Alaskans Join Forces With CHD to Fight Giant Cell Tower in Residential Area

By Sitka for Safe Tech

Sitka, Alaska, is a remote island town of 8,500 nestled in Southeast Alaska’s rugged rainforest along the shores of Baranof Island. It has spectacular scenery, wildlife, and tight-knit neighborhoods. But its peaceful residential character is under threat.

Tidal Network, a subsidiary of the Tlingit Haida Tribal Business Corporation, has proposed installing six new wireless broadband towers across Sitka. One of these would be a 120-foot cell tower in a residential R-1 zone, where local law caps structure height at 35 feet.

The site is located in the Hillside Subdivision, just feet from neighboring homes and a designated landslide zone that regularly gets hit with high winds and heavy rain.

Residents living within 500 feet of the tower received a letter from the City & Borough of Sitka’s Planning Department about the project only days before the Planning and Zoning Commission vote took place.

The letter informed the residents that Tidal Network had applied for a variance to waive the height restriction of 35 feet placed on cell towers in R-1 zones, as specified by Sitka’s municipal code.

Alarmed by the proposal, the neighborhood mobilized immediately. Residents formed Sitka for Safe Tech with legal and advocacy support from Children’s Health Defense’s Stop 5G initiative.

“The team at Stop 5G have been invaluable in helping us navigate the complicated legal predicament we found ourselves in,” said Hal Spackman, one of the founders of Sitka for Safe Tech, as they work to keep their neighborhood healthy and free from unwanted and unnecessary communications structures.

They researched the risks, wrote letters, and testified at the meeting — successfully convincing the commission to unanimously deny the variance, despite the city staff’s recommendation to approve it.

They are now fighting to prevent what would be one of the tallest structures in Sitka from going up in their backyard. While Sitka’s municipal code is currently lacking a protective wireless ordinance, Sitka for Safe Tech is simultaneously pushing for permanent reform.

In response, Tidal Network appealed the decision to Sitka’s Assembly. Four of six assembly members recused themselves due to concerns over ex parte communications, preventing a quorum.

The case now sits with the State of Alaska’s Office of Administrative Hearings, where a single administrative judge could decide the fate of the neighborhood.

Sitka residents object to the tower on multiple grounds:

• Aesthetics & Neighborhood Character: A 120-foot monopole would permanently alter the panoramic skyline view in this scenic area. One resident noted, “It’s so close to my home, I could stand on my back porch and hit it with a rock.”
• Health Concerns: A respected physician testified, “We don’t know enough about the potential health effects of 5G towers on humans, especially on children. Why would we not take the safe route and place these towers a safe distance away from homes, children and schools?”
• Safety Risks: The proposed tower would sit on an unstable hillside in a known landslide risk area that regularly faces drainage issues. With unstable soils and heavy rain, landslides are a constant and serious concern for Sitka residents. Only a decade ago, three Sitkans were killed in a deadly landslide.
• Property Values: Towers like these are proven to devalue homes, discourage buyers, and remove buildable land from Sitka’s already limited housing inventory.
• Lack of Need: Sitka is already well-served by existing providers offering affordable broadband and mobile service, including plans for $7.50/month for low-income residents. Tidal’s proposed tower would rely on another company’s existing fiber line, raising questions about whether the project is simply an attempt to profit from a federal broadband grant, one that should be used to serve the underserved who have no choice for service.

“There is truly no need for this tower or the other five towers Tidal Network plans to erect throughout the City and Borough of Sitka,” said Carol Voison, another founder of Sitka for Safe Tech.

If you’ve ever wondered whether a 5G tower could be placed in your own backyard — know that it can. And if it happens, Sitka residents hope their story will inspire and guide others to organize and push back. Their fight is not just local, it’s part of a growing national effort to restore local control and prioritize health, safety, and community values.

This community-funded effort has already consumed significant time and financial resources. Sitka for Safe Tech is seeking donations from others who oppose the unnecessary and unsafe expansion of wireless infrastructure near homes, schools, and neighborhoods.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Children’s Health Defense.

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