December 15, 2025

New Small-Cell Tower permit issued

As reported in our last newsletter, a total of 491 5G “small cell” towers were installed in Tucson between 2018 and 2023, the large majority by Verizon and AT&T.

After a complete stoppage of installations in early 2023, a permit for a new Verizon tower has been issued by the Department of Transportation and Mobility. The permit is to install “small-cell antennas and radio equipment” at 1200 N. Wilson Avenue in the historic Blenman-Elm neighborhood.

The home at 1200 N. Wilson Avenue, Blenman-Elm

We were told that these towers are necessary to accommodate increased coverage needs as the demand for cell phone connectivity increases. But we now know their main purpose is to provide a type of home internet service called Fixed Wireless Internet. After installation, the telecommunications company launches an advertising campaign to get nearby homes to discontinue their current service and sign up for theirs, for example, Verizon’s “5G Home Internet”.

These small cells are not needed. Fixed Wireless Internet service is being pushed in Tucson to boost telecom profit, not to fill any gap in service. Meanwhile, the cell towers it relies on lead to pollution of our neighborhoods with pulsed RF radiation that increases risks for many symptoms and diseases, including breast, thyroid, colon and brain cancer, and lowers property values — all without our consent.

Cable internet is widely available and, as announced in the last newsletter, the City of Tucson’s Fiber-to-the-Premises licensing program means that all homes and businesses will have access to safer, faster and minimally intrusive fiber optic internet by 2030.

The word is that this tower in Blenman-Elm is not the last — both Verizon and AT&T are planning to restart their rollouts in Tucson.

We will keep you posted.

Help Stop the Federal Cell Tower Takeover

In 2023, Safe Tech Tucson joined others across the country to oppose Federal bill H.R. 3557, a bill that would take away local control in order to fast-track cell tower deployment. We sent emails to Mayor Romero, the City Council and the Pima County Board of Supervisors, as well as AZ and U.S. legislators and the Governor. That bill faced strong opposition from national organizations representing cities, counties, and mayors. It never made it to the House or Senate for a vote (unfortunately, Congress did pass H.R. 6492 opening the door for cell towers to be installed in national parks and wilderness areas).

Fast forward, and the wireless industry is now pushing to fast-track cell tower deployment with even more furor. Two proposals will soon be decided on:

(1) a new set of rules directly from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC);

(2) a new federal fast-track bill, H.R. 2289.

According to Theodora Scarato, Director of the Wireless and EMFs Program at Environmental Health Sciences, “We are amidst the most sweeping cell tower preemption proposal in U.S. history.”

Given the restart of the 5G small-cell rollout here in Tucson, it’s more important than ever that we join with others across the country to oppose these efforts!

Here are the two proposals.

Both are opposed by cities across the country as well as the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, and the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors. Their joint letter of opposition is at this link.

FCC Docket 25-276: “Build America: Eliminating Barriers to Wireless Deployments”

This proposed rulemaking aims to "free towers and other wireless infrastructure from regulatory burdens imposed at the state and local level." It would dramatically expand federal preemption of local zoning laws, eliminate meaningful community participation, and allow wireless facilities to be placed almost anywhere, with no regard to aesthetics.

The rulemaking follows from the Project 2025 chapter on the FCC (written by current Chair, Brendan Carr), which proposed a policy priority to “modernize” infrastructure rules to secure U.S. 5G leadership by preempting state and local government siting and permitting laws that slow down the buildout of wireless infrastructure. Read more about FCC Docket 25-276 here.

The FCC clearly states its fast-track goal at the top of its own web page on Docket 25-276.

H.R. 2289: "American Broadband Deployment Act of 2025”

This bill would similarly limit local control, exempt most wireless facilities from environmental (NEPA) and historical preservation (NHPA) reviews, and make it easier to expand cell towers and equipment with little notice or public input.

Introduced by Representative Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), it passed through the Energy and Commerce Committee on 12/3 on a partyline vote with all Republicans voting for it and all Democrats against. Read more about H.R. 2289 here.

Recording of the December 8, 2025 webinar with telecom lawyers Robert Berg and Zoe Berg about the fast-track proposals.

What can you do?

We’ll start by taking action to oppose the FCC proposed rulemaking, which is the most pressing.

Safe Tech Tucson will be sending an email to Mayor Romero, the Tucson City Council and the Pima County Board of Supervisors informing them of the FCC proposed rulemaking and asking them to join other cities and counties in officially opposing it on behalf of Tucson and Pima county.

What you can do as an individual is post comments on the docket—the more comments the better!—and sign the Change.org petition.

Submit comments: two ways

1. Submit a comment on the FCC website portal by clicking here. Comments are due December 31^st.

Example comment (use as is, or modify)

I am opposed to the proposed rulemaking in FCC Docket 25-276, which would further preempt local government authority over the siting, permitting and management of cell towers here in Tucson. We Tucsonans wish to be able to work with our local government to ensure that (1) cell towers are installed only where needed for mobile telecommunications; (2) cell towers are not placed close to homes and schools; their deployment protects public safety, privacy and property values; and (3) their deployment protects the unique character of our neighborhoods as well as the plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert.

Our local officials have worked collaboratively with community members to establish a future vision and goals to support the economic prosperity and well-being of Tucsonans, with a strong focus on equity. Telecommunications and broadband internet can best contribute to these goals when infrastructure siting, permitting and management decisions are based on knowledge of our unique local situation, including the connectivity needs and desires of Tucsonans. Our local government is best placed to make these decisions. Private companies, whose primary motive is to profit, should not be in a position to control the deployment of telecommunications and broadband infrastructure in our neighborhoods.

I therefore respectfully call on the FCC to reject the proposed rules in Docket 25-276 and preserve the authority of our local officials over the siting, permitting and management of cell towers.

You can also use the suggested comments from the Children’s Health Defense, at this link:

https://childrenshealthdefense.org/thank-you-for-taking-action-against-the-fccs-new-rules-on-cell-towers/

2. Comment on the FCC Docket using the Environmental Health Sciences one-click tool. Your comment will then be physically mailed to Marlene Dortch, the FCC Secretary, so that it becomes a part of the FCC record. Environmental Health Sciences has a pre-written comment that you can send as is or add to.

Sign the petition

Sign the Change.org petition telling the FCC to preserve local control and ensure public safety at this link

https://www.change.org/p/petition-to-the-fcc-don-t-fast-track-cell-towers-near-homes-preserve-local-control

You can also participate in CHDs “Light It Up For Local Control” campaign with others across the country.

We’ll send out information about taking action to oppose H.R. 2289 in the new year.

Let’s step up Tucson and help stop these proposed rules and laws that would allow the further proliferation of unneeded cell towers in Tucson without consent!

www.SafeTechTucson.com

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