The RSFA Board recently voted to support the installation of 5G equipment at 50 sites along County rights‑of‑way in our community. Their decision was based on advice that federal law requires approval and leaves no local discretion. But this is not the full picture.
While FCC regulations do promote expanded wireless service, local governments still retain authority to establish reasonable limits on where and how this equipment is installed—particularly to protect public safety, community character, and aesthetics. Across California, cities such as Encinitas, Mill Valley, Malibu, and Palo Alto have already exercised this right. Rancho Santa Fe can — and should — do the same.
RSF Connect Already Meets Member Internet Needs
The Covenant community enjoys state‑of‑the‑art fiber‑optic service, delivering the fastest, safest, and most reliable internet directly to our homes. The proposed 5G installations are designed primarily for commuters, regional traffic, and drivers, not for residents already well‑served by fiber. Notably, federal law only requires adequate wireless coverage, not flawless service at every corner. Sacrificing our neighborhood’s safety and beauty for marginal improvements in mobile coverage, particularly for drivers traveling through the Covenant at the expense of residents is not worth it.
Health, Fire & Safety Risks With Proposed Installation
Health
Numerous studies have raised concerns about prolonged exposure to radio frequency radiation and microwave radiation, especially for children, seniors, and vulnerable residents. Many experts recommend adopting a precautionary approach until the science is settled. The RF radiation guidelines published by the FCC are not protective. The second highest court in the land, the Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, handed down a decision in 2021 in favor of the two nonprofits in the case Environmental Health Trust et al. v. Federal Communications Commission in which the judges stated the FCC had never even looked at the effects of this radiation on children, the brain, neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, ALS, Alzheimer’s, pulsation or modulation, and cumulative effect of radiating devices. The current guidelines were remanded to the FCC to show the science and reasoned decision-making behind their guidelines, yet four years later, the FCC has not been able to provide the science they used.
Fire Risk – Severity Zone
Rancho Santa Fe is a recognized Very High Fire Hazard area, and Telecommunications equipment can cause electrical fires. Electrical fires cannot be extinguished until the grid has been cut. That can take up to one hour. Under Santa Ana conditions, one can imagine how quickly Rancho Santa Fe could be devoured by fire. Adding electrical boxes and wiring along roadsides introduces new ignition hazards that cannot be ignored.
Road Safety
Our narrow, winding roads, designed nearly a century ago, were never intended to host large utility equipment. Bulky 5G boxes placed near the asphalt increase roadside obstacles, turning a minor driving error into a potential tragedy, including one that may result in fire.
Protecting Our Community’s Character
Rancho Santa Fe is renowned for its rural charm, peaceful setting, bridal trails, and historic streetscapes. While utility poles already exist, the planned addition of control boxes almost 5½-feet tall would clutter the landscape and degrade the unique qualities that make our community special. Rancho Santa Fe’s status under California’s Cultural Landscape protections underscores the importance of safeguarding our visual environment. For decades, the RSFA has worked to underground utilities to enhance safety and preserve aesthetics. Installing above‑ground 5G utility boxes undermines this long‑standing effort.
Other Cities Have Set Limits
Communities across California — Encinitas, Mill Valley, Palo Alto, Petaluma, San Mateo and more — have adopted ordinances restricting 5G installations in residential zones. They have drawn clear boundaries, requiring equipment and antennas to be located in commercial areas and away from schools and homes. If these cities can stand up for residents, so can Rancho Santa Fe.
Make Your Voice Heard
It is time for our community to act. We need our own ordinance to limit 5G installations in sensitive residential areas and near schools, while allowing them in appropriately zoned commercial districts.
Please get in touch with the RSFA Board immediately and urge them to reconsider their support for indiscriminate 5G rollout. Demand a plan that prioritizes safety, aesthetics, and community character. Together, we can protect the qualities that make Rancho Santa Fe unique. Let’s keep our community safe, healthy, and beautiful for future Generations. Email memberinput@rsfassociation.org and make your voice heard.
Holly Manion is a long-time Covenant resident and former RSFA Board director.