. It has been known for many years that exposure to very high levels of RF radiation can be harmful due to the ability of RF energy to heat biological tissue rapidly. This is the principle by which microwave ovens cook food. Exposure to very high RF intensities can result in heating of biological tissue and an increase in body temperature."
I NEVER said it was equal to microwave - as I clearly said, backed up by the FCC, RF radiation acts on tissue LIKE A MICROWAVE. Your reading skills are poor.
YOU are the one who just made a fool of himself.
5:18: Have you checked national cancer and brain tumor rates recently?
"Exposure to very high RF intensities can result in heating of biological tissue and an increase in body temperature."
What is "very high RF intensity", and what is the intensity of the new radio transmitters at the old Channel 20 antenna?
"Have you checked national cancer and brain tumor rates recently?"
Umm...I dunno... have they increased or decreased, and by how much? If they have increased sharply, is this actually due to RF? The ball is in your court.
"a 10-second Google search on the topic"
The Robert F. Dyer Institute of Advanced Research. LOL
Only those living under rocks hold phones to their ears. Only those employed by the telecom industry believe aggregate RF radiation is no cause for concern. Only some recognize that RF radiation is a Class 2b possible carcinogen, according to the World Health Organization. If the exposure doesn't bother you, great. But please don't dismiss those who are uncomfortable with the fact that the FCC has flat-out rejected doing safety testing since 1996, and has never tested for biological harm. RF has also never been tested on children. Why? Unethical, of course.
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