Churches sell steeple space as hiding spots for cellular antennas

A UMC.org Feature
By Neill Caldwell*

For generations, church steeples have served as conduits to God, symbolically reaching heavenward, providing a visual reminder of the size and power of the church, and calling congregations to worship with the sound of bells.

These days, the steeple may also include an antenna to relay cell phone calls.

Churches, from the National Cathedral in Washington to the most rural parishes in the U.S. Midwest, are taking advantage of the telecommunications industry’s need for a system of wireless antennas. Churches allowing such antennas in their steeples have discovered a new source of income that often runs into tens of thousands of dollars annually.

This proliferation of antennas is a result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which prevented local jurisdictions from shutting out wireless carriers altogether. The United States has an estimated 125,000 cellular transmitters, and that number is expected to triple by the end of this decade to satisfy the exploding demand for cellular service and the arrival of advanced wireless technology. And as transmission equipment becomes smaller, placing it inside church steeples may become more common.

The United Methodist Church’s New England Annual (regional) Conference has taken the lead in responding to this need. The conference established a formal relationship with SteepleCom, a company that brings churches and telecommunications companies together in leasing agreements. So far, the company has a client list of 800 churches.

(more)
http://www.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=2&mid=7063

Why not?

From the article:
“We see this as a benign way for many of our churches to enhance their revenue,” said Mike Hickcox, director of communications for the New England Annual Conference. “It is simply riding the wave of technology in which our churches happen to have great location, height and a way to maintain the aesthetics of the area.”

Am I naive to think that religion is selling out to big business? btw, I know that shrub is a Methodist. I've beenbaptizedd into the same church, although at a very early age and without my knowledgeable consent.

to use for a practical purpose and so much more attractive in the long run. I think if there is a God, S/he would approve.

they hide them in churches because people don't want them in the neighborhood because the micro waves cause ill health. read up on it. you really don't want to live by a micro tower.

what this says about preachers taking dirty money is a lot.

there are cell phone attennaes all over buildings in all major cities.

http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/9957/
Invisible Wires
Look up—and around. Cell-phone antennas are everywhere. But are they harmful?

Tall buildings have a natural asset that has value, in this case to cell phone companies. If they rent space for antennae, it means they dont have to pass the collection plate so much.

And if I get better phone reception, all the better.

I would not want my children in this building very often, and I know they have a day care during the week. The RRFs we are exposed to on a daily basis are cumulative, and especially dangerous to young brains, and elder brains as well. Doesn't anyone wonder where all the nerve diseases are coming from these days? And childhood leukemias?

Johnnie Cochran is just the latest to die from a brain tumor--I'll bet he had that phone to his head 24/7. Look at the research--they try to hush things up, but then you get little warnings like "don't give cell phones to children under 12" and "don't let your teen put his cell phone on his belt" etc.

More info at http://www.mapcruzin.com/radiofrequency/

The worst thing--my Mom's congregation did not even get to discuss this. The decision itself was made in secret, then later just announced.

The cell phone right next to your head will give you a much greater amount of radiation than the the antenna that's a few hundred foot away.

Now, they just need to pay taxes.