SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

Increased availability and use of wireless phones has generated a greater demand for better customer service and reception. To respond to that demand, wireless providers continually seek locations in which to place company wireless antennas and, despite strong opposition from City residents and businesses, antennas abound on commericial and residential buildings throughout the City.

The New York City Department of Buildings is responsible for issuing permits to wireless providers for installing wireless antennas. The permit for which wireless providers apply is categorized under the broad, nondescript term of structure and, as a result, there is no accurate accounting of the number or locations of antennas within the City.

The Committee will investigate the need for an official record regarding the identification, placement and number of wireless antennas throughout the City. The Committee will also consider whether proper notice should be provided to building occupants before a wireless antenna is installed.

Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony, and for a description of the bills which will be discussed at the hearing.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 5 minutes’ duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to publicize these hearings further, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee’s interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:

1. What is the Department of Buildings’ process for approving new wireless antennas and how does the Department record their placement?

2. What criteria are used to approve or deny permits for new wireless antennas? Is any regard given to proximity of schools or public buildings? Is co-locating realistic and/or encouraged?

3. Is there an official process for notifying the people residing in, or near, a building that is planning to install wireless antennas and what input do residents have in the process?

4. What is the latest evidence regarding the health effects of wireless antenna emissions? Is there ongoing research on this topic?

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on The Proliferation and Placement of Wireless Antennas in New York City are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Julia Donnaruma
Legislative Associate
Assembly Committee on Cities
Room 520 - Capitol
Albany, New York 12248
Email: donnarj@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4363
Fax: (518) 455-5182

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required: