Pocono News Section

Cell Phone Tower Concerns Parents

Cell Phone Tower Concerns Parents - Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 5:00PM EST

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, LYCOMING COUNTY-
A local school district is considering allowing Verizon to build a cell phone tower on its grounds.

But parents are voicing some concerns about the proposal.

Verizon representatives say they want to build a 120-foot cell phone tower in a wooded lot above South Williamsport High School.

Hank Bressler’s grandson is an eighth grader here.

Bressler said, “I don’t have any problems with it. I don’t think it would cause any kind of harm or danger to anybody. I don’t believe it will.”

The district’s buildings and grounds committee is currently working on a full rendering of the project.

Many parents we spoke with say they have concerns about a cell phone tower. They’d like more information before the school makes a decision.

Off camera, some parents mentioned health and safety issues as their main concerns with constructing the tower.

But others we spoke with believe the tower could be very beneficial.

Bressler noted, “You just got ground sitting there, you might as well use it. Like I said, I use Verizon. I’ll probably get better reception.”

The tower could also be a financial asset. Verizon would pay the school $800 per month to lease the land.

Bressler added, “They haven’t used it for years. I can’t see them doing anything else with it. If they’ve got the chance to make some money off it, they might as well do it.”

We want to reiterate that the school board has not yet voted on this matter. More information on the cell phone tower will be presented at the school board’s next regular meeting on March 2nd.