Community pushback delays Verizon’s attempt to install two 80-foot towers near schools, parks, and neighborhoods.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Residents of Minden, Nevada, have secured a temporary win in their ongoing battle against Verizon’s plan to erect two 80-foot 5G cell towers near schools, daycares, parks, and residential neighborhoods. With support from Children’s Health Defense (CHD) and its Stop 5G Initiative, the grassroots group “Minden for Safe Tech” has led the opposition since learning about Verizon’s plans in January 2024.
The two proposed towers are on land owned by the local fire department. One is planned near a high school, a dance studio, and a daycare, while the other is adjacent to a park, across the street from an elementary school and neighborhood. “They are relentless,” said Casey Rodgers, a Minden resident and leader of Minden for Safe Tech, in an interview with The Defender. “Parents don’t want their children next to a 5G tower.”
On December 5, Douglas County supervisors unanimously voted to delay issuing permits for either tower until at least April 3, instructing Verizon to explore alternative locations further from schools and neighborhoods. W. Scott McCollough, CHD’s lead attorney on electromagnetic radiation and wireless cases, said, “We got the better of this, although we did not succeed in getting both towers denied yet.”
The delay followed a lengthy public hearing where residents lined up out the door to deliver three-minute testimonies opposing Verizon’s plans. Community members highlighted concerns about lowered property values, increased fire risks, and the aesthetic impact of the towers, steering clear of health arguments due to restrictions under the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Rodgers and her team emphasized the importance of strategy, education, and persistence. “We know we can’t win on health, but these towers are ugly and unsafe,” Rodgers said. “There are other ways to win.”
Residents pointed to the availability of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as a more suitable alternative for Verizon’s towers. “There is a lot of open space away from schools and residential neighborhoods,” McCollough noted.
The community’s efforts have been bolstered by CHD’s Stop 5G Community Empowerment Consulting, which provides legal representation and public relations expertise to local groups fighting cell tower installations. “We are proud to support Minden’s residents,” said Miriam Eckenfels, CHD’s director of electromagnetic radiation and wireless programs.
Rodgers encouraged other communities facing similar challenges to organize, collaborate, and stay persistent. “Find your people, stay together, and don’t quit,” she advised, adding that early awareness of local developments, such as fire department meetings, was key to their success.
The Minden residents’ fight underscores growing resistance nationwide to 5G tower installations near residential and educational areas. While the temporary victory has bought the community time, Rodgers remains committed to ensuring a long-term resolution. “We’re not giving up,” she said.
Verizon has not responded to requests for comment.
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