Good to know. Good to know.
Standing next to a tower exposes us to fewer RF emissions than standing next to a
CELL SITE PERMITTING
Cell towers, public safety, and how to know what to believe.
There is a lot of information—and misinformation—online today focused on the safety of radio waves, cell towers, and particularly 5G technology. The best way to know what to believe is to get the facts. That starts with understanding what radio waves are, how we use them, and who regulates their use.
It’s also important to understand the ways 5G technology serves the common good by enhancing public safety and bridging the digital divide.
Radio waves and the electromagnetic spectrum.
The electromagnetic spectrum is all around us—we use some form of it every day. Radio waves are part of the electromagnetic spectrum and play a key role in powering the technologies we rely on daily. While they naturally occur in the environment—from sources like the sun—we can also generate and control radio frequencies (RF) to enable mobile communication,
This means the same technology used to broadcast radio since the late 1800s has since been used in every generation of mobile technology, including 5G.
Radio frequency emissions and public exposure.
Some people have questions about 5G and the energy that comes from cell towers and infrastructure. Most concerns focus on what’s known as radiofrequency (RF) emissions, a type of energy used to send and receive wireless signals.
Our 5G networks operate on low-band, medium-band, and high-band radio frequencies.
These frequencies are in a completely different area of spectrum than the DNA-damaging frequencies used for tanning beds, x-rays, and radiation therapy. Where we live, work, and play, RF emissions from 5G transmitters are typically lower than those from many common devices we use in our homes and communities.
5G is also a more energy-efficient technology compared to earlier generations. It uses less bandwidth and power to transfer data, while advanced antenna technology directs the signal more precisely where it needs to go.
Infrastructure designed and evaluated for safety.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been setting and overseeing RF exposure limits for decades. At
Antennas on cell sites are designed to focus RF outward toward the horizon where it’s needed.
Street-level measurements of RF are typically 150 times—or more—below the FCC limit.
Macro site antennas are often mounted on rooftops, streetlights, power poles, or other existing infrastructure.
We optimize our cell sites to ensure they are always working properly and within FCC safety limits 24 hours a day.
Good to know. Good to know.
Even though the FCC permits an effective radiated power (ERP) of up to 500 watts per channel, the majority of
Wireless networks and 5G keep us all safer.
More than 80% of all emergency 911 calls are made on wireless devices today.1 A fast reliable connection can be a lifeline for people and first responders whenever emergencies or disasters occur. Enhanced 911 (E911) provides dispatchers with the location data they need to find wireless callers in need of help.
In addition to 911 and E911, the public Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system notifies users with capable mobile devices of dangerous situations in their area.
Reverse 911 alerts
Presidential alerts
AMBER & Silver alerts
Disaster & threat alerts
Reliable access to social media via cell phone provides another vital way for people to receive and share public safety information.
When every second counts. When every second counts.
Our most advanced 5G technologies make it possible for us to reserve a dedicated slice of network for first responders called
This life-saving service ensures the essential digital tools that firefighters, paramedics, utility crews, and healthcare teams depend on are always connected with reliable access to our nationwide, high-speed 5G.
Wireless infrastructure bridges the digital divide.
Most U.S. homes today rely on cellphones alone for a telephone connection. Adults living in poverty are even more likely to live in wireless-only households. Connecting by cell may be the only way they can call for help, apply for a job or service, send and receive email, or any of the other countless things we depend on internet access to accomplish.
In rural areas, over 24 million people today are challenged by slow internet—or can’t connect at all.2 Building new cell infrastructure brings better connectivity to places that have been underserved for too long.
- Telemedicine: virtual doctor's appointments, ordering medication, access to medical records.
- Business: working online remotely, access to virtual meetings, real-time data processing.
- Agriculture: smart irrigation systems, precision agriculture and equipment automation, remote crop and livestock monitoring.
- Emergency response: ability to ask for help—and for emergency services to respond quickly.
- Schools & learning: online study and research, virtual field trips, technical training, video presentations.
With better coverage and speeds, 5G infrastructure can help bridge the gap between urban, suburban, and rural areas. Improving connectivity in remote areas enhances quality of life and supports local growth.
What the groups who monitor public health and safety say.
American Cancer Society.
“At ground level near typical cellular base stations, the amount of energy from RF waves is hundreds to thousands of times less than the limits for safe exposure set by the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and other regulatory authorities. It is very unlikely that a person could be exposed to RF levels in excess of these limits just by being near a cell phone tower.3
World Health Organization.
“To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies.”4
US Food & Drug Administration.
“The current limit on radio frequency (RF) energy set by the Federal Communications Commission remains acceptable for protecting the public health.”5
- NENA. 9-1-1 Statistics. February 2022. www.nena.org/?page=911Statistics
- Pew. The Digital Divide. May 2024. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/trust/archive/spring-2024/the-digital-divide
- American Cancer Society. Cell Phone Towers. Last revised June 1, 2020. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/radiation-exposure/cellular-phone-towers.html
- World Health Organization. Radiation: 5G mobile networks and health. Questions and answers. February 2020. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-5g-mobile-networks-and-health
- US Food & Drug Administration. Scientific Evidence for Cell Phone Safety. Content current as of: 05/31/2024. https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/cell-phones/scientific-evidence-cell-phone-safety#5G