Why Unconstitutional Laws—Not Technology—Are Harming Our Children
By John Coates, Founder of RF Safe
Imagine a world in which technology evolves to protect rather than harm—a world where the same photons that carry our data also purify the air that our children breathe. Where connectivity does not come at the cost of invisible microwave radiation harming their health and development. That world is not a distant dream; we already have the tools to build it.
The real obstacle? Not science, not engineering. It’s the unconstitutional laws and outdated regulatory structures that shield the wireless industry from accountability—and silence parents and communities when our children’s health is at stake.
An Urgent Plea to President Donald Trump
Mr. President, I come to you not just as an engineer and inventor but as a father who has already lost one child to a radiation-linked neural tube disorder. Today, my seven-year-old daughter, Melanie, sits in a classroom just 465 feet from a powerful cell tower—a distance at which internationally respected studies (the BioInitiative Report among them) say she is at risk.
Countries such as Israel, France, and India have enacted laws to keep towers away from schools. Meanwhile, our hands are tied by a 1996 Telecommunications Act that prevents local governments from considering health concerns when approving tower placements. This cannot stand.
Key Question
If other nations—often less technologically advanced than the U.S.—can protect their children, why can’t we?
Why the Technology Itself Isn’t the Problem
- Safer Tech Already Exists
- Li-Fi: Instead of relying on microwave frequencies (as Wi-Fi does), Li-Fi transmits data through light waves. It can carry more photon energy without penetrating deep into human tissue. My patented Far-UV Li-Fi system even sanitizes the air, eliminating pathogens while transmitting data.
- Satellite-to-Cell: Innovators like Elon Musk are developing space-based connectivity, which could drastically cut ground-level radiation. Towers needn’t loom over schools and playgrounds when satellites can route signals from space.
- Directional Antennas: My interferometric array antenna designs can dramatically reduce the radiation that phones emit, complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) while making devices safer.
The point? We don’t lack innovation; we lack the legal and regulatory freedom to deploy it widely. We have the means to prevent children from daily overexposure to microwave radiation—if we remove the legislative shackles that keep outdated infrastructure in place.
Section 704: The Unconstitutional Barrier
At the heart of this crisis is Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which:
- Silences Health Concerns: Local governments cannot deny a cell tower permit based on potential health risks. Even if towers are erected mere feet from a school, parents are barred from raising health objections.
- Disregards Modern Science: The FCC’s thermal-based guidelines—unchanged for decades—ignore non-thermal effects like oxidative stress, calcium channel disruption, and DNA damage. Numerous peer-reviewed studies from the National Toxicology Program and other institutions have proven these dangers exist below thermal thresholds.
- Violates Constitutional Rights:
- First Amendment: Prevents free speech on health concerns.
- Tenth Amendment: Strips local governments of their right to protect community welfare.
We are witnessing a “gag order” on parents, teachers, and local lawmakers. When science clearly warns us to keep towers away from children, but federal law says health can’t be considered, we have veered into unconstitutional territory.
Outdated FCC Guidelines: A Fiction of Safety
The FCC’s Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limits were shaped in the mid-1990s by engineers, relying on 1950s–60s radar data. They address only thermal impacts (tissue heating), ignoring the well-documented, non-thermal biological effects that occur at levels far below these thresholds.
Research Highlights
- National Toxicology Program (NTP): Found clear evidence of DNA damage and cancer in lab animals at levels under the FCC’s allowable limits.
- Yale University: Studies on prenatal RF exposure in mice revealed offspring with ADHD-like symptoms, including hyperactivity and memory deficits.
- Dr. Martin Pall’s Work: Showed that RF radiation opens voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) in cells, triggering oxidative stress and inflammation—mechanisms tied to autism, ADHD, fertility issues, and more.
Ignoring these findings is no longer an option—unless we choose to ignore the health of future generations.
A Father’s Story: From Loss to Lifelong Advocacy
I grew up on military bases as the son of a decorated aviator, survived childhood kidney cancer, and witnessed firsthand how invisible threats can devastate lives. Later, in 1995, I lost my first child to a neural tube disorder linked to microwave radiation exposure. That tragedy launched my life’s work: RF Safe, founded in 1998, to uncover and combat the effects of radiofrequency (RF) radiation.
Over the past 25+ years, I’ve engineered safer technologies—air-tube headsets, antenna innovations, and Li-Fi systems—all because I promised my late daughter I would fight the cause of her condition for the rest of my life. But as long as Section 704 stands, the fight is uphill—and children like my daughter Melanie remain in harm’s way.
The Science of Childhood Vulnerability
Children are not just “mini adults.” They have:
- Thinner skulls and more permeable tissues, allowing deeper radiation penetration.
- Rapidly developing brains, where small disruptions in neural connections can lead to major developmental or behavioral issues.
- Longer lifetime exposure ahead, compounding any potential risks.
France, India, Israel, and other nations have already passed strict laws banning or severely restricting towers near schools. Their guidelines reflect modern research, not 30-year-old assumptions.
A National Health Crisis in the Making
Rates of ADHD, autism, and neurological disorders have risen dramatically in recent decades. While multiple factors are involved (improved diagnosis, environmental chemicals, etc.), mounting evidence suggests that ubiquitous wireless exposure plays a significant role. As we expand 5G, small-cell transmitters, and Wi-Fi in schools without precautionary measures, we gamble with our children’s health—unnecessarily so, since safer options exist.
Repeal Section 704: A Simple, Powerful Step
Mr. President, here is how you can protect America’s children—immediately:
- Repeal Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
- Restore the First Amendment right to raise health concerns at local hearings.
- Reinstate the Tenth Amendment right of communities to set safe setbacks from schools, playgrounds, and residential neighborhoods.
- Enforce Public Law 90-602 (Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act of 1968)
- This law mandates ongoing research into radiation risks and requires updating safety standards as science evolves.
- Replace Thermal-Only FCC Guidelines
- Demand biologically based standards that factor in non-thermal effects, cumulative exposure, and children’s heightened susceptibility.
- Mandate a 1,500-Foot Rule
- Require all cell towers be placed a minimum of 1,500 feet from schools and child-centric facilities, as recommended by the BioInitiative Report and other international advisories.
- Prioritize Safer Technologies
- Encourage Li-Fi, Far-UV Li-Fi, and satellite-to-cell innovations that drastically reduce ground-level radiation.
Join the Movement: #TrumpRepeal704
This is not merely my plea or my daughter’s fight—it’s a battle for every child in America. If Section 704 remains, we allow unconstitutional laws and outdated guidelines to override parental instincts and scientific evidence.
Use the hashtag #TrumpRepeal704 to:
- Mobilize Awareness: Post Melanie’s story and share evidence on social media.
- Pressure Leaders: Contact your representatives and the White House, demanding legislative action.
- Empower Parents and Schools: Spread the word about safer tech practices—like turning off Wi-Fi at night, keeping phones off the body, and demanding space-based solutions where feasible.
A Future Worth Fighting For
Mr. President, this is your moment to lead. Our children deserve classrooms free from looming towers that pump out microwave radiation. Our communities deserve the right to challenge and relocate unsafe equipment. Our nation deserves real safety standards crafted by medical experts, not antiquated, thermal-only models devised by industry engineers.
I have lost one child already. I refuse to watch history repeat itself for my daughter Melanie or any other American child. The solutions exist. The danger is real. All we need is the will to act.
Repeal Section 704. Enforce modern safety standards. Protect our children.
About the Author
John Coates is the founder of RF Safe, an organization dedicated to researching and mitigating the dangers of radiofrequency radiation. Spurred by personal tragedy—the loss of his first-born child to a neural tube disorder linked to microwave exposure—John has spent over 25 years inventing safer communication technologies, advocating for science-based regulations, and fighting unconstitutional laws that jeopardize public health. His daughter Melanie’s classroom is only 465 feet from a cell tower, fueling his urgent call to repeal Section 704 and safeguard children nationwide.
Take Action Now
- Contact Your Representatives
Demand the repeal of Section 704 and the enforcement of Public Law 90-602. - Spread the Word
Share this message and use #TrumpRepeal704 to spark national discourse. - Adopt Precautionary Measures
Limit wireless exposure at home, especially near children—turn off Wi-Fi at night and use wired connections whenever possible. - Support Independent Research
Encourage unbiased studies on RF radiation and help close the gap between what science knows and what policy allows.
For Melanie. For every child. For the future.
We can build a world where technology uplifts humanity without compromising health—if we summon the courage to change the laws that hold us back.
