Western Springs Alleges 'Inaccurate' 5G Info

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Western Springs officials say they have become aware of "inaccurate" messages on social media that the village has failed to provide enough information to residents on 5G, the latest in wireless technology. On Thursday, the village posted online hundreds of pages of documents and emails that it has already released as part of a public records request.

In a statement online Thursday, the village rejected allegations that the village board refused to answer questions about plans for 5G antennas at its meeting Monday. Residents fear the health effect of the antennas, while the telecommunications industry says they are safe.

"The Village Board stated during the meeting that questions submitted during the public comment period will be answered in writing," the statement said. "Village staff is currently preparing responses to the questions posed during the board meeting and those answers will be made available on the village website."

The village also disputed reports on social media that it released certain records related to 5G antennas after communications with the attorney general's office. The village said its staff and attorney have not received any correspondence or directives from the attorney general in relation to public records requests on 5G. It released additional information related to 5G voluntarily, according to the statement.

The emails released by the village Thursday indicate that representatives of the telecommunications industry have been corresponding with officials for months about plans to expand 5G in the area.

In a Sept. 26 email to officials from nearby towns, Marty Scott, the village's director of community development, said telecommunications providers were telling Western Springs that they would likely need 35-foot-high poles every 250 to 300 feet along most blocks.

"They supposedly cannot use ComEd poles since there is no cooperation," Scott wrote. "According to our village attorney, the small cell legislation gives the providers carte blanche to locate just about wherever they want."

In an email two weeks ago to village officials, Matthew Supert, Western Springs' director of municipal services, said he had recently met with Verizon representatives.

"They are kicking off a meet-and-greet campaign with municipalities as they prepare to get into the small cell deployment over the next year," he said.

In December, Western Springs received an application from Houston-based Crown Castle for a 5G antenna. Crown Castle installs such equipment for telecommunications companies. The village found Crown Castle's application incomplete and deficient, and the company withdrew.

Residents in both Western Springs and Hinsdale fear the microwave radiation from the antennas could cause a variety of health problems. They have banded together, and leaders from both villages are pushing the state to give greater local control over the placement of towers.

Earlier this month, Western Springs received an application for fiber optic cable, but officials are unsure whether it is related to the installation of 5G antennas. The company, Elmhurst-based LTS Technical, declined to tell Patch about its purpose.

Hinsdale has not reported any 5G applications.