Wi-Fi Plans Dropped Over Health Concerns

Officials in the California city of Sebastopol have gone back on an agreement with an Internet provider that was planning to create a municipal Wi-Fi network for the city. They cited health concerns in their decision.

1 minute read

March 28, 2008, 9:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg

"The City Council voted 4-0 last week to rescind an agreement with Sonic.net that would have allowed the Santa Rosa-based Internet provider to install the network in the city center as it has done in the downtowns of Santa Rosa and Petaluma."

"Sebastopol Mayor Craig Litwin thanked Sonic for a 'very nice gesture' but said citizens had voiced concerns that 'create enough suspicion that there may be a health hazard.'"

"Sonic CEO Dane Jasper said his company is sympathetic to those who blame radiofrequency signals for their health problems."

"But he maintained that the exposure from a Wi-Fi network would be 'a drop in the bucket' compared to the amount that people receive daily from TV, radio and cellular phone signals."

FULL STORY: Wireless disruption

Monday, March 24, 2008 in The Press Democrat

Government / Politics Infrastructure Technology California Public Health Safety Municipal Wi-Fi Sebastopol View More

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