Stop the Towers

Nancy Beaton and Arthur Reber oppose allowing radio towers to improve a radio station’s broadcasts to residents of Metro Vancouver.

BBC Broadcasting Inc. (not the BBC) has applied to construct five 150-foot steel towers on an undeveloped lot on McKenzie Way in Point Roberts, about 330 metres from the border. The towers would transmit South Asian radio station KRPI, AM 1550, which broadcasts from studios in Richmond, B.C. Also known as Sher-E-Punjab AM 1550, the company currently broadcasts using antenna located in Ferndale, WA, but it wants a stronger 50,000 watt all-day signal in the Lower Mainland.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted a construction permit but a conditional use permit is required from Whatcom County. The county’s planning department is still dealing with the application, having requested further information from the applicant.

A public hearing will be held in Whatcom County regardless of the planning department’s eventual recommendation. The concerns being claimed and sent to the department include environmental, health as well as widespread “blanketing interference” of electrical devices.

The group is asking for donations from the public to pay lawyers to represent them at the hearings.

The group has presented their briefs to the various government agencies and representatives in the US and Canada and local government groups.

The group presented anecdotal information but no research to back up the various claims of radio interference and health problems if the towers are built.

For further information visit – www.notowers.webs.com.