Rogers Communications Inc. is hoping to have a communications tower set up in the Greenwood area with the hopes of increasing coverage for cellular phones.
Rogers has applied to FrontCounter BC for a 30-year licence that would see a 40-metre tower placed in the outskirts of the city and is working with FortisBC and the Ministry of Transportation.
It is a good idea, for the area at least.
There has been opposition in other areas when there has been mention of cell tower construction.
Last year, there proposals for towers in areas of the Lower Mainland, including in Surrey, and Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Residents expressed concerns, with some fearing property value would decrease and health conditions could arise because of the towers and the radiation emitted – there are many ailments that have been linked to radiation, including cancer.
Despite concerns though, Health Canada website’s section on the safety of cell phones and cell phone towers says that the radiation given off by the aforementioned is “non-ionizing radiation” and therefore does not break chemical bonds in one’s body as ionizing radiation (X-rays etc.) would.
Health Canada likens the radiation emitted by cellular tower/phones to radio and television broadcast signals.
Health Canada does say that there are a small number of studies done regarding the spread and control of disease, that shows increased brain cancer rates in people that use their mobile phones heavily but at the same time, there are other studies that do not support the association.
Also, unlike the areas of the Lower Mainland that disapprove of cell towers, Greenwood isn’t as densely populated and seeing as the proposed tower would be outside the city, less would be affected if there really are radiation issues.
Greenwood Mayor Nipper Kettle says that having the tower built is a good thing as increased cellular coverage would be of benefit to people taking the highway and remote roads in the area and that is another good point.
While the temperature should be rising, as winter progresses and spring approaches, there have been a number of snow-related accidents across the province over the past month.
Also, there isn’t an offseason when it comes to hitting deer on the highway and having better cellular reception can only be of benefit. The only concern should be people that text or answer their phones while driving.