The commenter objects to a proposed tower near family property and requests independent research on mecha…

I am a 64-year-old man whose family owns a vacation home in Hillman Township, Michigan. A cell tower developer is seeking to construct a massive telecommunications tower just feet from my property. Like others who live nearby, we purchased and maintained this home to enjoy peace, privacy, and the natural environment -- not to face the prospect of significant, long-term exposure to high levels of wireless radiation emissions. This is not a matter of NIMBY-ism. This is a matter of public health and the responsible, thoughtful sitting of powerful industrial equipment. I urge HHS to prioritize research into the biological mechanisms of harm. Federal research should investigate the effects of RF radiation on cellular signaling, oxidative stress, DNA damage and repair, neurological function, and reproductive and developmental health. HHS should fund independent, replicated laboratory studies, long-term animal research, and prospective human studies examining chronic and cumulative exposure, including levels below current federal limits. Research should also examine particularly vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, and older adults. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer's 2013 Monograph Report on Non-Ionizing Radiation, children absorb up to ten times more wireless radiation in the bone marrow of the skull compared to adults due to their thinner skulls, smaller heads, and higher brain conductivity. I urge HHS to recommend that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reassesses and lowers its existing RF exposure limits. Current RF exposure limits are so permissive that they’re essentially the equivalent of a 500-mph speed limit. No wonder people are getting sick! The FCC must reconsider the Specific Anthropomorphic Mannequin (SAM) model used to assess cell phone RF exposure. SAM is based on a simplified model of a standardized adult head and was developed to assess localized RF energy absorption under specified testing conditions. It does not adequately represent the full range of human anatomy, including children, differences in head and body size, or the complexity of real-world phone use and exposure. A compliance test based on a standardized model cannot, by itself, establish that all users are adequately protected under all realistic conditions. HHS should encourage independent evaluation of SAM's limitations and support improved testing methods that better reflect diverse users, realistic usage patterns, and modern wireless devices. I am not opposed to telecommunications technology. I am asking that public health receive the same serious consideration as infrastructure expansion. I respectfully urge HHS to lead a coordinated federal research effort, further investigate the biological mechanisms of RF-related harms, recommend stronger FCC exposure limits, and support more scientifically representative cell phone testing methods. Americans deserve nothing less. Thank you for your consideration of my comment. Respectfully submitted, Chris Caswell