Environmental Ministry steps up fight against cellular antennas

The Environmental Protection Ministry decided to step up its fight against the cell phone service providers which place antennas on residential rooftops and balconies, Ynet learned this week. Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan ordered his office to explore an amendment to the Non-Ionizing Radiation Law, which would grant the ministry sole discretion on the matter and disallow future antennas' installation. Non-ionizing radiation refers to any type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough energy per quantum to ionize atoms or molecules. The amendment will address the setting of new exposure levels and risk range, especially those relating to "wireless devices" – which cell phone service providers can nowadays place within apartments without any special permit – i.e. unbeknown to the public. The Environmental Protection Ministry's fight against the phenomenon has met fierce objections by the Communications Ministry, which currently enjoys veto power over any change in installation procedures. With the Environmental Protection Ministry and the Communications Ministry butting heads over the matter, cell phone service providers can go on installing their antennas undisturbed. The Environmental Protection Ministry's problem with the Communications Ministry's authority in the matter has nothing to do with the power it wields over the matter, said ministry sources, but rather with the fact that its decisions are guided by financial considerations alone. "It is inconceivable that financial consideration would trump public health considerations this way," Minister Erdan told Ynet. "If I am expected – as the environmental protection minister – to protect the public from cellular radiation, then the ministry has to have the exclusive say in setting exposure and risk levels... installing antennas in apartments or on balconies exposes the public to higher radiation rates." Pending the change in legislation, Erdan has circulated a new non-ionizing radiation guidelines brief among the various government bureaus, meant to explain the need for a legislative change. The Cellular Companies Forum declined comment. The Communications Ministry was unavailable for comment.