Cellular phones have proven to be a great convenience. They can help a stranded motorist or mean the difference in an emergency. But, when it comes to putting antennas near homes, residents question whether convenience is worth their peace of mind.

Last week, the Mineola Village Board held a public hearing pertaining to an application by Omnipoint to construct outdoor equipment cabinets and affix six groups of panel antennas to an existing communications tower at 266 Maple Place.

While the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) holds jurisdiction when considering possible health and safety hazards and an Omnipoint expert testified that the new antennas would serve no health risk to nearby residents, those who appeared at the hearing were not convinced as they urged the board to deny the application.

Ex-chief of the Mineola Fire Department Walter Crosby, a resident of Maple Place, has long been fighting the influx of cell phone antennas. Crosby has witnessed the recent installation of cell phone antennas onto the tower, which he said was originally used for a radio station and is now owned by Communications Leasing Inc. of Plainview under the leadership of president Elliot Gross. He also said he has seen eight of his neighbors succumb to cancer and his wife is a survivor.

Although an expert for Omnipoint testified that there has been no evidence linking cell phone use to cancer, Crosby believes there is not enough knowledge to justify possibly putting residents at risk. "The people of Maple Place have had it," he said, referring to the 24 antennas on the Maple Place tower similar to the ones Omnipoint is proposing.

The numerous antennas on the 265-foot tower include those belonging to Nextel 135-feet up, and those belonging to AT&T 150-feet up. Omnipoint's proposal calls for antennas to be affixed 170-feet up as well as three cabinets the size of refrigerators installed on the ground for electrical equipment.

Representatives from Omnipoint believe a gap of service exists in Mineola that may prevent their customers from making or receiving phone calls. The installation of the antennas, they believe, would help to close the gap of service.

However, based on questioning by Mineola Village Trustee Jack Martins, who raised several concerns, Omnipoint representatives admitted that they did not conduct a drive test of the area, where phones would be used in the area to test if there was, in fact, a gap in service.

Omnipoint attorney Lawrence C. Re' of Munley, Meade, Nielson & Re' said the gap was determined via data entered into a computer system, which conducted a simulation of the area, and is very accurate in determining gaps of service. However, residents and the board were not easily convinced. "I can't believe nobody has taken a phone to see what is happening in that area," said Mineola Mayor John P. Colbert.

In addition, among Omnipoint's witnesses was one who testified that the radio frequency emissions of all of the antennas on the tower, including Omnipoint's proposed antennas, would only amount to two percent of the FCC regulations.

However, if residents were uneasy about living next to a tower bearing cell phone antennas, their apprehension was further intensified by a sign that was put up on the fence surrounding the antenna. Maple Place resident Martin Dawber took a photograph of the sign before it was taken down. Part of the sign read, "Radio frequency (RF) emissions may exceed FCC Standards for general public exposure ... Maintain minimum distance of seven feet from all antennas, Do not stop in front of antennas."

The residents of Maple Place and the village board were at a loss as to who put the sign up and who took it down, but the presence of the sign, in the residents' minds, seemed to further enhance the belief that cell phone antennas could pose a health risk.

Mayor Colbert suggested finding another location for the Omnipoint antennas away from a residential area, citing instances where the village board approved cell phone antenna applications on Old Country Road, away from a residential area.

However, Re' said the Maple Place tower was the ideal location because it enabled Omnipoint to close, what it believes, is a gap in service while adhering to a village law passed two years ago that makes it unlawful to build a tower. According to Re', Omnipoint is adhering to a village law by seeking to install antennas on an existing tower.

Re' also repeatedly reminded the village board that it is forbidden from denying the application based on reasons related to health and safety based on the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which gives the FCC jurisdiction over such issues. The repeated reference to the law seemed to irk Mayor Colbert. "You keep hitting me with the FCC. I understand that law and I am totally against that law," he said to the applause of the audience.

Mayor Colbert concluded by suggesting Omnipoint find another location and adjourned the meeting until October 16.