Protests lead to
removal of antennas

Residents said cell phone gear
caused health problems

A cellular telephone company was scheduled to remove its antennas today from the roof of a public housing project in Halawa after the residents had protested their placement more than four years ago.

T-Mobile had a five-year agreement with the state Housing and Development Corporation of Hawaii for roof space on top of the Puuwai Momi state housing project, said Derek Dahilig, state Department of Human Services spokesman. Dahilig said the agreement was to expire in January.

But because of the residents' objections, Dahilig said, the state worked with T-Mobile to get out of the contract. He said the state has agreed to pay T-Mobile $90,000 for new equipment and to transfer its antennas to another location. The antennas were turned off last month. T-Mobile had been paying the state $1,080 per month for the roof space, Dahilig said.

Puuwai Momi residents protested that the state leased the roof space without consulting them. And they said radiation from the nine antennas was responsible for health problems they experienced since the equipment were installed.