New York City is preparing to go fully wireless by January, 2005. The deal is currently being finalized between New York City authorities and six technology companies. To strengthen coverage and signal, 18,000 new lamp post-based antennas will be installed virtually everywhere in the five burroughs that make up New York City.
The plan has already come under fire by local officials concerned what the new antennas will do to people's health, now and in the long run. Local activist John Campos of Queens, NY, says, "Within where I live, over a mile radius, there are over 300 antennas already," said Mr Campos, pointing at a cluster of small masts on a rooftop across the street. "What happens if in 20 years, there's even a minor adverse reaction to human beings?"
Peter Vallone Jr is a Queens council member and chairman of the city's safety committee who also shares Mr. Campos's concerns. "The city was in the papers when I first came out against this, saying there's less radiation than from a microwave (oven) from these antennas, and that may be true," said councilman Vallone. "But nobody runs a microwave 24 hours a day, seven days a week, outside their bedroom door when they are sleeping. That's why it's important we study this," he added.
Commissioner Menchini addresses these concerns by stating, "We've had industry experts come in and advise us on this and everything I've heard, from our health commissioner to the industry experts, says there's no health risk associated with these antennas and these devices."
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The plan has already come under fire by local officials concerned what the new antennas will do to people's health, now and in the long run. Local activist John Campos of Queens, NY, says, "Within where I live, over a mile radius, there are over 300 antennas already," said Mr Campos, pointing at a cluster of small masts on a rooftop across the street. "What happens if in 20 years, there's even a minor adverse reaction to human beings?"
Peter Vallone Jr is a Queens council member and chairman of the city's safety committee who also shares Mr. Campos's concerns. "The city was in the papers when I first came out against this, saying there's less radiation than from a microwave (oven) from these antennas, and that may be true," said councilman Vallone. "But nobody runs a microwave 24 hours a day, seven days a week, outside their bedroom door when they are sleeping. That's why it's important we study this," he added.
Commissioner Menchini addresses these concerns by stating, "We've had industry experts come in and advise us on this and everything I've heard, from our health commissioner to the industry experts, says there's no health risk associated with these antennas and these devices."
View: More Information
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"Radiation" is a loaded word: just because some object or device is a source of "radiation" doesn't necessarily make it harmful. Every time you turn on a light, you're literally bathing yourself in "radiation".
The kind of radiation one should be worried about is "ionizing" radiation, i.e., radiation energetic enough to start stripping electrons from any tissue that it passes through. Ionizing radiation such as x-rays can alter the chemical and genetic characteristics of cellular structures, causing mutations that can lead to diseases such as cancer. Non-ionizing radiation sources such as radio frequency transmitters have no such effect.
We already live in a sea of low-energy radiation. Throwing one more source into the mix wouldn't likely have any discernable effect on one's health and well-being.
There are a lot more dangerous things in the world to be worried about. If I were you, I'd be more worried about living downwind from New Jersey than I would be about a few Wi-Fi antennas!
I thought Seattle was 100% wireless, but I guess its not
There is already one patch of midtown Manhattan that provides an ideal glimpse of what a more wireless-friendly New York will be like.
Bryant Park has been providing a free service to any laptop user who wants access for many months now.
People come from all over the city to log-on and work in the sunshine, and naturally, everyone I spoke to welcomed the idea of extending this kind of coverage.
Except for the mosquitos
Here's a great tip for everyone afraid of radiation: Don't freaking cook yourselves in it at the beach. UV light is thousands/millions/billions of times more energetic than RF light.
Last edited by 3825 on 23 Aug 2004 - 02:54
I tried to find a hotspot on Staten Island when I was there last Fall, but there was bupkis, nada.
You're right though... it was kind of a weird article.
you might want to stay away from FM and AM broadcasting aswell if you think that wireless is a health problem.. its all bs, everybody is so scared for such ridicilous things...
The car pollution is going to more damage but we dont hear anybody complaining about that
/me books plane tickets to New York
hhmmmm, a wireless network in NY. Comeon lets all book some tikets and play UT2004 24/7 down there
The radiation thing is fairly stupid, the same paranoia sprung up when cellphones were first brought out but now nearly everyone has one.
WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!
/it's not a tum-ah
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