[February 02, 2010] Antenna proposal rejected in Walnut Creek [Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif.] Tweet (Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 2--WALNUT CREEK -- No Internet antenna will be erected on Walnut Heights Elementary School grounds, at least in the near future. The Walnut Creek school board voted unanimously Monday night to deny a request from Kirkland, Wash.-based Clearwire to install a 37-foot wireless broadband Internet antenna at the school. The board's vote drew applause from audience members, mostly Walnut Heights parents. Clearwire had withdrawn its application last week, but the board was still required to formally vote on the proposal. The plan had sparked a heated debate, with parents and neighbors fearing possible health dangers from radio waves emanating from the proposed tower. The tower would have supported Clearwire's WiMax service, which is touted as much stronger than standard Wi-Fi. Superintendent Patricia Wool had previously recommended denial of Clearwire's proposal, saying Clearwire representatives were ill-prepared to address parents' questions at a community meeting two weeks ago. "Clearwire didn't have definitive information for the public," Wool said. While parents were happy with the vote, some were still concerned about other possible proposals. "Could Clearwire or another provider put up a cell tower at any other school site?" resident Judy Adler asked the board. Such concerns spurred Adler and others to submit a resolution to the board that would prohibit radiation-emitting towers near or on any school property. It would also petition the state Environmental Protection Agency to do more research on "non-ionizing" radiation. The Los Angeles school board adopted resolutions in 2000 and 2009 opposing cellular facilities on or near school campuses to minimize exposure to electromagnetic and radio frequency radiation. Walnut Creek trustees decided not to vote on the proposed resolution. Board member Dan Walden said such a resolution may be "premature" because there is much still unknown about the effects of radio waves. He pointed out that the antenna proposed by Clearwire would have brought in about $15,000 a year for the district. "We had some reservations, but we also have an extraordinary challenge to our budget," Walden said, citing a $1 million shortfall for the coming fiscal year. "Fifteen thousand dollars is small, but every little bit helps." Contact Elisabeth Nardi at 952-2617. To see more of the Contra Costa Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.contracostatimes.com/. Copyright (c) 2010, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]