1. The Critical Role of Cell Tower Fall Zones 

A cell tower fall zone is the area surrounding the base of a tower where the tower structure, or parts of it, could reasonably be expected to fall in the event of a structural failure or collapse. This zone also accounts for hazards such as falling ice, detached equipment, or debris that may be dislodged during extreme weather conditions, accidents, or mechanical malfunctions. If a tower catches fire, burning pieces can also fall from the tower.

Everything located within the fall zone is considered at risk. Establishing an adequate fall zone is essential for public safety and infrastructure protection. It ensures that nearby buildings, structures, and people remain outside the potential impact area if the tower—or any portion of it—were to fall. 

By maintaining this buffer, zoning regulations help minimize property damage, prevent injuries, and promote safe maintenance and operational practices around telecommunication towers.

Cell towers do fall, and parts can collapse. A cellphone tower collapsed in Las Vegas in April 2022 due to high winds, with the tower falling into the backyard of a Napa Auto Parts store, just feet from nearby homes.

Ensuring an appropriate fall zone reduces the chance that adjacent property and people are harmed. Unfortunately, many cell towers are irresponsibly placed on school sports fields or close to homes and playgrounds. 

2. Cell Towers Can Increase in Height With Little Public Process 

Once a cell tower is constructed, federal law makes it relatively easy for wireless carriers to add new antennas or equipment and in many cases,  increase height by 20 feet with minimal local review. This is because Section 6409(a) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 requires local governments to approve most requests to modify an existing tower as long as the change does not “substantially change” the tower’s physical dimensions. In practice, this means that carriers co-locate additional equipment, enlarge antenna arrays, or add new technologies without going through the full public-hearing or zoning process that was required for the original tower approval. 

As a result, communities may see a tower grow taller or more densely equipped over time, even though the public has little opportunity to weigh in once the initial structure is in place.

Stay updated on cell tower issues with our science and policy newsletter. 

3. The Visual and Aesthetic Impacts of Cell Towers

Cell towers and 5G wireless facilities impact the aesthetic of the surrounding environment. They create visual clutter and can directly conflict with local design standards created to preserve architectural heritage, natural landscapes, and scenic vistas. Communities have the right to protect local aesthetics, especially near historic areas. 

Although telecom companies frequently describe their wireless installations as “small,” “low-profile,” or “minimal,” the real-world impact is often the opposite, especially as networks become increasingly dense. “Small” cells are anything but small as the installations include not only pole-top antennas, but also large, boxy, and visually intrusive equipment cabinets at ground level, power supplies, cooling units, and extensive cabling. Together, this equipment can overwhelm the streetscape and clutter sidewalks. As 5G requires many nodes spaced only a few hundred feet apart, the cumulative effect becomes a significant visual blight, fundamentally altering neighborhood character. 

Stay updated on cell tower issues with our science and policy newsletter. 

4. The Fire Risk of Cell Towers

Cell tower equipment can catch fire, igniting vegetation on the ground and in some cases even causing the closure of school sports fields. This has happened at multiple schools. For example, a cell tower light pole caught fire at the Otay Ranch High School stadium in California, and similar cell tower fires occurred at Heritage High School in Virginia, Thurston High in Oregon, and Grandview Heights High School in Ohio. 

Cell towers and 5G small-cell wireless installations pose recognized fire hazards due to their combination of high-powered electrical equipment, lithium-ion backup batteries, and densely packed electronics. Electrical faults, such as arcing, overheating, insulation failure, or wiring defects, can ignite fires inside equipment cabinets and at the base of towers, and electrical malfunctions are among the most frequently documented causes of tower-related fires worldwide. 

Many 4G and 5G antennas are mounted on utility power poles, which can increase the ignition risk. When telecommunications wiring comes into contact with energized electrical conductors, arcing can occur, potentially triggering pole-top fires or wildfires.  Southern California’s Orange County filed lawsuits alleging that a telecommunications wire contacting a power company’s energized line helped spark the Silverado Fire, naming T-Mobile in the complaint. 

Antennas mounted on rooftops create fire hazards for the building. One example is the fire that broke out on the rooftop of an apartment building in Brooklyn (Crown Heights) reported to be possibly caused by an electrical malfunction of a cell tower / antennas on the roof. These fire risks require meaningful review and mitigation, but the issue is too often ignored.

Stay updated on cell tower issues with our science and policy newsletter. 

5. Hazardous Materials on Cell Tower Sites

Cell tower sites often store hazardous materials that pose chemical and environmental hazards if damaged or improperly maintained. The backup power systems can include lead acid batteries and diesel fuel tanks (some with over 180 gallons of fuel), which can potentially leak during equipment failure, accidents, or natural disasters. Some county fire departments even register cell tower sites as HAZMAT sites because first responders must be prepared for risks such as battery acid exposure, fuel ignition, groundwater contamination, and toxic smoke if equipment burns.

Cell tower companies routinely spray herbicides and toxic chemicals around tower bases to control vegetation and reduce fire risk (fire-retardant sprays).  These treatments often include professional-grade “bare-ground” chemicals designed to stop all plant growth, and they must be applied by licensed professional applicators because of their toxicity and environmental risks. Such chemicals are not safe for children.

“In recent years, I have found that the best solution is to bring in a professional weed service to spray my tower sites.

These services are licensed to use much stronger chemicals than are available to the average person. In fact, some have said the professionals often use a chemical that functions quite like the infamous “Agent Orange” which was used to deforest parts of Vietnam in the 60’s.” -Weeding Out Problems at Tower Sites

Stay updated on cell tower issues with our science and policy newsletter. 

6. Cell Towers Drop Property Values 

Would you want to buy a house with a looming cell tower nearby? Cell towers can significantly decrease the property values of nearby homes, according to both real estate professionals and published analysis. Realtors across the U.S. consistently report that buyers are reluctant to purchase homes located near visible cell towers. In many markets, homes next to or within view of towers take longer to sell and often close for considerably less value. A report for the Smart Communities Coalition of over 1800 local and state communities documented research that found a visible tower can reduce home value by as much as 20%. The stigma associated with cell towers directly translates into lower demand and diminished marketability. 

7. Cell Towers Create Daily Full Body RF Radiation Exposure 

Cell towers emit continuous cellular radiofrequency (RF) radiation 24/7. Numerous studies have reported associations between cell tower RF radiation exposure and health effects. A 2022 published review found over 73% of studies on people living near cell towers reported adverse effects such as higher cancer rates, biochemical changes, and radiofrequency sickness symptoms including headaches, sleep issues and memory issues. 

Children are especially vulnerable because their bodies absorb more of this radiation. Their brains are still developing and more sensitive to harm.  Experts recommend at least a 1,500-foot cell tower setback from schools and homes to reduce health risk. 

Stay updated on cell tower issues with our science and policy newsletter. 

The International Association of Firefighters Resolution officially opposes cell towers on their stations “until a study with the highest scientific merit and integrity on health effects of exposure to low-intensity RF/MW radiation is conducted and it is proven that such sitings are not hazardous to the health of our members.” 

In California, firefighter unions repeatedly and successfully lobbied state lawmakers to remove fire stations from a list of locations that legislation would fastrack 5G “small cells” on. Firefighters Local 1014  launched a campaign with 30 second hard hitting ads and a website that stated, “It’s a no-brainer that LA County should at least have done a proper study before putting 200-foot high-power microwave antennas on top of our heads.”

8. Cell Tower RF Radiation Levels Will Likely Increase Every Year

Cell tower RF radiation levels typically rise year after year because networks are continually upgraded and expanded, even after a tower is first approved. 

Wireless companies present initial RF radiation exposure projections that appear low only because the tower is not yet operating at full capacity, antennas may be running at reduced power, fewer frequency bands are active, and future 4G, 5G, and C-band additions are not included. As new technologies, carriers, and antenna sectors are added, which is common, the total RF radiation output increases significantly. 

Real-world monitoring at schools has shown increases over time. As an example, FOIA-obtained RF radiation reports for Fairfax Virginia school cell towers show dramatic increases over just two years. Thoreau Middle School rose from 0.36% in 2019  to 14.87% in 2021 of the FCC limit (over 40-fold increase), Centreville High jumped from 0.36% in 2019 to 2.97% in 2021 (8 fold increase), and Robinson Secondary climbed from 0.37% in 2019  to 14.37%  in 2021 (a nearly 40 increase).

While the wireless companies may state such levels are “very low” compared to FCC limits and therefore “safe”, the reality is that compliance with FCC limits does not assure safety from effects reported in scientific research like cancer. The FCC limits have been well-criticized for not accounting for children’s vulnerability or cumulative daily exposure. Many countries—including Italy, Switzerland, India, Russia, and China—have limits 10 to 100 times lower than the U.S. FCC standard, specifically in order to address long term and non-heating health effects.  So when a company claims emissions are “low,” it simply means “low compared to an outdated U.S. FCC limit,” not low compared to science-based protections.

9. Insurance Authorities Compare RF Radiation Risk to Asbestos 

Major insurers classify cell tower radiofrequency (RF) radiation as a high-risk liability, often comparing it to hazards like asbestos and lead due to its potentially serious long-term impacts. The Swiss Re Institute, one of the world’s top reinsurance authorities, has labeled 5G an “off-the-leash” risk—its term for emerging technologies with unpredictable and potentially widespread consequences. Because of this financial exposure, most major U.S. insurance providers now exclude coverage for damages related to non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF), including the RF radiation emitted by cell towers and wireless network infrastructure. 

Furthermore, U.S. telecom carriers have been unable to obtain insurance coverage themselves for RF-related health or property claims for more than a decade and they offer cell phone protection insurance which defines RF as a pollutant. 

10. Companies Warn Their Shareholders of RF Health Related Risk

Telecommunications companies tell shareholders that lawsuits, evolving science, and regulatory changes related to health effects from RF radiation could impact them financially. Some even disclose that they lack insurance coverage for health-related RF claims. However, they do not provide any warnings to the people living near cell towers. 

“We cannot guarantee that claims relating to radio frequency emissions will not arise in the future or that the results of such studies will not be adverse to us…If a connection between radio frequency emissions and possible negative health effects were established, our operations, costs, or revenues may be materially and adversely affected. We currently do not maintain any significant insurance with respect to these matters.”- Crown Castle 10-K Report (2024)

“Our wireless business is also subject to lawsuits relating to alleged adverse health effects of wireless phones and radio frequency transmitters. Any of these allegations or changes in government agencies’ assessment of the risks associated with using wireless devices could result in significant legal and regulatory liability and other remedies, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.”- Verizon 10-K Report (2024)
Many of these same companies even sell cell phone “protection” plans that explicitly define non-ionizing EMF as a form of “pollution.”

---

Stay updated on cell tower issues with our science and policy newsletter. 

BONUS: More Reasons Cell Towers Should Not Be Near Schools

Cell towers located near schools introduce additional safety concerns, from criminal activity to climbing hazards.  

Cell Tower Copper Theft Can Trigger Falling Equipment

Industrial cell towers placed on school campuses can attract criminal activity because their high-value copper wiring and equipment are prime targets for theft and vandalism. When thieves break into these structures, often cutting live cables or damaging electrical systems, they not only risk starting fires or causing equipment failures but also jeopardize the safety of students and staff who use the surrounding grounds because when thieves cut cables or strip equipment, the damage can cause equipment to fall off the tower, even toppling towers in some cases. These crimes can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, far exceeding the value of the stolen copper, while simultaneously putting students and staff at risk.

Cell Towers are Climbing Hazards

These tall structures can attract curious children, teens, or distressed individuals who may attempt to climb them, leading to severe or fatal falls. For example, a 16-year-old died after falling 60 feet from a utility pole in Utah. Placing cell towers near school grounds heightens the potential for climbing incidents, dangerous falls, and emergency response situations.