Is 5G Safe?

Articles > Is 5G Safe?

Is 5G Safe?

Brief facts about 5G and other frequencies.

What is 5G?

Radio waves are all around us. They emanate naturally from outer space (the sun, stars. quasars, and galaxies). Closer to home, man-made radio waves bombard us daily: GPS satellite signals to help us navigate around town, AM/FM radio stations, 8 million Wi-Fi transmitters, and 350 million cell phones transmitting and receiving radio signals to/from cell towers to deliver text messages and phone calls. Electromagnetic radiation is how nature distributes energy, the most significant being the radiation that our eyes can see — the visible spectrum. The rest our eyes cannot see, but our electronics are tuned to for daily uses (AM/FM, baby monitors, cell phones, GPS devices).

All services must operate at their specific frequencies so transmitters and receivers can communicate at “the same wavelength.” Police cars and dispatch stations must transmit and receive at specific frequencies so they can hear each other. Our cars’ FM radios must be tuned to the same frequency at which radio stations are transmitting.

Is 5G Harmful to Health?

The debate over the question ‘is 5G safe?’ focuses on the frequencies at which the FCC wants 5G radios to transmit at. 5G radios are to transmit at the frequency ranges of just below 6 gigahertz (GHz) and another range at a higher frequency range called millimeter waves (because the wavelengths are the width of a millimeter). At every frequency change, some people do express fear in what they do not understand. It does not help that radio waves are called “radiation” which, in English, is associated with harmful health effects. But we forget that visible light that gives us our eyesight is also called “radiation” because electromagnetic radiation is how the universe distributes energy in different wavelengths (speed of light divided by frequency equals wavelength) to give us different visible colors. At infrared colors, closest to the visible spectrum, is where the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) dictates 5G to operate. In the early days of cellular communications, wireless phones operated below 1GHz. As demand for cellular traffic increases in the US, more radio frequencies are required to accommodate the 350 million cell phones in operation. Thus, with the advent of 2G, 3G, 4G, and now 5G, the FCC keeps on pushing wireless carriers to operate at higher and higher frequencies. We started at the 1GHz range, and we are now in the 6GHz range. As cell traffic demand increases, we will need more frequency ranges to carry the new communication services. And communication towers and smartphones will transmit at progressively higher frequencies. For those who are afraid of 5G today, they will really be fearful of 6G, 7G and beyond.

Why People Worry About EMFs

Many people wonder if they need 5G protection or ask ‘is 5G bad for you?’, but higher radio frequencies do not necessarily translate to more danger to the human body. It is just a different “color” at which radios are programmed to transmit at because lower frequencies are occupied by incumbent users such as military, terrestrial, taxis, baby monitors, Wi-Fi and other commercial communications.

It is true that x-rays and gamma rays are ionizing radiations which are harmful to human bodies in large and constant doses. But 5G is not operating anywhere near those prohibited frequencies, nor can they deliver the range needed for wireless communications. The 5G fear has taken on a larger following than we observed in 2G, 3G and 4G, likely since social media made it much easier to spread messages and influence ideas than ever before. If you search for words such as “Is 5G Safe?” or “Danger of 5G” on Facebook, the algorithm will continue to deliver similar messages of 5G harm which may overemphasize the fear on the topic.

What if I Live Near a 5G Tower?

Property owners who fear adverse health effects regarding cell tower signals should be decisive on this topic. Cell tower leases, whether signed with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Crown Castle, or ATC, once fully executed by both parties, are rock solid and cannot be broken by you, the property owner. If a new cell tower project is contemplated on your property, or if you are considering extending a decades old cell tower lease for another few decades, you must be certain that you are comfortable with any health concerns you may have. Just know that if another tower is to be built outside of your property, it will likely be on your neighbor’s land not far from you. The best decision you can make is one in which you are well-informed of all relevant factors so that you can apply directly to your personal situation. Don’t let one-sided fear-based internet messages prevent you from thinking rationally about a technology that is merely following the laws of physics to deliver radio waves needed to modernize our communication needs.

Still Fearful of Antennas? Walk-away Is An Option.

We encourage all property owners to only engage in a cell tower lease if they feel comfortable with the opportunity. If there is any lingering fear that cell towers may not be right for you, we suggest the best course of option would be to walk away from the cell tower opportunity. Your peace of mind is very important to us. We do not want to encourage anyone to engage in a cell tower lease if they are fearful of health concerns. Facts and science are available equally to everyone. We all interpret facts differently. If you believe having a cell tower in your property in not right for you, we suggest you not entertain lease discussions with wireless carriers.

If you would like to discuss with us as part of your decision-making process, please feel free to contact us any time.

Need Advice?

Let’s discuss your cell tower opportunity. We will share with you what we know about your cell tower ground lease. Never a fee until we agree to work together and we deliver all-inclusive results to your satisfaction. Unheard of assurance and confidence. Please email, call or send us a message anytime.