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The city of Santa Fe, N.M., is finding itself that wants the city to ban wireless Internet signals from public buildings, claiming the signals are making them sick.

The group, calling themselves "electro-sensitive," say they are allergic to the waves generated, and say that Santa Fe's attempt to set up wifi hotspots in public buildings would be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. According to USA Today, the group is led by Arthur Firstenberg.

But Firsternberg's been a busy boy. He led a similar effort in Mendocino, Calif., several years ago from which the city and county -- economically hampered by limited cellular and wifi service -- is still trying to recover. The 2002 Wired article also cites him as the head of the , an organization that says it's been fighting similar efforts since 1997.

A recent survey of Mendocino residents, featuring 185 responses out of 800 surveys (a 23% response rate, which is pretty good for such things), noted that more than 90% of respondents agreed that high-speed Internet should be available to every home, and that more than 93% agreed that high-speed Internet would make Mendocino County stronger economically.

The Mendocino Coast Broadband Alliance, like many groups trying to bring wireless Internet to rural communities, said it is having enough trouble getting vendor interest and funding for the project, let alone dealing with organized protest groups.

Now, I'd be the last to say that we all know that all technology is safe. Here in Idaho and the Intermountain West is an organization called the Downwinders, which is attempting to get justice now for people suffering from various illnesses due to fallout from nuclear testing in the 1950s. On the other hand, at what point should a small group be able to hold the rest of an area hostage in this way?

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Dani AI

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This raises two separate problems: how to weigh the scientific evidence, and how a city should respond in a way that is fair, legal, and practical. The scientific record does not support a causal link between low‑level radiofrequency fields from Wi‑Fi and the constellation of symptoms people report, but the symptoms themselves are real and deserve a humane response. As noted, the key question is when individual claims should change policy for the whole community.

Public health organizations recommend basing decisions on peer‑reviewed evidence and measured exposures rather than on anecdote alone. Double‑blind experiments generally fail to show that affected persons can tell when they are exposed, and exposure levels from typical Wi‑Fi equipment are far below international safety limits. See the World Health Organization Q&A on electromagnetic hypersensitivity and the FCC page on radio‑frequency safety for summary statements and links to primary literature.

Recommended practical steps for municipalities and agencies:

  • Commission an independent evidence review and involve the local health department so the science is summarized in plain terms for policymakers.
  • Do baseline and post‑installation RF measurements with calibrated meters, publish the numbers, and compare them to recognized exposure guidelines.
  • Offer low‑cost accommodations: wired Internet options, designated low‑power or power‑off zones, and reasonable workplace adjustments for staff who report symptoms.
  • Run a transparent public process that documents economic, access, and health tradeoffs, and provide clear FAQ materials to address fears and misinformation.
  • Obtain legal advice early about disability accommodations and liability so any policy is defensible.

This approach protects public access to services while treating individuals respectfully and legally. If municipal leaders are careful, transparent, and evidence‑driven, they reduce the chance that a small group can impose disproportionate restrictions on the wider community.

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